In today’s college athletics landscape, the game is shaped around the transfer portal, with hundreds of players hitting the portal—their journeys taking them to two or even three schools throughout their collegiate career.
One of those players is Bowling Green men’s basketball’s Justin Thomas, who has found himself not just playing for one, two or even three teams, but six different programs.
During his time playing college basketball, Thomas has played on the court for six different schools: Queens (N.C.), Navarro College, Milwaukee, UTSA, Florida State and Bowling Green.
“Starting in North Carolina, then going to UTSA and Florida and everything like that—it’s been a whole bunch of different environments, so it’s been nice,” said Thomas.
Hailing from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Thomas’ traveling experience have seen him come and go through many different playing styles and experiences, turning him into a versatile player.
“Really a point guard by nature, he plays four positions for us; we move him around. He’s very unselfish; he’s a ball mover,” said head coach Todd Simon. “Makes everybody else around him better, and that’s probably one of his best characteristics.”
While Thomas has played in arenas all across the globe, his journey began in his own front yard, playing against the fiercest competition of all family.
“Really, all my brothers, just playing in the front yard against all my brothers. Dylan, my brother Q, my brother Josh,” said Thomas. “Like everybody that I grew up around, I kind of just played outside, touching grass a little bit. I kind of just started from there, picking up with my brothers.”
Thomas’ characteristics emerged from playing and growing, literally and figuratively, throughout his younger years on the court.
“I‘m 6-foot-7, but I always wasn’t this, I wasn’t this tall all the time. I would say growing up, not taking the big man role or something like that, working on my footwork,” said Thomas. “Playing like a guard ever since I was young and never stepping away from it, I would say that helped me a lot.”
During the 2025-26 season, Thomas averaged 5.4 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game, shooting 47.2% from the field and 37.5% on 3-pointers.
Beyond the stat sheet, Thomas found ways to contribute through ball movement and off-ball defense to help the team.
“He’s kind of like a Swiss Army knife—he can do a lot of things that even some things show up in the stat sheet, some things that equate to winning. Whether it’s rebounding, defensive stops, communication,” said assistant coach Jason Newkirk.
Newkirk was one of the main reasons Thomas decided to transfer to the Falcons in the offseason, previously coaching him at Milwaukee.
“Definitely wanted a familiar face, Jason Newkirk, and I like the family environment of Bowling Green. It’s very peaceful here; I love my peace,” said Thomas.
For Thomas, being a ‘Swiss Army knife’ is as simple as making the winning plays.
“I’m just trying to win,” said Thomas. “I would say that I’m very versatile, but I just want to make winning plays all the time.”
