The University of St. Thomas’ men’s basketball team gained an important piece to its lineup on April 18 after a Twitter announcement from former University of Minnesota forward Jarvis Omersa, an incoming junior, who averaged a team high 1.3 steals per game before leaving the team due to personal health concerns surrounding COVID-19.

Already living blocks away from campus, Omersa joins his former 16U D1 Minnesota teammates Anders Nelson and Zach Theisen in the midst of St. Thomas’ historic leap to the Summit League and Division I next season.

Their connection began in 2016 when D1 Minnesota was also in need of a big man.

“We were a really talented group and we played well together, but we were just so close off the court that that’s what made things fun,” Nelson said.

The three continued their friendship into college, and sometimes talked about playing together in the future.

“In the dorms freshman year, we would joke around you know, ‘St. Thomas, what if they go DI? what if they go DI?,’” Omersa said. “I guess it has always been something that’s just been kinda building and building.”

Omersa’s athleticism and scoring ability around the rim are the biggest improvements that Theisen has seen since playing with him as 16-year-olds.

“He says he’s probably 6-7, but he plays like he’s 6-10, 6-11, and I think that will help us a lot,” Theisen said. “With him in the lineup, we will look small on paper, but I think he will help us guard the bigger people.”

Omersa’s announcement video on Twitter featured Nelson throwing him an alley-oop, something Nelson is excited to be doing more of next year.

Devil in a new dress… 👹 pic.twitter.com/bAQWfq76iP

— rockstarjarv (@harvisomersa) April 18, 2021

“Everybody who knows Jarvis knows he’s a force and he’s a high-energy guy,” Nelson said. “I know he does a variety of stuff, so I’m excited to see how he fits in with us.”

Joey Swanson can be reached at swan5350@stthomas.edu.