Drue Thomas’ athletic future is on the softball field. The Parkers Chapel senior has already signed to play at Division I Drexel University in Philadelphia. She plays softball, practically, year-round, traveling around the country and competing in the summer.
So why has she played basketball this season with a zest not seen in previous years?
“There was a picture of Drue handling the ball and she’s coming down the court with a big smile on her face,” said Parkers Chapel coach Justin Welch. “I don’t know, exactly, what the situation was at that point. But I sent the picture to Drue and said this is my favorite picture of you because you’re having fun. You can definitely tell she’s enjoying this year.”
The Lady Trojans were league co-champions this season. While Thomas wasn’t the primary scorer every night or the regular ball handler, she was and is the key cog in PC’s finely-tuned machine. She’s one of the team’s top inside scorers, top perimeter shooters, free throw shooters, ball handlers, defenders and leaders.
“In the past we’ve had to depend a lot on Drue to be more of a ball handler. Her role has shifted to where she’s playing more like a small forward,” said Welch. “She plays inside a lot, but she can step out and shoot a three, obviously. Her role has changed more because we need her to work a little harder inside for the ball occasionally.”
Thomas’ role offensively could change from game-to-game, quarter-to-quarter or even possession-to-possession. Defensively, it stays pretty consistent.
“I do feel like my role on the team changed some this year,” Thomas said. “In the past, I have always been one of the leading scorers, but this year I feel like my role has changed to help direct the defense and to keep the ball moving. Our defense is definitely the reason we win games.”
In the Lady Trojans’ match-up zones, Thomas is normally in a role her coach terms, “the matcher.” She gets the players matched up to the offense, sort of like the goalkeeper in soccer.
“Defensively, Drue has always had a nose for the ball,” said Welch. “She flies around so well and anticipates passes. It’s hard to teach players that knack for stealing basketballs. She deflects so many passes. She has really good hands.
That’s a tremendous thing to have as a coach, to have that defensive expertise. One thing she does really well is she communicates with her teammates and gets them in the right spots. She’s almost kind of my defensive floor general.
The other girls trust her and when she tells them something to do, they trust her. That helps a ton, especially in late-game situations.”
Defense and timely shooting have been key elements to Parkers Chapel’s run to the regional tournament this season. It likely would’ve been different without Thomas, who was advised by some to put the basketball down and focus on softball as a senior.
It wasn’t bad advice. In fact, it made sense since softball is going to be such a huge part of her future.
“Going into senior year and after signing to Drexel, I did have a few people put the thought in my head about not playing basketball,” she said. “I did consider not playing, just try to be careful about getting hurt, but I knew if I didn't, I knew I would be letting my friends down.
“I'm very happy I chose to keep playing. This has been the most fun team I've played with yet. I truly enjoy practicing and playing with these girls every day. The energy is just different from how it has been in the past. The chemistry is there.”
Welch said he heard the whispers and question marks about his standout forward. He did not try to influence her decision.
“I figure anytime you have a player that is signing in a high level in a different sport, you’re always concerned they may decide not to play,” he said. “But that’s completely on her. I feel like if a person isn’t wholeheartedly into playing, it’s not going to do anybody any good if I talk her into coming out there. I want the girls to play because they love basketball, and they want to be out there.
“I never had a conversation with her at all. I feel like Drue is a competitor by heart. I felt like she wanted to be out there.
She’s just such a competitor so I felt it was pretty safe that she would be out there.”
The Lady Trojans and their fans are pleased with her decision and the results. She’s happy about it, too.
“I’m very excited about this team. I think we can go very far,” said Thomas. “This is the best team I have ever been apart of. It is rare that people truly beat us, when we’ve lost, we usually beat ourselves.”
Thomas earned All-State honors for PC’s state championship tennis team during the fall. She’s eager to begin her final softball season after missing last year due to the pandemic. But not playing basketball her senior year? Seriously?
“Drue has been a joy to coach,” said Welch. “I always knew basketball wasn’t her number one sport. Sometimes in a situation like that you worry about possible attitude issues and effort issues. But there’s never been a second that I’ve second-guessed Drue out there. She’s always given me her all and I truly appreciate it.”