By Sharat Raju
EVANSTON - Stacey Thomas needs a nickname.
The Glove. The Thief. The Real Deal. Something ... .
Nearly every great basketball player has a catchy nickname. And Thomas is certainly developing into a great player.
Thomas, the Michigan women's basketball team's freshman phenom, is a huge reason for the team's success.
"I get so hyped up emotionally, but I probably don't show it," Thomas said. "I play aggressive. I go out there and the crowd gets me revved up. It's great, I have fun."
The Microwave. The Worm. Anything ... .
She probably is not the best player in the conference - that distinction likely belongs to Wisconsin's Keisha Anderson. Thomas may not even be the best player on her own team - center Pollyanna Johns might have earned that label.
But, the 5-foot-11 small forward/shooting guard is only a freshman. A true freshman. Thomas certainly hasn't been playing like one.
The Flint native has been making the rest of the conference look silly. Her explosive first step has left countless would-be defenders in her wake, providing her with lay-ups or clear looks at the hoop.
Consider: Thomas is second in the conference in steals with 2.8 per game, seventh in field-goal percentage at 51 percent, ninth in rebounding with 6.8 per game and 14th in scoring, at 13.6 points per game. She has led the Wolverines in scoring seven times.
The Big Hurt. The Wizard. Something ... .
This past weekend, she put on a defensive clinic. On Friday, Thomas keyed a huge Michigan second half. She either stole a ball or caused a turnover on four consecutive possessions - prompting the band to begin a "Sta-cey Thom-as" cheer. Throughout the game, she picked off five passes, most of which led to either her own fast-break lay-ups or opportunities for her teammates.
"I was concerned about not only her shooting or her penetration, but also her defense," Northwestern coach Don Perrelli said of defending Thomas.
On Sunday, Thomas fell into foul trouble early, forcing her to sit the bench. Only having her for 21 minutes visibly hurt her team. Absent were the six steals leading to easy scores, as against Penn State on Friday.
The Franchise. Stacey "Slash" Thomas. The Fab Frosh. Anything ... .
But Friday's performance was not a unique one for Thomas. Throughout the season she has answered the call, often guarding the opposition's premier scoring threat - such as Northwestern's Michele Ratay, yesterday. Keep in mind, Thomas is still only a freshman.
And as a freshman she isn't perfect. Her outside shot isn't great, and her free- throw shooting (54 percent) could improve.
Still, Thomas represents the future of Michigan women's basketball. She might not receive Big Ten Player of the Year honors or even be selected to the All-Big Ten first team this year. However, she should be a lock for Freshman of the Year.
She has the potential to reach the level of a nationally recognized force.
Maybe Air Thomas. Wait, that's been taken ... . How about Flash Thomas? That sounds pretty good.
Whatever you call her, chances are you will probably be hearing Stacey Thomas mentioned more in the near future.
JULLY PARK/Daily
Michigan freshman Stacey Thomas has shown spring like this the entire season. Her play has been one of the bright spots of the 1996-97 campaign for the Wolverines.