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Next big thing?
Fred Thatch, Jr. ranked 20th best player for his age
SIKESTON -- Although he's young and some may not think a kid his age should receive such praise, Fred Thatch, Jr. doesn't pay much attention to his newfound spotlight.
Heading into his eighth grade year, Thatch, Jr., has been pegged as a national talent in basketball. According to future150.com in their juniors division, Thatch, Jr., is ranked the 20th best player in the nation for the 2018 graduating high school class.
"I don't really focus on stuff like that," Thatch, Jr., said. "Being ranked, I don't really think about it. I just play."
Thatch, Jr., is labeled as a small forward who could also flourish as a shooting guard or power forward. He stands at 5-feet, 10-inches and weighs 170-pounds.
According to his jr.future150 scouting report, Thatch, Jr., is "a physically impressive wing prospect." He also "has a football build and uses it to his advantage on the hardwood."
"He's definitely a player," Sikeston seventh grade basketball coach Eric Voorhees said. "He's a bigger guy that can dribble. He's a force. Anytime you put him in the game, you know you're going to get somebody who can rebound or handle the ball. It kind of reminds us of J.T. Jones at his age. He's somebody whose able to play multiple positions on the court."
Thatch, Jr., either led or tied for the lead in points for the Sikeston seventh grade basketball team every game. He averaged near 25 points and scored a season-high 32 points in their season finale.
The eighth grader, who was also one of the Sikeston seventh grade football team's valued running backs, led the Bulldogs to a perfect 12-0 record which was the most wins for any seventh grade team in it's short existence.
"Our seventh grade season was fun," Thatch, Jr., said. "We beat every team by at least 12 or 13. I think when we get into high school, we may win a couple rings. We should be pretty good."
After the junior high basketball season ended, Thatch, Jr. went to play for Team Ramey, a 13U AAU team out of St. Louis which is formerly know as the St. Louis Falcons Basketball Club. He continues to average close to 25 points per game for Team Ramey, which includes other top 13-year olds in Missouri.
"Everyone who plays for Team Ramey is wonderful," Thatch, Jr., who has also taken part in camps run by famed basketball trainer John Lucas and Under Armour, said. "We encourage each other to get better so we can be the best team in the country. We don't have a lot of bigs and we're kind of little, but we're quick. AAU ball is way different than our school ball because there's a lot more competition and we travel all across the nation. It's harder and you have to work extra hard. You're not just playing people in the state, you're playing people from across the world."
After joining Team Ramey, the ranking showed up.
Although most southeast Missouri basketball fans know of Thatch, Jr.'s promise, this much wasn't expected of 'the kid from the bootheel'.
"He's playing against some guys that are 6-7, 6-8 or 6-9 in the seventh grade. They're some of the top junior high players in the nation and Fred is very competitive with them," Thatch's father, Fred Thatch, Sr., said. "They're kind of like, 'where'd this kid come from. His dad wasn't an NBA player and he just kind of came out of nowhere'."
So far this year, Team Ramey has won eight championships in different showcases in St. Louis, Houston, Milwaukee and Little Rock. They have also played and had top-four finishes in Louisville and New Orleans.
"Playing all over the country has been an experience because we're going somewhere every week. Their schedule is hectic," Thatch, Sr., said. "But really, the national ranking hasn't affected him much. Fred is really just a humble kid. His goal is to just keep working hard and get better at the game. I'm excited to just be where we are now, because Sikeston has a really, really good program and this is really just getting him ready for the next level."
Team Ramey's overall record is 67-11 heading into the National AAU tournament this week in Memphis, Tenn. Famous alumni from the Team Ramey club include current Philadelphia Eagle wide receiver Jeremy Maclin and the No. 11 pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, Portland Trailblazer Meyers Leonard.
Although he excels in basketball, Thatch, Jr., is also a star in the classroom. He's a straight-A student who rarely, if at all, gets into trouble.
"He does plenty of things, on and off the court in terms of keeping his grades up and having a solid attitude," Voorhees said. "I never have any problems with him. When you talk to his teachers, which I've done because I talk to all of the players' teachers, they say he works hard and you never see him on an ISS list. When you check his grades, he's one I never have to worry about."
Balancing his grades and basketball is crucial for the Thatch family.
"The good thing about all of this is that Fred has kept focused," Thatch, Sr., said. "He's a humble kid, he's academically strong and is really positive about keeping his grades up. Plus, we have a really good program here at Sikeston. Coach Holifield and his staff are doing an excellent job with the athletic department here in basketball. I think Fred will fit in really well with the program he's running and all the experience he's getting on the road."
Although he may not have the power to help himself grow taller and although a national ranking now stands by his name, Thatch, Jr., knows he can't be satisfied with his game right now. Continuing to get better is tops on his list.
"I need to grow a little bit," he said with a smile. "I need to work on my ball-handling, jump shot, my 3-ball and get stronger and better. I need to work on my vertical so I can dunk too.
"My goal right now is to try and be the best," Thatch, Jr., added. "I want to be better than anyone around here has been. I want to be the best. Ever."