Asa Thomas, once a Tiger and always part of the Clemson family, is heading back to his hometown hardwood. After two seasons battling in the Orange and Regalia and showing out in the SoCon, the redshirt junior is taking his talents to UIC. The Flames made it official Monday, but every Clemson fan knows Asa brings that Tiger mentality wherever he goes.
For the Lake Forest native, this is more than a transfer—it's a homecoming for a proven winner, ready to light up Chicago with the same fire he brought to Clemson.
A Legacy of Winning
Injuries may have slowed Asa’s run in the Upstate, but they never dimmed his Tiger spirit. Even after a tough shoulder surgery in 2023-24 and limited minutes the next year, Thomas left Clemson stamped with the winning DNA that Brad Brownell’s teams are built on. UIC’s Rob Ehsan wasted no time pointing out that championship pedigree when the news broke.
“Asa is a tremendous addition for us,” Ehsan said in a news release. “He’s an elite three-point shooter with great size on the perimeter and that combination is something we really value in our system. On top of that, he’s been part of NCAA Tournament teams the past two years at Clemson and Furman, so he understands what winning basketball looks like at a high level.”
Sharpshooting Statistics
When Asa finally got healthy at Furman, he reminded everyone what a Tiger can do. The 6-foot-7 wing became the go-to guy for the Paladins, starting 21 games and pouring in 11.9 points a night.
Thomas lived up to his billing as a three-star sniper, drilling 38.2 percent from deep and stretching defenses all season. That kind of shooting is exactly why he was the most efficient scorer on the AAU circuit before picking Clemson over a pack of Big Ten heavyweights.
The Next Chapter
Thomas was the first Tiger to hit the portal after Clemson’s latest NCAA Tournament run, but he’s taking that ACC battle-tested experience with him to the Horizon League. Once you’ve played in March for Clemson, you know what it takes.
“Bringing a player like Asa back home to Chicago to represent UIC is also very special," Ehsan added. "We’re excited about the experience, shooting, and leadership he brings to our program.”
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