While Woodland Hills (CA) Taft athlete D.J. Morgan is the state’s premier game-breaking threat at the tailback position in the 2010 class, the class of 2011 could potentially hold even more promise at that spot with Los Angeles (CA) Crenshaw DeAnthony Thomas.
Thomas, who goes by the nickname “Black Mamba,” is one of the top prospects in the state as just a junior, helping lead his Crenshaw team to an 11-0 record and hopes of a state championship appearance.
“Our season has been going pretty good,” said Thomas. “Our team chemistry has been coming along because we’re playing as one group. We have a lot of leaders on our team Hayes Pullard, Geno Hall, Marquis Thompson and Gregory Ducre.
“I think I’m doing pretty good, but I don’t think I’m playing my game yet. I’m just trying to come along with the team and be a team player.”
The talented tailback currently holds offers from USC, UCLA, Cal, Arizona and Arizona State, with plenty more surely to arrive on his doorstep. At this point in time however, it looks as if it will come down to USC and UCLA for the services of Thomas, who is averaging over ten yards per carry on the year.
“Those are one of my two favorite schools,” said Thomas. “I went to the UCLA game yesterday and it seemed pretty good. The week before that I went to the USC and Stanford game, and it was pretty good too.
“USC is a pretty good school. I think I’ll fit in at USC as a good running back. At UCLA, a lot of my Crenshaw family is at UCLA so that’d be a pretty good thing for me too.”
Crenshaw may be known as a feeder school for the UCLA Bruins, but Thomas is unwilling to predict the game one way or another.
“Yes I’ll be there,” said Thomas of the cross-town rivalry. “With USC, I know they’re a hard fighting team. They’ve had a rough year with some upset losses, so I really don’t know.”
