Piraess, Greece - Former Lumberjack Thomas Walkup has earned the recognition of being an Olympian. Walkup and the Greece Men's National Basketball Team won the Greece FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in dominate fashion.
Clinching the 80-69 win in the final over Croatia, Greece finished undefeated in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament. Over the stretch of fourgames (two group playgames, two finals games) in five days, the Hellaswonby 20+ points in both their group play games against the Dominican Republic and Egypt, and the semifinals against Serbia. In the semifinals, Walkup was named the TCL Player of the game, finishing with a game high 19 points, 6 rebounds and 2 steals.
Walkup was granted citizenship to Greece in 2023 due to his professional career. He quickly made his impact on the national roster, making his first international appearance for the country at the 2023FIBA World Cup.
The Walkup Bio
Thomas Walkup originally comes fromPasadena, Texas and played at Deer Park HS, where he averaged 25.9 points and 8.5 rebounds per game as a senior, shooting 62 percent from the floor. Walkup wasnamed all-District 22-5A,all-region, and was selected to theHABCA all-star game.
Walkup started his Lumberjack career in 2011. He became the Lumberjacks 6th man starting in the 2012-13 season where theywon a then school-best 27 games, their third-ever Southland Conference title and a trip to the NIT.
The 2013-14 season is when he started to show true growth, where he was named to theSouthland Conference All-Defensive Team, named theSouthland Conference Tournament MVP, on theAll-Southland Conference Third Team and namedon the Southland Conference All-Academic First Team. SFA would finish with a school best 32-3 record. They would go in the NCAA Men's Tournament as a twelve seed where they upset the fifth seed VCU in overtime. Walkup finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
The 2014-15 season is when the nation got their first glimpse of Thomas. Recognized as one of the best players in the nation statistically, Walkup was namedAP All-America Honorable Mention, a Lou Henson All-American, and the Southland Conference Player of the Year. He was also named to the First Team NABC All-District 23 and was a Finalist for Lou Henson Player of the Year. Thomas wasNamed to Southland Conference All-Academic first team and the Southland Conference Tournament MVP. SFA to a 29-5 overall record and SLC regular season and tournament titles. The Lumerberjacks made it to the NCAA Men's Tournament but we're knocked out by Utah in the first round.
In the 2015-16 season, Thomas cemented himself as not only a Lumberjack Legend, but also as one of the forever heroes of March. Walkup Named the Lou Henson Player of the Year, an AP All-America Honorable Mention, the Southland Conference Player of the Year and the Southland Conference Tournament MVP. He was also named to the All-Southland Conference First Team, an Eddie Sutton Tustenugee Award Semifinalist, and an Allstate NABC Good Works Team Nominee. Thomas also was a participant in the 2016 Reese's Division I College All-Star Game Participant. Thomas led the 'Jacks to the Round of 32 in the NCAA Men's Tournament with 28 wins.
Walkup and SFA took down the nationally ranked 8th overall and the three seeded West Virginia Mountaineers 70-56. Walkupfinished with 33 points and sank a career high 19 free throws. Thomas was featured as the face of the Lumberjacks across the nation. SFA would fall in a close game against Notre Dame 75-76.
After graduating from SFA, Walkup declared for the NBA Draft. He went undrafted but was picked up bythe 2016 NBA Summer League. On September 26, 2016, he signed with the Chicago Bulls. However, he was later waived by the Bulls on October 21 after appearing in four preseason games. On October 30, he was acquired by the Windy City Bulls of the NBA Development League as an affiliate player of Chicago.
On August 10, 2017, Walkup signed with MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg of the German Basketball Bundesliga for the 2017–18 season.
In April 2018, he was named to the All-German BBL First Team. Walkupthen signed with Žalgiris Kaunas of the Lithuanian Basketball League. Walkup received the LKL Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2019. In the fall of 2019, Walkup extended his contract with Žalgiris until the summer of 2021. On June 11, 2021, Walkup signed a three-year deal with the Greek club Olympiacos of the EuroLeague. On April 12, 2023, he agreed on a three-year contract extension through 2027.
During his time with Olympiacos, Walkup has won the 2022 and 2023 "The Championships of a Legend" and was named the Euroleague Best Defender this past season.
Walkup and Greece have a little time off before the 2024 Olympics start at the end of the month, starting on July 26th and ending August 11th.
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