MILWAUKEE -- A little more than two weeks after announcing his intention to transfer from Marquette University, redshirt junior guard Jake Thomas has decided where he'll play his senior season -- at Marquette.
After the Golden Eagles lost two scholarship players to transfer and Vander Blue decided to enter the NBA Draft, Thomas will return to Marquette and be on scholarship for the 2013-14 season.
"After thinking it over and talking with my family about the situation, along with the help of (coach) Buzz (Williams), I have decided to finish my career at Marquette," Thomas said in a statement released by the school. "It has been a great two years, and I am looking forward to what the future holds."
Thomas asked the school for his release, and his request was granted on April 3. Since then, guard Jamal Ferguson and forward Juan Anderson have announced their intent to transfer and Blue made his jump to the professional ranks official.
"I am incredibly thankful for all the coaches who took the time to reach out to me during this process, and I wish them the best next season," Thomas said at the time.
The Racine, Wis., native spent the first two seasons of his college career at South Dakota before transferring to Marquette prior to the 2011-12 season.
Though he came to Marquette as a walk-on, Thomas was on scholarship the past two seasons because there was one open. It was likely going into the offseason that Thomas was going to lose his scholarship for next season and become a walk-on again, but now that won't be the case.
After sitting out the 2011-12 season due to NCAA transfer rules, Thomas averaged 1.8 points in 9.0 minutes per game last season. He played in 23 of Marquette's 35 games but scored just four points -- all coming on one play against Syracuse -- in Big East games. Known as a shooter, Thomas shot just 27.8 percent on 3-pointers with Marquette last season.
"We are excited Jake has decided to return for his last year of eligibility," Williams said. "Our conversations leading up to his release and throughout the last few weeks have been very transparent. He has always been welcome in our program and represents everything that our program is built on."
With Thomas returning, Marquette has one available scholarship for 2013-14.
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