Ranks eighth all-time in three-point percentage in history at 37.2 percent...
2022/23:
Close had two-in season injuries which affected on-court play but he was a key piece for Eastern. He apperared in 24 games with 8 starts. Close scored 78 points, 26 rebounds, 16 assists, 14 steals and had a block. He also shot 30% from long range.
2021/22: Third-year starter, starting every game... on February 5 at Castleton, reached his career high in points with 18 in a win over the Spartans... ranked sixth th in LEC in three-point percentage (39 percent)... season-highs (p-a-r-3s-b): 18-6-7-6-1
2020/21: Second-year starter... in Covid-shortened season, appeared in seven of nine games with six starts... averaged 7.4 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists...started the final five games of the year, playing 27 minutes in the LEC tournament loss with seven points, three steals and a career-high eight rebounds... ranked in a tie for tenth in the LEC in three-point FGs per game (1.4) and 12th in assists (2.1)... season-highs (p-a-r-3s-b): 14-5-8-4-0...
2019/20: In his first season as a starter, started 21 of the 22 games in which he appeared... sixth on the team in scoring, fourth in average minutes, first in steals and second in assists... saw time in the first eight games and 14 of the final 15, missing back-to-back games at the Trinity College Holiday Invitational... tied for fifth in the LEC in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.7-to-1), tied for eighth with a 3.0 assist average, tied for seventh in steals average (1.5), and 20th in average minutes (27.3)... had four of his seven double-digit scoring games in the first five games... led or shared the team lead in steals 11 times and in assists ten times... converted ten of his last 11 free throws on the season... had more turnovers than assists only four times all year, with 23 assists against seven turnovers in his last six games... did not turn the ball over in three of his final four games, commiting only two miscues in 84 minutes in those four contests... helped the team to a season-high 94 points in a 28-point LEC home win over Southern Maine Feb. 8 by scoring a career-high 16 points in 36 minutes... also had six assists and four rebounds.... .. in that game, was 5-for-6 from the floor (3-for-3 from distance) and 3-for-3 from the stripe... one of three Eastern players to play all 45 minutes in a two-point LEC OT loss at Southern Maine Jan. 18 ... forced OT in that game with a game-tying three-pointer with 3.6 seconds left in regulation... in back-to-back LEC games in early February, was a combined 6-for-7 from distance, 9-for-14 overall... season-highs (p-a-r-3s-b): 16-7-6-3-0
2018/19: Appeared in 8 games while averaging 3.6 minutes…had two 3-pointers while averaging 1.1 points, 0.6 rebounds, and 2 assists…appeared in 6 home games while averaging 3.3 minutes…had two 3-pointers while averaging 1.5 points, 0.7 rebounds, and 2 assists…in LEC play, appeared in 7 games while averaging 3.7 minutes…had two 3-pointers while averaging 1.3 points, 0.7 rebounds, and 2 assists… season-highs (p-a-r-3s-b): 6-1-1-1-0...
Career-highs (thru 21/22): 45 min., 18 pts., 8 rebs., 7 assists, 1 block, 5 steals, six 3-pointers...
High School: Four-year varsity starter in basketball as a point guard and shooting guard … three-time first team All-State and all-conference and three-time team MVP …named CHSCA Class "S" All-State as a sophomore and junior and CHSCA Division V All-State as a senior... as a senior, scored his 1,000th career point for a undefeated regular-season team (25-0) which won the conference championship... helped that team to the No. 1 seed in the Division V state tournament and into the tournament semifinals on the strength of two victories... named MVP of team's holiday tournament and served as team captain as a junior and senior... three-year honors student...
PERSONAL: Born Thomas J. Close June 1, 2000…Mother: Susan… Sibling: Megan, Riley… Major: Sport & Leisure Management… Career Plans: Athletic Director… Residence: East Hampton, CT…
THOMAS... REVEALED
One thing you would like to do before you die: Live in another country
Pregame ritual: Pray
Words to live by: Trust God
If you could describe yourself in one word, it would be: Persistent
Favorite smell: Candles
If you could meet anyone, who would it be: Kobe Bryant
Best athlete of all time: LeBron James
What would you like to get paid to do for a living: Play basketball
A class you’ve taken that you’ll never need to use: Anthropology
Biggest waste of money: Taxes
Something you wish you were better at: Patience
Hidden talent not many people know you have: Cooking
Irrational fear: Spiders
Something your friends would consider “so you”: Wanting to go get food
Person you would swap places with: An NBA rookie
If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, it would be: Chicken and rice
Favorite thing you did last summer break: Went to Florida
