Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
Top 2026 point guard Jermel ‘Magic Mel’ Thomas recaps early interests, discusses OTE reaching out
By CHARLIE PARENT
One of the top point guards in the class of 2026, Jermel ‘Magic Mel’Thomas, has begun drawing serious interest from Power 5 programs and the Overtime Elite League.
The 6-foot-1, 150-pound shot creator, who plays for Cardinal Hayes (NY.) and New Heights AAU, has already received local DI offers from Fordham, Manhattan, and Hofstra.
Thomas is also in touch with coaches from Power 5 programs Houston and Kansas State.
“They [both programs] want me to play point guard,” he said in a phone interview. “They said I’m a good pass-first player, and I create open lanes for my teammates.”
In terms of what kind of school Thomas and his family are looking for, his dad Karriem ‘Scooter’ Thomas, mentioned an excellent relationship with the coaching staff and veteran leaders in a program is critical.
“We’re looking for a school where he has a good relationship with the coaches on and off the court,” Karriem said. “I’m also looking for some kids that are older in the program that are good role models on and off the court as well.”
Top ‘26 PG, Jermel Thomas, showed flashes of impressive playmaking feel out of live-dribble actions in his Varsity debut.
The vision, handle, and passing accuracy pop off the screen for a freshman.
Cardinal Hayes faces Justin Edwards & Imhotep Charter today on ESPN at 9pm EST. pic.twitter.com/BZjoD1hoQH
Karriem and Mel also discussed an upcoming Friday visit with the Overtime Elite League. They want to develop Mel at a higher level in preparation for college.
“They’re looking to prepare him for college,” Karriem said. “Getting stronger, weight lifting, and having him play against elite older stronger talent. They reached out to us and we’re having a meeting Friday.”
While the Overtime Elite League has produced top NBA Draft talent as of late, Karriem and Mel aren’t ready to leave Cardinal Hayes yet.
“Honestly speaking Hayes is family,” Karriem continued. “Me and Mel have a good relationship with the program and coach [Joe] Lods is a good man and a real honest person. As of right now we are definetly sticking with Hayes because I want Mel to have a good high school experience because he has a lot of good friends there.”
Mel’s father also mentioned his relationships from his playing days with Taliek Brown of St. John’s and Allan Griffin of Syracuse as well as assistants at Washington and Seton Hall.
“A lot of my friends coach at colleges now,” he said. “I do speak to them, I speak to them on a friendly level and a lot of times they bring up Mel.”
With a busy AAU summer on the horizon, Mel is looking to “just get better and get stronger.”
“He’s a natural-born creator,” Thomas’ AAU coach Khalid Green said. “He has an infectious personality which is what you need from the point guard position. You know he’s fun to play with so anybody that’s recruiting him is recruiting at least three people other than him because other people will want to play with him. They’re going to love how he gives up the ball and can make a play.”
Green also talked about what New Heights will do in the remainder of Thomas’ high school years to continue to develop his game.
“I just think he needs to continue to mature as all young men do,” he said. “And get physically stronger, you know his body has grown I think he went from like 5-foot-9 to 6-foot-1 in the last year and a half, so he just needs to catchup to his body with his strength and I think the sky’s the limit after that.”
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