CHESAPEAKE (WAVY) – Cam Thomas was home in Chesapeake on Saturday for an afternoon filled with food, games, basketball and fun. Entering his fifth NBA season, the Chesapeake native hosted his first annual ‘community day’, a free event that anyone could show up to.

“I always wanted to give back,” Thomas said. “This came about mid-season. My mom behind the scenes orchestrating with my agency… I’m excited it happened.”

More quiet by nature, Thomas shared he wants kids in the 757 to look up to him. “You never want to let the kids down. The kids will look up to you no matter what you do. You always want to set the right example.”

Thomas was a freshman phenom at Oscar Smith high school in 2017, averaging more than 20 points per game. He then finished his prep career at the prestigious basketball super power Oak Hill Academy as a five-star prospect. He played one season at LSU (2020-2021) before being drafted by the Brooklyn Nets 27th overall in 2021.

“It’s very important to give back to the community that you grew up in,” Leslie Thomas, Cam’s mother, said. “It was important to me to show him and tell him ‘you do it for the kids that are coming up. So I just felt like it was very very important for him to give back to Chesapeake.”

Thomas finished his fourth NBA season back in April and is a restricted free agent entering the offseason.