One commits, one wants out from Chipola

One of the top big men in junior college basketball will sign a letter of intent on the first day of the late signing period this week. Chipola post player DeAndre Thomas is headed to Bloomington, IN.

"DeAndre is going to Indiana," said Chipola coach Greg Heiar. "It is official."

Thomas, a Chicago native, committed to Missouri two years ago, but did not qualify academically. After two years in Florida, the big man is headed back to the Midwest.

"Indiana is in the Big Ten and he grew up dreaming of playing in the Big Ten," Heiar said. "It's close enough that his family can watch him play. Coach Sampson and their staff has done a tremendous job recruiting DeAndre all year and when you're talking about tradition and college basketball, Indiana is in the top five programs in the country in terms of tradition."

Thomas' juco teammate, Jamarcus Ellis will also be at Indiana next year. The Indians finished second in the national junior college tournament this season and Thomas averaged 13.6 points and 5.7 rebounds (both third on the team).

"He is the most dominant big man in junior college basketball," Heiar said. "I don't know if he had the best year, but he is the most dominant when fatigue doesn't set in."

Thomas and Ellis (15.8 ppg, 8.8 rpg) are certainly the headliners at Chipola, but there is more talent as well. Salt Lake City transfer Victor Dubovitskiy signed with Texas A&M in the fall.

"He is going to get out of his letter of intent to A&M," Heiar reported. "He went there to play for coach Gillispie and since he's not there, he will be available again here shortly."

No coach has officially been hired at A&M, but Heiar said that does not matter. Because Gillispie has moved on, Dubovitskiy will do the same.

There are two Chipola prospects still undecided, though Ed Berrios may not stay that way for long.

"Ed visited UAB and he really, really, really liked his visit," Heiar said. "They have done a tremendous job recruiting him all year long. He has several other schools wanting him to visit, don't know if he will take another visit."

Heair said Berrios is "real close" to making a decision with UAB. The final Chipola prospect is not nearly as close to a commitment.

"Johnnie Harris has got visits to New Mexico, Miami (OH), Louisiana Tech, he's really interested in them," Heiar said. "He's gonna take four visits and make his decision."

Arkansas-Little Rock, Murray State, Indiana State and St. Louis are the other teams hoping to land Harris.