After a wild few months, FSU finishes on top for 4-star Azareyeh Thomas

In August, Florida, Georgia Tech, and LSU were the top three schools for Azareyeh Thomas. The four-star out of Niceville, Fla. thought at that time that he could commit by the end of that month to one of those three schools.

That did not happen.

The No. 81 prospect in the On3 Consensus needed more time. He still thought it would be the Gators, Yellow Jackets, or Tigers though. Then, Ed Orgeron was out at LSU.

That opened the door for Oklahoma. He took an official visit to Norman in the middle of the season.

The longer Thomas took to make his decision, the more confused he became. By the end of the season, there were coaching changes (on some level) made at each school on his list.

That opened the door for Florida State. A school only two hours from home that has high on very early in his recruitment. The Seminoles never backed off even though they were not on Thomas’ list of finalists.

That paid off for Mike Norvell in the end.

“I am going to Florida State,” Thomas said. “The second I stepped on campus, it felt like a home away from home.

“The whole staff has been recruiting me hard. It all happened really fast. I have always had my eye on Florida State though.”

Azareyeh Thomas feels wanted by Florida State

Mike Norvell and five other Florida State coaches came in to see Thomas and his mother Sunday. That really got things going with the Seminoles.

“Seeing all of them walk in had me a little nervous,” Thomas said. “It was one coach after another coming in to see me and I have been talking with them a lot the last few days.

“It is easy to tell someone how much they are wanted, but it is different to show them. Florida State showed me how much they want me by flying in all those coaches to see me.

“That visit made a lasting impression on me and they have shown me I am important.”

The communication never stopped and that showed Thomas something too. Norvell and Marcus Woodson have made a big push late.

“What really stands out about Florida State is how they did not go away. I didn’t put them in my top three and they could have handled this differently, but they stayed positive and kept recruiting me.

“Since things happened with the other schools and I am looking around more, they have picked it up.

“They have been on me from the beginning, but it has picked up recently. I am liking what they are doing and how they stuck with me.”

Will Azareyeh Thomas sign in December?

Thomas is set to announce his decision Wednesday December 15 at 1pm ET. That is still somewhat tentative though.

“I am planning to sign early because I am an early enrollee, but I would say it is 50-50 right now,” Thomas said. “I have to make sure of a school first, so I am still thinking about it.”

Florida State will have a chance to be that school this weekend. Thomas is going to give them a deep look and see how he comes out of the visit feeling about the in-state school.

“Coach Norvell trying to bring Florida State back and he is moving the program in the right direction. I like what I see, I like how they are recruiting me, and now it is all about the visit.

“Right now, I am still considering Florida State, Florida, Georgia Tech, and LSU.”