Trieu: Family won’t try to sway Ambry Thomas
Detroit King cornerback Ambry Thomas is one of the top recruits not only in the state of Michigan, but the entire country. His rise has been fast. In a short time, he has gone from not well known as a sophomore to earning scholarship offers to winning a state title as a junior and establishing himself as an elite national recruit at events like The Opening Finals.
Thomas’ recruitment has become one of the most heated battles, as well. Michigan and Michigan State are squaring off in a good, old fashioned in-state tug of war, but programs from across the country including Florida, which he recently visited, aim to pull him away from home.
His mother, Carmen Thomas, has been with him on many of his visits.
“It’s very overwhelming,” she said. “It’s exciting at the same time. I’m very proud of him. I remember back from the days of the (Detroit) Broncos, when he first started at 6 years old, and to see the young man he has become, it’s awesome.”
She says her advice to him is to choose wisely and choose where he feels comfortable. She is also making sure that, if he chooses to go farther away from home, there is a support system there for him. That said, she is allowing her son to make his own call.
“I’m basically leaving it up to him,” she said.
Ambry and Carmen visited Michigan, Florida and Michigan State within the last two weeks, with the Spartans being the most recent school they saw. The relationship with not only the coaching staff, but MSU as a whole, is what she says stands out most about the Spartans.
“Myself, I feel more comfortable around Michigan State,” Carmen Thomas said. “The people there that we’ve been in communication with, I feel it’s a more open playing field there. I think because a few of them we’ve known since even before football was going on. A couple of our family members graduated from there.”
Trieu: UM the favorite for 5-star mauler Slaton
Detroit King has had many of its players go on to play college ball in recent years. Two of last year’s top players are in the Big Ten now – Donnie Corley at Michigan State and Lavert Hill at Michigan. Both had difficult decisions to make in recruiting while juggling school and their senior seasons of football. Having an opportunity to see them go through the process has helped Mrs. Thomas prepare to make a decision of their own.
“Tanica, Donnie Corley’s mom, and I, are good friends so she calls and talks to me and has been giving me advice,” she said.
Ultimately, wherever Ambry decides to go to school, she will be supportive and excited to see him run out onto a major college football field for the first time.
“I’m going to be so excited,” she said. “That will be one of the better days of my life.”
Cass Tech safety has Spartans high on list
After visiting Michigan State on Wednesday, Detroit Cass Tech junior safety DeAndre Square says Michigan State is “at the top” of his list. Square (6-1, 195 pounds) was offered by the Spartans in June after the staff saw him compete at their 7-on-7 tournament. He has additional offers from Syracuse, Kentucky, Iowa State and Missouri.
In-state target visiting Friday
Detroit Cass Tech class of 2018 cornerback Kalon Gervin will visit Michigan State on Friday. Gervin (5-11, 175 pounds) is a Scout 300 recruit and has a Spartan offer, along with other offers from Michigan, Oklahoma, Indiana and more.
More information
Allen Trieu began covering the state of Michigan for Scout.com in 2005 and began managing the entire Midwest in 2009. He has been featured on the Big Ten Network on its annual Signing Day Show. His Michigan and Michigan State recruiting columns appear weekly at detroitnews.com.