The 6-foot senior guard and forward led the Bulldogs to a 30-2 record and their third straight Division I state title this past season. Thomas averaged 16.1 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game while shooting 56 percent from inside the arc. A First Team All-State selection and USA TODAY's 2015-16 ALL-USA Nevada Girls Basketball Player of the Year, she scored 19 points to go with six rebounds and five assists in Centennial's 97-52 win over Bishop Manogue in the state title clincher.
Thomas has maintained a 4.05 GPA in the classroom. She has signed a National Letter of Intent to play basketball on scholarship at the University of Arizona this fall.
Thomas has volunteered locally on behalf of Students Against Destructive Decisions and as a youth basketball coach. "Samantha Thomas is a great athlete who can do a little bit of everything on the court," said Phil Clarke, head coach at Palo Verde High. "It is very difficult to try to match up with her. She plays hard and is aggressive, both offensively and defensively. She'll kick your butt, but she's always been respectful and does things the right way."