Thomas Kithier ready to be 'hell of a player' for Michigan State

Thomas Kithier has waited long enough.

The 6-foot-8 forward hasn't played a meaningful game since March 13, 2017, after sitting out his senior season at Clarkston High School. Kithier was ruled ineligible by the MHSAA after transferring from Dakota Macomb to Clarkston following his junior year. 

Now, 492 days later, Kithier is ready to reconcile his basketball career at Michigan State.

"The whole year I was just trying to stay positive and look past it," Kithier said. "I'm really anxious to be playing again. The coaches have prepared me and I know I'll be fine when I get out there."

Kithier still has to wait a few months, with the Spartans' season not starting until November. But for the past few weeks, Kithier has gotten a jump start, playing alongside some of his teammates in the Moneyball Pro-Am on Tuesday and Thursday nights. 

Kithier stands out at Moneyball, but not for the reason one may think.

Moneyball isn't a place to watch great fundamental basketball. There's wide open dunks, not much defense, and a bunch of wild shots. But not from Kithier. 

Kithier plays solid defense, runs the court for easy points, and always dunks with two hands — no showboating. This is how he's always played, and will continue to play at Michigan State. It seems unlikely he will not see the court much this season, with the Spartans returning five forwards, but Kithier shows promise and a willingness to do the small things that will put him on the court.

"I'm obviously always going to compete for playing time, I obviously want to play," Kithier said. "But I have a long way to go to earn minutes this year."

The waiting game

Kithier's senior season obviously didn't go as planned. 

The MHSAA's reasoning behind his ineligibility was the transfer being "athletically-motivated" and not academic as his parents had claimed. Kithier and his family sued the MHSAA, but eventually dropped the case after the request for injunction was denied. 

Kithier spent his final high school season playing on the scout team and sitting on the bench in sweats.

"No kid deserves to have to do that," said Foster Loyer, who played with Kithier at Clarkston and the same AAU team for the past year. "A lot of people, myself included, thought he got cheated. It is what it is. I think he took that with a grain of salt and decided he was going to make the best out of it and use his time well." 

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Kithier never missed a game or practice while at Clarkston. He accepted the fact he wasn't going to get to play, and decided to help the team any way he could, which in turn made him a better player. 

"He handled it about as well as a kid could," Clarkston coach Dan Fife said. "He had great relationships with all our players. He knew what his role was. He practiced hard each and every day for us. He made himself, and us, better."

Kithier went against Taylor Currie every day in Clarkston's practices. Currie, a Wisconsin signee, pushed Kithier and gave him a matchup day-in and day-out he may not have had anywhere else. 

"Those two got into battles every day," Loyer recalled. "They made each other and our team better."

"Seeing somebody with big-time length like Currie in practice every day, instead of someone like your average 6-3 guy, obviously helped a lot," Kithier said. "I worked at my game every day. I had a lot more time to lift and really improve my skills as a player."

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'He's going to be a hell of a player for us'

Kithier was matched up with Nick Ward the majority of Tuesday night. Ward, an All-Big Ten third-team selection who started 34 of 35 games last season for MSU, had Kithier's number most of the night. But Kithier didn't shy away from the junior who tested the NBA waters.

Following Ward sending one of Kithier's shot attempts into the bleachers, Kithier forced a jump ball with Ward on the other end. Kithier won the tip over Ward, sprinted down the court, and caught any easy two-handed lob from teammate Joshua Langford.

"I've seen a lot of improvement out of him," Ward said. "He's very mature for his age. He has great post moves. He knows how to use his body. Anytime you can do that, it's tough to guard. He's going to be a hell of a player for us."

Kithier's offensive skill set isn't large, but is effective. A right-handed baby-hook in the middle of the lane is his go-to post move, while also having a smooth jump shot from inside the arc. But Kithier plays smart, earning easy points by running the court and finding holes in the defense.

"I think he's a kid that can play multiple positions," Fife said. "He's probably a three, maybe a four, but he's not intimidated on the perimeter and he's a pretty good outside shooter. He's got tremendous basketball instincts and I think he will do well there."

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Nearing a dream

Kithier's path to Michigan State was an unorthodox one, but his passion for the game is unquestionable, and that passion has him one step closer to his dream. 

"It's always been a dream of mine to play college basketball at a high level," Kithier said. "The first time I step on that court, it's going to be an unreal feeling."

When that first step onto the court dressed in green and white actually happens is anyone's guess. As an incoming freshman, Kithier knows he has a ways to go, but his former, and current, teammate believes he's closer than some may think.

"I think he's going to come off the bench this year and play hard," Loyer said. "He's going to set good screens, rebound, run the court and just play hard. If he keeps working hard, who knows what will happen."

One thing is for sure: Kithier is tired of waiting, he's ready to play. 

"He's definitely ready to get back on the court," Loyer said. "I think last year was really tough on him, but I think he has the chance to be a great player at State."

Contact George Stoia: gstoia@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @georgestoia.