Thomas Booker
Former East Nashville Magnet basketball standout Thomas Booker has committed to play college basketball at the University of South Carolina Upstate.
“I feel like it’s a good fit for me,” Booker said. “It’s a really nice place up there, and ’m getting a free education. Anywhere that happens, that’s always good.”
Booker, who transferred to Bowling Green (Ky.) High School prior to 2015-16, helped lead the Purples to a 31-3 record and a Kentucky High School Athletic Association state quarterfinal appearance last season.
“It was a lot different (playing basketball in Kentucky),” Booker said. “There’s better exposure, you’re playing better teams, and it kind of makes you appreciate the game more because there’s only one state champion in the entire state of Kentucky.”
Booker, a 6-foot-3 guard, garnered Tennessean All-Midstate first-team honors as a junior at East Nashville, averaging 20 points, 6.5 rebounds and two assists per game for 28-3 Eagles.
“I still talk to a couple of my friends (from East Nashville) during the week, just checking up on each other,” added Booker, who attended the East Nashville girls basketball team’s Class AA championship win over Upperman. “I drove down there to watch them play. It was exciting, man.”
Former East Nashville star Thomas Booker committed to USC Upstate on Tuesday.
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Reach Michael Murphy at 615-259-8262 and on Twitter @Murph_TNsports.