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2023 GUEST SPEAKER - Deon Thomas
The Chicago native is a graduate of Neal
F. Simeon Vocational High School on Chicago's south side. At Simeon Deon
blossomed into one of the most recognized basketball players in Chicago
Public League history. His junior year Simeon won the Chicago Public
League Championship and by his senior year he was ranked as high as No.
3 in the nation. In 1989 he was voted Mr. Basketball for the State of
Illinois. He was also a Parade All-American and McDonald's All-American
that year. Deon attended the University of Illinois
and during his time as a basketball player for the Fighting Illini he
surpassed even his wildest expectations. As a freshman Deon set the
record for the highest scoring average for a freshman in school history
(15.4). Deon would go on to become a 3x team MVP and 4x All-Big Ten
selection and by the end of his Illini playing career Deon had become
the school’s All-Time leader in points (2,129), Free Throws (790), and
block shots (177). He was also a colligate All-American and Naismith
Nominee. After a stellar career in Champaign/Urbana
he was selected 28th in the 1994 NBA draft by the Dallas Mavericks, but
chose to carry on his playing career in Europe. His 14 years overseas
would see him compete throughout Europe and the Middle East (Spain,
Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria and Israel). Deon has been recognized as one of
the most successful American athletes to ever play in Europe. He's won
multiple league championships; he was also a 7x European All-Star and
won Back to Back Euro-league Championships with Macabbi Tel Aviv
(2003/2004-2004/2005). Being a consummate teacher Deon went
straight into coaching after his retirement in 2009. He would return to
his home state and become the Head Coach and Athletic Director of Lewis
and Clark Community College in Godfrey, Illinois. Deon quickly changed
the energy around the program and in his very first season set the
All-Time record for wins in a season with 29. That same year LCCC would
go on to compete in the NJCAA National Tournament for the first time in
school history. At the completion of the 2009/2010 season Deon was voted
Region 24 Coach of the Year. He also received the same honors from the
Midwest Athletic Conference (MWAC) and Illinois Basketball Coaches
Association (IBCA). After 5 years at Lewis and Clark Deon returned to
Chicago as the assistant coach of the UIC Flames. After spending two
seasons as an assistant coach for the Flames, Deon decided to call it
quits. Leaving behind his dream of becoming a NCAA DI head coach to
impact the lives of those around him especially inner-city youth. All his experiences
have led him to his current position as the Associate Director for
Development, Chicago for the University of Illinois Department of
Athletics. Deon is also a college basketball analyst for the Big Ten
Network and Fighting Illini Men's Basketball.
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