Recruiting: Could Thomasson come back home?

“It’s always great to have the chance to be back in the city. I thought about it, but at the same time this is a business decision for me and my family. But it was crazy. I’ve played at UD so many times and they just now offered,” Thomasson said.

A 6-foot-4 guard, Thomasson signed with Wright State after averaging 16.6 points per game during his senior year in 2011-2012, but didn’t qualify academically and left for junior college. As a freshman, he averaged 14.2 points, five assists and 4.4 rebounds while making 40.9 percent of his 3-point attempts. His big year drew the attention of high-major schools like Oklahoma State.

Now he’s looking to take his game to the next level as a sophomore.

“It’s a blessing that I got my school picked out, but at the same time I’ve got a lot of work to be done,” he said. “I want to be all-American. I’ve got a son. I’m doing this for him. I didn’t come this far to be average.”

• Madison senior Olivia Philpot committed to Youngstown State earlier this month. Philpot, a 5-10 guard, averaged 12 points as a junior and was among the SWBL leaders in assists and field goal percentage.

Meanwhile, 2013 Madison graduate Kaylee Bush was on campus at Capital University and playing pick-up ball with her teammates-to-be when a funny thing happened: she switched schools.

Slippery Rock (Pa.) had recently lost a couple of recruits and was looking for some help in the post. The coach offered a scholarship to Bush, a 5-11 center who averaged nearly eight points and eight rebounds a game last year, and she immediately made the move.

It was quite the turn of fortunes for Bush; D-III Capital doesn’t offer athletic scholarships.

“The coach called and offered a full ride. That’s probably almost a $40,000 different,” said Madison coach John Rossi, who will have 11 alumni playing college basketball this season.

• Notes: Bethel senior Patrick Bain picked up an offer from D-II Notre Dame College (Ohio) … Texas El-Paso assistant Phil Johnson, who coached Stivers coach Shawn McCullough at San Jose State, said UTEP plans to check out senior guard Robert Caldwell and his brother, sophomore guard Rodrick … Ohio State received a commitment from prized 2015 Texas wing Mickey Mitchell this week, which could effectively remove the Buckeyes from the Luke Kennard sweepstakes.