Villa Madonna graduate Henry Thole is headed to Xavier University to be a preferred walk-on for the men’s basketball team.
Thole, the Vikings all-time leading scorer, made the announcement on Monday via his Instagram.
The 6-foot-7, 215-pound forward finished his Villa Madonna career with 1,576 points and 1,029 rebounds, both all-time highs for the program. In his senior season, he was third in the state in rebounds per game. During his junior season, he was a top 50 scorer in the state with 22.2 points per game and top 10 in rebounds with 11.6 per game. He was named the NKAC Division III Player of the Year for the 2023-24 season.
Thole finished high school with a 3.96 weighted GPA and was a National Honor Society member.
A preferred walk-on is the highest status a recruit can get outside of receiving an athletic scholarship. Athletic aid is not offered, but Thole will receive a uniform and have a strong chance of competing for playing time their first year.
Preferred walk-ons are guaranteed a spot on the roster, but not necessarily on the traveling squad. Preferred walk-ons who perform well and contribute to the team may have a better chance of earning a scholarship in future seasons.
