Former Kansas University basketball player Billy Thomas.

Portland, Maine ? A former Kansas University guard who has NBA time on his resume is the first player in the Maine Red Claws basketball franchise’s history.

The new NBA development team in Portland announced Thursday that 6-foot-5 Billy Thomas will wear No. 12 for the team this season. The Red Claws acquired rights to Thomas in the third round of their NBA D-league Expansion Draft in September.

The Red Claws say the 33-year-old Thomas brings a strong outside shooting threat to the team. Once the school record holder for 3-point field goals at Kansas, Thomas has played for teams around the world, including 53 NBA games.