Themus Fulks shattered UCF records, leading the Knights with exceptional playmaking and clutch scoring to a long-awaited NCAA Tournament berth.
Themus Fulks spent his last year of college basketball with the UCF Knights, and he played his way into having a career year, supported by his accolades.
Fulks earned All-Big 12 3rd Team honors, a spot on the All-Newcomer Team and three Big 12 Starting Five honors in Weeks 11, 13 and 16. These five honors mark the 6-foot-2 guard's best season in Division I.
He had a tremendous season with Dodge City Community College in the 2021-22 season, earning accolade after accolade. However, community college competition pales in comparison to the Big 12 gauntlet.
Fulks became an extension of coach Johnny Dawkins' coaching staff as the floor general who led the charge. He averaged 6.7 assists per game, ranking 10th nationally and second in the conference.
The Knights' point guard holds the single-season assist record with 222 assists. His playmaking isn't just about his vision, but his teammates' ability to finish the play.
"I play with really good teammates, I play with a lot of pros," Fulks said after UCF upset then-No. 19 Brigham Young. "All these other teams, you know, they're getting all these accolades. Talking about they play with the top picks, but I play with a lot of pros. Like, look at our starting lineup. John Bol, Jordan Burks, Riley Kugel, a lot of talented guys and they make life a lot easier for me."
Fulks' playmaking may be his number one strength, but his scoring is an underrated aspect of his game, especially against top competition. He upped his game when UCF played against AP Top 25 opponents, averaging 17.8 points.
Against then-No. 1 Arizona on Jan. 17, Fulks recorded a career-high in points with 30 on 11-for-18 shooting. The Knights lost, 84-77, but stood a chance because their leader had a career night.
Fulks' stable presence for Dawkins played a crucial role in helping break UCF's six-year NCAA Tournament drought. He played in the March Madness three seasons ago and said it was an honor to represent Orlando in Philadelphia.
"I'm just thankful that I made the right choice and came to UCF," Fulks said after the team was revealed as the No. 10 seed. "I had the right teammates and coaches, and we're just able to go to the tournament because I haven't been to the tournament in years, and it just feels so good to be back."
Although UCF did not go far in the tournament, losing to the No. 7 seed UCLA Bruins, Fulks ended his career with a stellar year for the Knights. For now, until someone breaks his single-season assist record, he is etched in UCF's record book as its top playmaker for life.
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