UPDATE 5:58 p.m.: Sampson inks 6th recruit for next season

The IU men’s basketball team added yet another player to its already-illustrious 2007 recruiting class. Chicago native DeAndre Thomas – a 6-foot-8, 295-pound forward from Chipola College Junior College in Florida – signed his national letter of intent to play for the Hoosiers next season, IU coach Kelvin Sampson announced Wednesday afternoon.\nThomas will join Chipola teammate Jamarcus Ellis on the IU squad next season.\n“DeAndre is a low block scoring machine,” Chipola head coach Greg Heiar said in a statement. “He has great hands, quick feet and is a very good decision-maker. He understands how to pass from the post and is a great scorer with his back to the basket. I’m proud of DeAndre for heading to a great institution like Indiana with so much basketball tradition and think he will be very successful.”\nThomas is the sixth player in IU’s recruiting class for next season, which is considered by many to be one of the best in the country. The defensive-oriented Sampson said Thomas brings an impressive set of skills to the Hoosier squad.\n“One of the areas we feel we need to improve is scoring around the basket,” Sampson said in a statement. “DeAndre will have an opportunity to really help us because we have a need for the things he does well. He has a chance to be a really good player. DeAndre was an outstanding high school player and a part of one of the top junior college programs in the nation. He is a great teammate, has a great personality and everyone will enjoy getting to know him.”\nThomas said he is looking forward to the opportunity to play at IU, and especially for Sampson.\n“I’m excited to be a Hoosier,” he said in a statement. “I feel great and can’t wait to get on campus. Indiana is a great program and it will be an honor to play for coach Sampson and to continue playing with Jamarcus.”\nThomas averaged averaged 14.9 points and 5.8 rebounds at Chipola last season and shot 60.7 percent from the field. He helped Chipola to a runner-up finish in the National Junior College Athletic Association Tournament and a 33-3 overall record en route to first team all-conference and all-state honors.