By LARRY VAUGHT

Irving Thomas, 43, was the last player Joe B. Hall recruited to play at Kentucky and even though he went on to transfer to Florida State, he has remained a Kentucky fan.

Now Thomas is a scout for the Los Angeles Lakers, a job he has had since 2001 following his professional playing career.

So how did he go from UK player to LA scout?

“I was playing in Europe and got injured and came home. I was unsure about what I wanted to do because my playing career was over. My wife actually told me to call the Lakers because I had played there to see if they had anything available. I thought she was crazy but as a good wife will do, she pestered me to death until I made the call. I finally did and Jerry West called me back and that is how the dialogue started,” Thomas said during a recent scouting trip to Rupp Arena.

He started going to the NBA predraft camp to evaluate talent and kept telling Lakers officials he wanted to do more. Finally he got his chance and he loves it.

“I am pretty much in the southeastern part of the United States, but I will travel anywhere. My two regions are Midwest and Eastern as well as the Caribbean. There are times I travel abroad that I enjoy. Basically I will go anywhere. I still live in Florida right outside of Miami in an area called Coral Springs,” Thomas said.

“I am at games all the time during the season. It is great in Florida because we have three major conferences that come to Florida. I am there a lot and wait for teams to come to me. There is a lot of travel during season, but once the season is over I am home a lot — probably too much at times for my wife. But it is great, a great opportunity and I am glad to be part of it.”

He thinks top recruits will pay attention to UK coach John Calipari’s NBA experience and contacts. He says it is no surprise that John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins and Eric Bledsoe all signed with UK after Calipari arrived.

“ think it is a big deal because his time at the level allowed him to create relationships that young guys respect. It is so different in the NBA if somebody comes in with credentials that players just automatically respect. It is the same when it comes down to the college level. I do think it adds credibility to what he is doing here,” Thomas said.

Thomas expects to be back at Kentucky often this year because of the talent on the UK roster. But why come rather than just watch on TV or tape?

“The reason we come to games is because it is impossible to gauge speed, size, athletic ability on TV. That is why we come. The beauty is once we come and get a feel for a player’s athletic gifts, then you can watch on television and follow up what you have already seen. But it is important to see and try to be as close as possible. We go to training camp and have a great gauge for what it takes to play at the level,” Thomas said.

“I like to see a game, not a practice. I think there is nothing more important than the game. You have always heard about the great practice player who gets in a game and then he can’t transfer his talent to game-time situations. There is nothing like the games to judge talent and see if they understand situational basketball and how smart they are and how they can read the game. There are times require certain situations and thinking. Practice is important, but there’s nothing like a game.”

However, he’s already seen enough from Kentucky to realize how much better the Cats will be this year than they have been.

“I think the team has improved its talent level,” said Thomas, who is not allowed by the Lakers to comment on specific players. “I think they selected a great coach. It is nice to see the enthusiasm back in the program and optimism back. I am looking forward to great things this season from Kentucky.”

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