Q&A With Tennessee Commit Landon Thome
December 17, 2024
MIF Landon Thome (Nazareth, 2026; Tennessee commit) has been one of the top players in the state of Illinois since he stepped into the high school ranks, and he has done nothing but raise his stock throughout the last couple years. Already a state champion that has been a cornerstone in the talented Nazareth lineup for his first two springs, Thome earned invites to numerous national events this past summer that proved to be instrumental for his recruiting process.
In his first-ever Prep Baseball event, Thome took on the national stage at the Future Games and proved to be one of the biggest winners from Team Illinois. Long regarded as one of the more polished hitters in the state with premium bat-to-ball skills, Thome also has continued to elevate himself on the infield dirt and improve his run-tool, turning heads of recruiters from all over the country.
Our Q&A
PBR: What were your expectations about the recruiting process? What were you looking for out of a college program to continue your baseball career at?
Landon: The biggest factors for me out of a team was a coaching staff that I could build a good relationship with and a team that allowed me to be best set up to accomplish my dream of being a big leaguer.
P: Did location or distance from home play a factor in your decision?
L: Distance didn't matter to me. I looked at west coast, midwest, and east coast schools but I just wanted to find a place that cared about me and felt like home.
P: When did the recruiting process really start to heat up for you? Where did the school you committed to first see you play?
L: A few schools reached out my freshman year, but August 1st of this year was the first point where Tennessee and all the other schools started talking to me. Futures Games and Area Codes were the two events that really helped me get seen and was the first time that Coach V and the staff saw me play.
P: What do you like most about the program you chose, and what were the key factors in making your decision?
L: At Tennessee, the coaches really care about you and they want the best for you, and their ultimate goal for all their players is to develop them into big leaguers. They are also one of the best programs in the nation and have produced some of the best hitters these last few years.
P: What other schools were on your short list before you made your final decision?
L: Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Oklahoma, UCLA and USC.
P: What advice would you give to young baseball players striving to get where you are?
L: Keep putting in the time in the weight room and the cage but most of all just have fun and don't put too much pressure on yourself. Playing relaxed and having fun definitely makes it easier to succeed.
P: What is the most memorable moment in your baseball career to this point?
L: Winning a state championship freshman year with our Naz team was something i'll never forget and i'll always cherish those moments with that team.
P: How did the Future Games and/or the Illinois State Games affect your recruitment process? Did you receive more attention following the event(s)?
L: Futures game was huge because it allowed me to be in an environment with the best players in the nation and helped me get seen by most of the schools that reached out August 1st. August 1st was a crazy day and most of all the coaches said that they saw me play at Futures Games so it really played a big part in my recruiting and It was definitely my favorite event of the summer.
P: Who is the next talented young player to keep an eye on out of your high school or travel program?
L: Kamran Alikhan is one of the most underrated outfielders that has really made big strides this year. He is a physical outfielder that can really play defense and has also come along really well with his bat. He is definitely a guy to look for this upcoming season.
P: Did Prep Baseball assist in your recruiting? Whether it be through a showcase, tournament coverage, tweets, etc? If yes, please explain.
L: PBR definitely helped me in the recruiting process through the Futures Game and giving me the opportunity to be down there and get seen by all the different schools.