2024-25 Women's Basketball Roster
Roster
Thomas, Kayla
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Jersey Number 14
Kayla Thomas
- Position:
- Forward/Center
- Height:
- 6-2
- Class:
- Senior
- Hometown:
- Beltsville, Md.
- High School:
- Emerge Christian Academy
- Previous School:
- Penn State / Georgia Southern
Bio
PRONUNCIATION
2024-25 (Senior)
Thomas made her Mississippi State debut on November 7 against Memphis ... Thomas played in 34 games during the season ... Averaged 2.1 points, 0.2 assists and 1.4 rebounds in 7.4 minutes per game ... She scored a season-high six points vs. Oklahoma (Jan. 9) and vs. Auburn (Jan. 23) ... She had a 63% field goal percentage, which was second on the team ... She grabbed a season-high five rebounds in the season finale at USC (Mar. 24).
PRIOR TO MISSISSIPPI STATE
2023-24 (Junior - Georgia Southern)
Thomas played in 32 games with 11 starts, started nine of the final 10 games … Averaged 5.3 points and 3.8 rebounds on 47.9 percent from the field and 64.6 percent from the free throw line … Tallied 171 points, 122 rebounds, 13 blocks, 12 assists and 12 steals in 486 minutes … Her 47.9 percent from the field was third on the team … Posted her first career double-double with 13 points and a career-high 10 rebounds in 27 minutes at Marshall (March 1) … Scored a career-high 16 points on 6-10 from the field, in addition to four rebounds and a steal in 27 minutes against Coastal Carolina (Feb. 24) … Averaged 11.4 points and 6.8 rebounds on 53.4 percent from the field over the final five games … Scored 10-plus points in seven games, including four of the final five games of the season … Pulled down five-plus rebounds in 11 games and 10-plus in one.
2022-23 (Sophomore - Penn State)
Thomas played in 17 games … Averaged 1.4 points and 1.0 rebounds on 42.1 percent from the field and 70.0 percent from the free throw line … Totaled 23 points, 17 rebounds, three steals, two blocks and two assists in 99 minutes … Scored in eight games … Pulled down five-plus rebounds in one game … Appeared in 12 Big 10 conference games … Posted seven points and two rebounds on 3-5 from the field in 10 minutes at Maryland (Jan. 30).
2021-22 (Freshman - Penn State)
Thomas played in 18 games … Averaged 1.8 points and 1.4 rebounds on 44.8 percent from the field and 75.0 percent from the free throw line … Totaled 32 points, 25 rebounds, five blocks, four steals and three assists in 137 minutes … Scored in nine games … Appeared in 14 Big 10 conference games … Posted eight points, three rebounds and a block on 3-6 from the field and 2-2 from the free throw line in 14 minutes at Purdue (Feb. 9) …. Made her collegiate debut against Long Island (Nov. 9).
HIGH SCHOOL
Played at Emerge Christian Academy … Guided Emerge Christian Academy to a 76-13 record over three seasons …. Named a team captain for her senior season in 2020-21 … Ranked the No. 72 overall prospect and No. 9 post in the 2021 class by Girls Basketball Report and No. 90 overall prosect by ASGR Hoops … Played on the AAU circuit for Maryland’s Team Takeover in 2020 and Boo Williams Virginia from 2017-19.
PERSONAL
Daughter of Tenicka Strown and Mark Thomas … Has three siblings, two older brothers Michael and Mark, and one older sister Maya … Her mother, Tenicka, was a three-athlete and played volleyball, basketball and ran track and field at Mississippi Valley State, was named a two-time Mississippi Valley State Female Athlete of the Year and was inducted into the Mississippi Valley State Hall of Fame in 2008 … Born on August 19, 2003 … Majoring in Criminology … After basketball, Thomas is interested in a career as a criminal investigator.
2024-25 (Senior)
Thomas made her Mississippi State debut on November 7 against Memphis ... Thomas played in 34 games during the season ... Averaged 2.1 points, 0.2 assists and 1.4 rebounds in 7.4 minutes per game ... She scored a season-high six points vs. Oklahoma (Jan. 9) and vs. Auburn (Jan. 23) ... She had a 63% field goal percentage, which was second on the team ... She grabbed a season-high five rebounds in the season finale at USC (Mar. 24).
PRIOR TO MISSISSIPPI STATE
2023-24 (Junior - Georgia Southern)
Thomas played in 32 games with 11 starts, started nine of the final 10 games … Averaged 5.3 points and 3.8 rebounds on 47.9 percent from the field and 64.6 percent from the free throw line … Tallied 171 points, 122 rebounds, 13 blocks, 12 assists and 12 steals in 486 minutes … Her 47.9 percent from the field was third on the team … Posted her first career double-double with 13 points and a career-high 10 rebounds in 27 minutes at Marshall (March 1) … Scored a career-high 16 points on 6-10 from the field, in addition to four rebounds and a steal in 27 minutes against Coastal Carolina (Feb. 24) … Averaged 11.4 points and 6.8 rebounds on 53.4 percent from the field over the final five games … Scored 10-plus points in seven games, including four of the final five games of the season … Pulled down five-plus rebounds in 11 games and 10-plus in one.
2022-23 (Sophomore - Penn State)
Thomas played in 17 games … Averaged 1.4 points and 1.0 rebounds on 42.1 percent from the field and 70.0 percent from the free throw line … Totaled 23 points, 17 rebounds, three steals, two blocks and two assists in 99 minutes … Scored in eight games … Pulled down five-plus rebounds in one game … Appeared in 12 Big 10 conference games … Posted seven points and two rebounds on 3-5 from the field in 10 minutes at Maryland (Jan. 30).
2021-22 (Freshman - Penn State)
Thomas played in 18 games … Averaged 1.8 points and 1.4 rebounds on 44.8 percent from the field and 75.0 percent from the free throw line … Totaled 32 points, 25 rebounds, five blocks, four steals and three assists in 137 minutes … Scored in nine games … Appeared in 14 Big 10 conference games … Posted eight points, three rebounds and a block on 3-6 from the field and 2-2 from the free throw line in 14 minutes at Purdue (Feb. 9) …. Made her collegiate debut against Long Island (Nov. 9).
HIGH SCHOOL
Played at Emerge Christian Academy … Guided Emerge Christian Academy to a 76-13 record over three seasons …. Named a team captain for her senior season in 2020-21 … Ranked the No. 72 overall prospect and No. 9 post in the 2021 class by Girls Basketball Report and No. 90 overall prosect by ASGR Hoops … Played on the AAU circuit for Maryland’s Team Takeover in 2020 and Boo Williams Virginia from 2017-19.
PERSONAL
Daughter of Tenicka Strown and Mark Thomas … Has three siblings, two older brothers Michael and Mark, and one older sister Maya … Her mother, Tenicka, was a three-athlete and played volleyball, basketball and ran track and field at Mississippi Valley State, was named a two-time Mississippi Valley State Female Athlete of the Year and was inducted into the Mississippi Valley State Hall of Fame in 2008 … Born on August 19, 2003 … Majoring in Criminology … After basketball, Thomas is interested in a career as a criminal investigator.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL | Sam Purcell Media Session - 6/17/25
Tuesday, June 17
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL | NCAA TOURNAMENT | Second Round Post Game Press Conference vs. USC 03/24/25
Tuesday, March 25
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL | NCAA TOURNAMENT | Second Round Preview Press Conference vs. USC 03/23/25
Sunday, March 23
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL | NCAA TOURNAMENT | First Round Post Game Press Conference vs. California 3/22/25
Saturday, March 22
