“They always got something to say”: Meleek Thomas explains why his trash-talking game is strong on Flau’jae Johnson’s podcast

Meleek Thomas, the No. 11 class of 2025 prospect, went viral with his trash-talking skills earlier this month. The shooting guard was playing down his opponents, and when one of them called him a "fake four-star," Thomas quickly replied that he was a five.

During an appearance on Flau'jae Johnson's "Best of Both Worlds" podcast on Thursday, Meleek Thomas was asked about his trash-talking and how he was so quick with his rebuttals.

"Because where I'm from, it's just like and the people I be around they always got something to say back to what I say like, always since I've been growing up," Thomas said. "So it's like I got unlimited thoughts in my head, like if somebody say something, I just know what I'm going to say next."

Meleek Thomas is preparing for his final season in high school

Meleek Thomas announced in June that he will be leaving Lincoln Park Performing Arts High School in Pittsburgh to sign with Overtime Elite. The guard plays for the New Heights Lightning in the Nike EYBL and averages 20.3 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 27 minutes per game.

When talking about his decision to make the move to OTE, Thomas said:

"I did everything I needed to do where I'm from. We won back-to-back state championships. Now it's time to be seen by NBA personnel, GMs, scouts, the people that you need to be in front of. At OTE they get your name out. Everything they do goes around the world. I want to be broadcasted more."

In an interview with Pittsburgh Union Progress, Meleek Thomas delved into the specifics of his game that make him one of the top prospects in the country.

"I take pride in defense," Thomas said. "The more you get into the season, the harder the games become. The atmosphere becomes bigger. Everything just gets more serious, more intense. So, if I lollygagged around on defense, I would be viewed as a completely different player."

Meleek Thomas announced his top seven schools, and they include UConn, Pittsburg, Kansas, Kansas State, Arkansas, Auburn and Alabama. Per On3, the Panthers have the most chance of landing the five-star recruit, while UConn comes a close second. Auburn and Arkansas are the two other schools in contention to add Thomas to their roster for the 2025-26 season.

Where do you think Thomas will play next season? Let us know in the comments section below.