FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Small College Basketball and the Hall of Fame Committee announced the 2026 Hall of Fame Class on April 26.  North Park's Michael Thomas landed on this year's prestigious list.

Thomas is a two-time NABC Division III All-American, garnering second-team honors in 1980 and first-team honors in 1981. He was a 1979 Associated Press Little All-American on the first team and helped North Park win three-consecutive NCAA Division III National Championships from 1978-1980 and was named the 1980 NCAA Division III Championship Most Outstanding Player.

Thomas was a two-time NCAA Division III All-Tournament Team member (1979, 1980) and was the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin's (CCIW) Most Outstanding Player in 1981. He secured four all-conference nods and enjoyed a four-year record of 99-22. At North Park, he ranks first in career scoring (2,085) with 17.7 points per game, assists (701), and steals (257).

Biography from Basketball Museum of Illinois

Michael Thomas didn't quit after an outstanding high school career under Hall of Fame Coach Glenn Wittenberg at (Maywood) Proviso East High School. In fact, he really got it started. During Thomas' four seasons at North Park College, Thomas helped rewrite the school's basketball record book. The Vikings won three straight NCAA III championships in his first three years, with records of 29-2, 26-5 and 28-3. As a senior play-making guard Thomas was named first team All-America on every NCAA Division III team selected. Thomas finished as the Vikings' all-time leading scorer with 2,085 points. As a senior, Thomas was named "Most Outstanding" player in the CCIW. He set the all-time state assist record for a career of 701. Thomas also holds the North Park record for career steals of 257. He set the all-time NCAA Division III Tournament career scoring record with 343 points. In 1981, Thomas was the first Division III collegian drafted by the NBA going to the Philadelphia 76ers in the sixth round.