Ambry Thomas hasn't soured on MSU despite losses
Detroit – Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh had a sideline view as the top two players in the state went at it head-to-head in the PSL championship game Friday night at Ford Field.
Harbaugh is still working hard to get both five-star receiver / cornerback Donovan Peoples Jones of Detroit Cass Tech and four-star receiver / cornerback Ambry Thomas of Detroit King to come and play for him with the Wolverines next year.
No doubt, both players are still strongly considering Michigan, but neither plans to make a decision until after the season.
Peoples-Jones, a physical 6-foot-3, 200-pounder with 4.4 speed and a 42-inch vertical, definitely got the best of the 6-0, 175-pound Thomas early, beating him deep for a 55-yard TD reception from Rodney Hall on Cass Tech’s opening possession.
Peoples-Jones also turned an under screen pass from Hall into a first down on a third-and-16 play from deep in Cass Tech territory on its second drive, leading to Hall’s 40-yard TD run for a 14-0 cushion.
Cass Tech – 9-0 and ranked No. 1 in The Detroit News Super 20 poll – increased its lead to 28-0 early in the third quarter before Thomas hauled in three TD receptions (37, 18 and 29 yards) from Dequan Finn in the 41-20 Cass win.
King is 7-2 and ranked No. 5 this year heading into Sunday's MHSAA pairings show for postseason play.
“I love competition, I never back away from great competition, so it was real nice to play against great defensive backs and great receivers,” said Thomas, who played on King's Division 2 state championship team last year.
As for his three-TD performance, Thomas said, “It don’t mean nothing because we still lost.”
Thomas said he spoke with Harbaugh after the game.
“He told me, ‘Good job, keep working and keep pushing,’ and that’s what I’m going to do.”
Harbaugh watches as Cass Tech routs King for PSL title
Thomas is also being recruited heavily by Michigan State. He said he hasn’t soured on the Spartans despite their 2-4 record.
“They are still high,” said Thomas of MSU. “That (four-game losing streak) doesn’t mean nothing to me. I feel like I have chance to make a difference, change the program around.”
Peoples-Jones enjoyed going head-to-head with Thomas Friday night.
“It was great competition, Ambry’s my boy and we went to a lot of camps together,” said Peoples-Jones of Thomas. “We definitely developed a bond and it was fun coming out here to play against him.”
When asked if they talked to each other about playing together in college, Peoples-Jones said: “He’s got to make the best decision for him and I’m going to make the best decision for me.”
