Curtis' Isaiah Thomas likely to choose UW

Guard Isaiah Thomas of Curtis High School, regarded as the top junior boys basketball player in the state, has called a news conference for Thursday to announce his choice of college amid reports that he will become a Washington Husky.

Thomas' coach at Curtis, Lindsay Bemis, told The Seattle Times on Tuesday night that although Thomas hasn't told him where he will go to school, "I'd be shocked if it wasn't Washington."

Thomas did not return phone calls Tuesday night, but two recruiting Web sites, Realdawg.com and Dawgman.com, quoted Thomas as saying he would become a Husky.

"Washington is a great place, and it's better because it's close to home and my family can always watch me now," he told Dawgman.com. "It's somewhere I want to be."

Thomas, listed at 5 feet 9, has been compared to former Washington star Nate Robinson in both style and production. He was named The Times 4A Player of the Year last season after averaging 31.6 points. He set a 4A state-tournament record with 51 points in a semifinal loss to Franklin.

Thomas, who can't sign a letter of intent until November, would be the first member of UW's 2007 recruiting class.

The news came the same day the Huskies learned that Blake Young, a guard from Daytona Beach Community College, would sign elsewhere. Young's coach at Daytona Beach, Brad Underwood, told the Wichita Eagle that Young will sign with Kansas State today. Young visited UW's campus last weekend.