NIU men’s basketball’s only returning starter, Donnell Thomas, is already getting national attention, and the season hasn’t even started.

Thomas, a 6-foot-4, 212-pound sophomore forward, was named by Street & Smith as a preseason Honorable Mention All-America. He was the top freshman independent rebounder last season, setting an NIU single-season freshman-rebound record.

Thomas was named to Basketball Weekly’s fourth-team freshman All-America, and was ranked as the number six freshman forward by All-Star Sports last season, averaging 11.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game.

Huskie coach Jim Rosborough said, “He (Donnell) did work extremely hard and had a good year for a freshman. We expect him to do bigger and better things this year.”