Sherwood Christian’s Key’yada Thomas signs letter-of-intent

ALBANY — Growing up with seven brothers helped shape her into the athlete that she is today. That competitive environment made Sherwood Christian Academy’s Key’yada Thomas into a multi-sport athlete and led her to the signing table where she signed a letter-of-intent Thursday afternoon to play basketball at Truett-McConnell College.

“There were fierce battles growing up because I was the smallest out of all of them,” Thomas said. “I’m still smaller than most of my teammates now. It was good competition. It made me better to be able to sign today.”

Thomas’ stepfather, Kenneth Jenkins, saw the potential she had.

“I pushed her hard and she did what she had to do,” Jenkins said.

An All-Region performer in basketball, Thomas earned the same honors in softball, cross country and track & field. She was also a nominee for the Albany Sports Hall of Fame as one of the best athletes in the area.

Thomas was offered a four-year softball scholarship to Albany State but she was ready for something different.

“It’s kind of hard to convince somebody who’s been here all their lives and been on the Albany State campus to stay home and go to the same college that you knew for so long,” Thomas said.

She was also offered a softball scholarship at West Georgia Tech, a junior college in Carrollton, but decided to play basketball for the Lady Bears.

“Truett McConnell offered me a good basketball scholarship,” Thomas said. “It’s a better choice than junior college, so I took it.”

According to Sherwood girls basketball coach Lakeshia Elder, Thomas was the personification of an impact player.

“She (Thomas) has been a total impact player for us,” Elder said.

Thomas led the team in assists, averaging 7.6 per game. She averaged around six points a game and 4.5 steals per game.

“If we needed to get a basket, a steal or a rebound, she would get it for us. That’s what I call an impact player. She will be truly missed,” Elder said.

Thomas led the Lady Eagles to the GICAA girls state championship game this past season, a first for the SCA girls basketball program.