WRAL Sports Fan

Duke

Lance Thomas, Corey Stokes meet again

Mar 25, 2009

BOSTON — When Lance Thomas transferred to St. Benedict’s Preparatory School after his sophomore year of high school, he expected to wear No. 24 for the school’s basketball team.

It was his number, considering his birthday is April 24.

But when the time came to choose jerseys, Thomas was in for a surprise: A player already wore his favorite number.

The player was Corey Stokes, who was a year behind Thomas in school.

Thomas decided to flip the numerals and take No. 42 instead, which is what he still wears today as a junior for second-seeded Duke (30-6).

And when the Blue Devils take on third-seeded Villanova (28-7) Thursday night in the East Region semifinals, a certain No. 24 will come off the bench for the Wildcats.

Stokes, a sophomore at Villanova, and Thomas will step onto the same basketball court for the first time since helping to lead St. Benedict’s to a pair of Prep A Division state titles and a 56-3 record over two seasons.

“Corey’s my boy,” Thomas said. “… When I see him tomorrow it’s going to be a good feeling.”

Stokes won’t be Thomas’ only former teammate in uniform for Duke’s Sweet 16 opponent. Frank Tchuisi, a senior, also played for St. Benedict’s.

“It’ll be a real good feeling to be out there playing against them and just knowing that we’ve been through stuff in high school,” Thomas said.

Thomas, who’s from Scotch Plains, N.J., said Wednesday that he has no regrets about his college choice and taking a different path from his high school teammates.

He’s just happy that all parties are doing well — although one will be a lot happier than the other early Friday morning.

“We’re both in great programs, so it’ll be good to just get out there and play,” Thomas said. “We’ve come a long way. A lot of guys (don’t) play basketball at one of the great programs, one of the successful (programs).

“Myself and Corey, we’re happy to be where we are right now. It says a lot about how hard we had to work to get here.”

And as long as it’s been, Thomas seemed pretty confident in spelling out his scouting report of the 6-foot-5 No. 24 who will come off the bench for the Wildcats.

“He’s a very good player, especially with the ball,” Thomas said. “He can break down the best defenders, stretch defenses with his 3s.”