Success and awards are nothing new for Martavius Thoams, but that doesn't mean he takes them for granted.
Thomas has been recognized as a tremendous player on the field since he was young, and, in the final stretch of his high baseball career, he continues to let his work and effort speak for itself.
On March 14, Perfect Game, a national scouting organization, revealed their All-American selections for the 2023 preseason high school baseball. Thomas was included in the recognition as a senior, making the third consecutive time that he was honored as one of the top baseball players in the nation.
"The feeling is pretty crazy honestly," Thomas said. "I've always dreamed to be a top prospect and now that it's actually happening it's like a fairy tale to me."
Last year, Thomas was named an All-American as an underclassman. He was also one of Perfect Game's All-American seletionbs shortly before his sophomore season. By that point, he had already committed to playing college baseball at the University of Arkansas to play for the Razorbacks.
Thomas has been developing himself into one of the top baseball players not just in the state but in the nation, with his incredible work effort and his determination to get better in all aspects of the game. Even during the offseason, Thomas worked to gain experience by playing for Sticks Baseball, a scout team.
This past summer, Thomas was a key player for the 3N2 Sticks Baseball 17U Brewster team that made it as far as the national tournament in Emerson, Georgia before losing to the USA Prime National team 2-1. The day after the tournament, Thomas went back to Camden to start practicing for his senior season of football.
Thomas was the most consistent and high-volume batter for the Camden Fairview Cardinals last season. He accounted for 29 runs and 16 stolen bases, a batting average of .400, an on-base percentage of .548 and a slugging percentage of .686. He provided consistent play in the batting, base-running and fielding game throughout the season.
This season, the Cardinals are off to a rough start, with an overall record of 2-6. Camden Fairview is 2-2 in 4A-7 conference play thanks to two big, 12-1 wins over Hope and Malvern.
Thomas continues to be a reliable playmaker for the Cardinals. He has gotten even better in the fielding game at shortstop, as he is quicker to recover ground balls and throw the ball to first base for easy outs. In the win over Hope on March 7, Thomas had two big double-plays. He has always been a dynamic athlete, but he has taken it to a more explosive level this season.
With a bright future ahead of him, Thomas is keeping his focus on the Cardinals baseball team, who he hopes can snag a conference championship title. Staying focused and remaining in the moment has been a strong attribute for Thomas.
"I try and focus on school as much as possible and sacrifice things to make sure I stay on top of my grades," Thomas said. "As far as baseball, I just try to have a bunch of fun and try not to take it too seriously. I try not to worry about the upcoming draft or college ball at all; I'm just trying to live in the moment and enjoy high school before it all becomes a job for me."