This native Rhode Islander is returning to Rhode Island basketball. Who is he?

You can’t go home again?

Sebastian Thomas is about to test that notion after a surprising turn of events on Saturday afternoon.

The former University of Rhode Island guard is back. Thomas announced a commitment to the Rams on his social media pages, and he’ll return to Kingston after a lone year spent at Albany.

Thomas played the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons at URI before opting to transfer. The former standout at Bishop Hendricken and on the grassroots circuit with Rhode Island Elite was one of the top players in America East with the Great Danes, emerging as a dynamic lead guard. He retains one season of eligibility and will spend it closer to his Providence home.

“As a basketball player I understand how this business works,” Thomas said. “One year, if a team doesn’t want you, you go somewhere else and do well like I did last year. That same opportunity might be knocking on the door next year.

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“I understand that part of it.”

Thomas heard from the likes of Georgia, Arkansas, USC, SMU, East Carolina, Utah State and Saint Louis after entering the transfer portal. He took a visit to Atlantic 10 rival Fordham and was nearing a decision before an unexpected phone call earlier in the week. Rams assistant coach Austin Carroll reached out to gauge if Thomas might be interested in a return.

“It was laughs and jokes,” Thomas said. “And then he was like, ‘Could you see yourself coming back?’ ”

Thomas started his last seven games at URI and left looking for what he expected to be a better future opportunity. The Rams were due for a roster shakeup after Archie Miller’s debut season and targeted a new cast in recruiting. That didn’t include any guarantees for Thomas going forward.

“I didn’t get recruited by him,” Thomas said. “I definitely understand it. That was a part of it. He just talked about how freely he wanted me to play this year. He wasn’t going to really coach how he did the first year in terms of being on guys and begging people to do stuff.

“I’ve already been there. I know what’s expected of us every day. That’s another reason why I committed. I feel like going somewhere else you have to learn a whole new system. Me coming to URI, I know what it’s going to be like day in and day out.”

Thomas enjoyed a breakout 2023-24 season at Albany, earning postseason all-conference recognition. He averaged 19.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.9 steals while making 32 starts. Thomas made a significant jump in his 2-point shooting — a shade over 40% in 2022-23 to a shade under 50% last year — and cut his turnover rate by more than seven percent.

“I had a great year,” Thomas said. “The team didn’t do so well. I wish we could have done better. But I’m looking forward to carrying that confidence from last year into this year at URI.”

Thomas took a visit to URI on Friday. He met with Miller, Carroll and the rest of the Rams staff to discuss the upcoming season. URI had a significant opening after signee Ben Hammond requested a release from his letter of intent earlier in the week and pivoted quickly.

“I basically got clarity on what I needed to hear — my situation, my role,” Thomas said. “Just things I didn’t like from the previous year. Really, I just felt like coming home would be the best decision.”

Thomas hit double figures in all but two games with the Great Danes and had five outings of 30 points or more. He torched UMass Lowell for 42 points in a February defeat and hit for 31 points in a conference tournament loss against Vermont. Thomas is the second backcourt commitment for URI in the last week, joining Nebraska transfer Jamarques Lawrence.

“(Miller) said he needed someone to come in, run the team, get points,” Thomas said. “I feel like I showed last year that I can do that. I don’t think it will be a problem doing it here.”

Thomas, Lawrence and Baltimore wing Tyonne Farrell make up the current incoming class for the Rams. Zek Montgomery (Bradley) and Tyson Brown (Georgia Southern) will both depart via the portal while Brandon Weston, Rory Stewart, Jeremy Foumena and Connor Dubsky are still sorting through their decisions.

“We need a big year,” Thomas said. “I think the fans are waiting for it. I think the team is waiting for it. Everyone in the community is waiting for it.

“I think we need to hit a home run this year. Hopefully we bring in the talent we need to compete for an A-10 championship.”

bkoch@providencejournal.com

On X: @BillKoch25

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Ex-Hendricken star Sebastian Thomas returns to Rhode Island basketball