Prep Notebook: Jaret Thomas jumps back to Avondale to take over ‘Jackets boys hoops program

In a surprise offseason move, Jaret Thomas has returned to Auburn Hills Avondale from Rochester Hills Adams on the heels of leading an historic Adams Highlanders boys basketball state tournament run.

Thomas’ final Adams club won the program's first-ever regional championship, finishing 17-9 in a memorable 2022-2023 campaign. His first Highlanders hoops squad finished in last place. He departs with repeat Division 1 district crowns and last month's trip to the state quarterfinals.

"This decision isn't a reflection of how I view Adams or feel about my time as part of such an incredible community, because these last four years was a wonderful experience all the way around," Thomas said. "I think of those guys back in my first season and they did everything I asked, they put their heads down and went to work and set the standard of expectations. I loved my players, I loved the people at Adams. I can't even begin to explain how much pride I take in what we were able to accomplish together."

Avondale went 10-12 in 2023. The Yellow Jackets featured three of the area's top underclassmen in Justin Greer-Sykes (Soph. F), D.J. Moody (Soph. SG) and Anthony Burton (Fr. PG).

"I think coaching at Avondale will give me the best opportunity to maximize my impact both on and off the basketball floor," Thomas said. "It's a new challenge. Just like at Adams, I want to build a program on the principals of character, discipline and hard-work. There's a lot of ingredients to take things to a whole other level, the kind of level Coach Morton took this program to. That's the goal. He's my mentor and I hope our teams will remind people around here of his best teams. We’ll play 84 feet. We’ll be relentless."

Morton played and coached at Avondale. Morton's first stint as head coach of the Yellow Jackets’ boys team resulted in the program's lone state title back in 2002 out of Class B. He came back on the bench in the 2010s before retiring in 2019.

Thomas has a good deal of coaching history in Auburn Hills. Besides learning under Morton, he was the head coach at Auburn Hills Christian and worked under Dennis Hopkins at Auburn Hills Oakland Christian. On the day he left Adams for Avondale he was named BCAM's Regional Coach of the Year.

"I said last summer Warren Marshall would be the most improved player in the state and he made me look good" — Birmingham Brother Rice head coach Rick Palmer on his blossoming 2024 wing prospect

"I love CC and will always speak highly of the people that make CC what it is" — former Novi Detroit Catholic Central head coach Brandon Sinawi after the coach and the Shamrocks parted ways following five seasons

Faceoff dominance leads Clarkston past Lake Orion for OAA Red title

Study shows I-75 is loud; it's not enough for everyone affected

Registration open for summer Becoming an Outdoors Woman program

The state of ticket-buying is in flux as bots and third-party sellers enrage music fans

What to stream: A spring bounty of new movies, shows

Sign up for email newsletters