Daughter of former NBA standout commits to an HBCU

HBCUs have drawn the commitments of the children of celebrities and athletes over the past few years. Now, Livingstone College is set to welcome the daughter of a former NBA standout to campus. Imani Thomas is continuing her athletic journey at the collegiate level, committing to play volleyball for the Lady Blue Bears women’s volleyball team. She is the daughter of former NBA center Etan Thomas, who spent several seasons in the league.

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The road to college volleyball was not without challenges. Etan Thomas revealed that his daughter dealt with persistent shin splints during the 2025 travel volleyball season. What initially appeared to be a nagging injury later turned out to be a stress fracture. Despite the pain, Imani remained determined to keep competing. Ultimately, the family decided that protecting her long-term health was the priority. Stepping back from competition allowed her time to properly recover and prepare for the next stage of her career.

Thomas’s decision to attend an HBCU falls in line with her father’s passion for social change. Thomas was drafted in the 2000 NBA Draft with the 12th overall pick by the Dallas Mavericks and was subsequently traded to the Washington Wizards. He played with the Wizards until the 2009 season, eventually suiting up for the Thunder and Hawks before departing the NBA in 2011. Thomas then became an outspoken social and political activist, routinely letting his thoughts be known about various issues via his social media accounts as well as his writings on platforms and publications such as The Guardian.

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