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01/30/2024 12:42 AMThe ability to swiftly erase errors from one’s mind frame is a crucial component for any young leader of a group or team. Thomas McCullough knows that as a spry signal caller for the offense of the Hand boys’ basketball squad, he must hold a steady mentality and even steadier handle.
The sophomore point guard was introduced to the floor through his dad when he was young. And while he did traverse into soccer and baseball, Thomas later dropped those two to bring the court back to the center of his athletic focus. After garnering some varsity experience as a rookie last year, the now full-time starter has returned this year to help the Tigers already have a postseason berth in hand with a 10-3 record, while averaging eight points, three assists, and three rebounds per game.
“My dad works me out a ton, and he is the reason I love the game so much. The game is in my family, so I was bound to fall in love with it,” says Thomas. “My success has come from talking to my teammates and directing them as a point guard. Communication and working out has helped me get strong and more skilled at the game.”
As the quarterback of the court when the Tigers have possession of the rock, Thomas showcases himself as a durable player and voice. He sometimes can be out-muscled by bigger adversaries, though he seldom, if ever, shows anger.
“I love being in control of the offense and having the ability to direct guys where to go,” Thomas says. “It is challenging, though, because I am undersized, and the bigger kids are able to get me off the ball sometimes. When it happens, I just play at my own pace and do not get frustrated.”
Thomas recalls he saw some trepidation when it came to talking things out as a freshman before acquiring the terrific intangible of confidence. He knows mistakes will inevitably rear their heads in such a frenetic game, so he just brushes them aside and moves ahead to the next drive to the hole.
“I was scared last year and intimidated to connect with people. But now, I am not intimidated by anyone, and I discovered it is a confidence thing really,” says Thomas. “Our coaches preach the idea of the next play, so if I mess up, I just forget about it and move to the next play. I keep my head high and keep moving.”
Thomas admits he could grow in the tenacity department by playing such a pivotal position for the squad moving towards his upperclassmen years. He explains it will not only strengthen his own skill set, but also his club’s chances to produce points.
“I honestly feel I could be more aggressive,” Thomas says. “You can direct people as a point guard, but you can also learn a certain aggressiveness factor to create more open looks for yourself and plays for the team.”
Hand boys’ basketball Head Coach Jim Economopoulos details that it may seem like Thomas tackles the floor with reckless abandonment, though he is actually a quite controlled and composed person under pressure, and can bury a trey at the most opportune instance.
“Thomas played some limited varsity minutes last year as a freshman, but has really grown into his role as a starter this year. He has hit big shots for us and been a steady presence with the ball in his hand,” says Economopoulos. “He is usually one of the smaller guys on the floor, but plays without fear and often puts his body on the line with aggressive play. Most importantly, Thomas has a level head and never lets himself get too high or too low. A perfect example of this was when we played Wilbur Cross two weeks ago. Thomas did not have his best game and struggled with some turnovers early in the game against a tough defensive team. Late in the game we were down three, and, as the clock expired, Thomas buried a three, without hesitation, to put us into overtime. He is a gamer, and someone who wants to do whatever he can to help the team win. He has only scratched the surface of his potential, and I am very excited to see what he can do to finish this year and beyond.”
Still, Thomas will keep his diligence sky high as he keeps forging forward. He has worked incredibly hard leading up to this point in time with his high school athletic career, and he has seen how laboring long hours can bear fruit of success.
“I have learned that hard work shows and it pays off. I have put a ton of work into the sport during middle school and now in high school,” says Thomas. “Knowing the pay off of hard work will hopefully help me in later years as an adult when it comes to having a job in the professional world.”
The moments and memories that the boys create away from the hardwood and around the community actually fuel the proficiency of the program this winter. Thomas further details that he and his teammates have crafted a mindset that allows them to stay undefeated, regardless of how a scoreboard with triple zeroes on it reads.
“All of us are really close off the court, and it really helps us on the court. We know each other’s strengths and weaknesses,” says Thomas. “We want to keep winning as much as possible. But we have to learn from our mistakes, because if we can learn from losses and mistakes, then there is no way we can lose.”