The 6-foot-9 1/2 freshman forward averaged 16.9 points and six rebounds a game for Villanova, which finished the season 24-10 and reached the second round of the NCAA tournament.
An announcement is expected next week.
Villanova spokeswoman Karen Frascona was unable to confirm the reports yesterday, saying Villanova coach Steve Lappas and athletic director Gene DeFilippo were out of town.
Thomas had been expected to jump to the NBA.
As an underclassman, he's not playing in the NBA predraft camps, but is projected as a top lottery choice.
Thomas was a 1996 high school All-American at Paterson (N.J.) Catholic.
He was one of the most high-profile recruits in the history of the Philadelphia-area's Big 5 universities.
Grand Jury Investiagtes Freesno State: Fourteen types of items were listed in subpoenas issued by a federal grand jury investigating allegations that Fresno State basketball players shaved points, The Fresno Bee reported yesterday.
The grand jury also has subpoenaed at least five people in the investigation of rumors focusing on guards Dominick Young and Chris Herren.
Both have denied shaving points, or trying to keep a game's score below the point spread to favor certain gamblers.
Fresno State coach Jerry Tarkanian said he hopes the investigation will be completed soon.
"The faster they look at it, the faster it'll get resolved," Tarkanian said.
"It doesn't concern me at all. Hopefully, they'll get it wrapped up soon.
"I'm real happy about that."
The Bee also reported yesterday that the subpoenas show the Internal Revenue Service has joined the FBI in the investigation.
The IRS sought almost $150,000 in back taxes from Tarkanian and his wife, Lois, in 1995 for the value of tickets he received from 1987-91 as UNLV coach, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
The Tarkanians agreed to pay the IRS $32,000 even though Tarkanian said he gave most of the tickets away and did not profit from them.
Tarkanian received 90 tickets for each Fresno State game last season.
Records subpoenaed by the grand jury show Tarkanian's personal business agent, Jose Elgorriaga Jr., provided 42 tickets to Kirk Vartanian, who The Bee has called a major local sports gambler and bookie.
According to The Bee, among the items the grand jury wanted to see were records dealing with the use of tickets issued to Tarkanian over the last two years.
AP PHOTO
Villanova freshman Tim Thomas reportedly has decided to leave the Wildcats to enter the NBA Draft. An official announcement is expected next week.