Tyrus Thomas’ 8-year-old brother, Travis Johnson, said he wants to donate “1 million thousand dollars” to charity when he gets older.
It’s an idea, he said, that emerged from his big brother’s philanthropic example.
Thomas, an Old South Baton Rouge native and former LSU basketball player, hit the golf course Friday in Denham Springs for his first charity fundraiser benefitting the recently established Tyrus Thomas Foundation.
Thomas left the LSU men’s basketball team after a standout 2006 redshirt freshman season that ended in the Final Four. The Portland Trail Blazers drafted him No. 4 overall in the NBA draft before the Chicago Bulls acquired him in a trade.
The Tyrus Thomas Celebrity Golf Tournament brought friends, family and supporters to the green for a day of golfing, auctions and raffles benefitting Chicago’s and Baton Rouge’s at risk youth. The foundation strives to teach children life skills through developing leadership, scholarship, health and service.
“Even when I was younger, I saw a need for so much more mentoring for kids,” Thomas said. “You need to prepare them in many different ways, whether it’s taking them to play golf or teaching them the proper way to shake hands.”
Thomas averaged 13 minutes of play and 5.2 points per game during the 2006-2007 Bulls’ season and was named to the NBA All-Rookie second team.
Thomas’ little brother, Johnson said it is “awesome” to be Thomas’ brother. He said he laughs when Thomas, known to fans as “T-Time,” spin dunks in his backyard.
“It’s really a blessing for all the children,” Johnson said of his brother’s charity. “I love donating stuff too, like clothes and toys. When I’m older, I want to build a basketball court for kids.”
LSU men’s basketball coach John Brady and former LSU player and Boston Celtics rookie Glen Davis attended Friday’s golf tournament, along with former Chicago Bulls player P.J. Brown.
“They’re a lot of good guys in the NBA doing great things like this,” Brown said. “It’s really important because the public school system needs a lot of help with funding for computers and books.”
Thomas’ mother, Jessica Johnson, said Friday it was “so exciting” because she was able to see her son realize his dream. Johnson said Thomas developed his passion for helping youth while volunteering in the community as an LSU student athlete.
“He’s always had a love for the children,” she said. “Thank God he’s continued with his positive behavior. He could have easily changed [once entering the NBA], but he didn’t.”
Thomas echoed his mother’s comments, saying the spotlight lifestyle of the NBA has not been a difficult adjustment.
“It’s all about keeping a level head,” he said. “I don’t like to party a lot. I want to keep a good reputation.”
Thomas keeps a support system in Chicago, anchored by his uncle and business manager Shedrich Franklin. Thomas said Franklin and his brother served as father figures after his parents divorced at a young age.
Franklin said he first saw Thomas pick up a basketball at age 2, when he would frequently accompany him to various sports practices.
“We’re 10 years apart,” Franklin said. “But he was like a little brother to me. He spent his first five years practically in my backpack as I toted him from one practice to another.”
Franklin also serves as the business manager for the Tyrus Thomas Foundation. He said the foundation is planning a two-week overnight camp for Baton Rouge children next summer to teach middle schoolers etiquette, business and character skills. The foundation also provided free ACT and SAT preparation courses to students at Thomas’ alma mater, McKinley Senior High School.
Despite leaving the University three years early, Thomas said he highly values education. He’s working through correspondence courses to complete his secondary education degree and has about 48 hour credits remaining to graduate.
“I chose that major because we really need so many more people to help in the area of education,” he said.
—-Contact Amy Brittain at [email protected]