When Zennia Thomas arrived at Howard University in 2024, she wasn’t just transferring schools — she was trying to find her way back to herself. 

On paper, she looked like a Division I athlete who had come from the Southeastern Conference, battle-tested and ready. Internally, she felt anything but settled. She found herself a bit more tired than usual, even out of shape.  

“The way that I was feeling, I felt so far behind. I was experiencing trouble breathing. Even walking up the hill was a challenge. It wasn’t normal,” said Thomas, a senior health science major from Cleveland, Ohio.  

During a routine physical, she shared her experiences with health care professionals, and what followed next was a cascade of medical tests: blood work, allergy screenings, heart scans, and asthma evaluations. She lived in a space between uncertainty and fear before an echocardiogram painted a clear picture: Thomas had a regurgitation in her right heart valve — a partial leak that required deeper evaluation. 

“I was just confused where it came from,” Thomas recalled. “I’d never had health issues. I was healthy. No birth defects. Nothing like that.” 

While more tests and visits with cardiologists followed, Thomas was sidelined, naturally beginning to question if she’d ever get on the court and show why she was courted by Head Coach Ty Grace to leave the University of Kentucky and the SEC to help take Howard to the next level. 

“When I heard that I couldn’t play and I’d have to sit out, that was heartbreaking,” she said. “This was my chance to come back. And here was another setback.” 

Thomas underwent a right heart catheter procedure — a serious step for any athlete, let alone a 19-year-old student-athlete. She was cleared to play, making her Bison debut in November 2024. At the conclusion of the 2024-2025 season, Thomas was named to the MEAC All-Tournament Team and shot a MEAC-best 50% from the field while ranking among the conference leaders in several categories, including rebounding (tied for fourth place), free throw percentage (seventh place), and blocks (tied for eighth place). As the 2025-2026 season got underway, Thomas, along with teammate Nile Miller, was named to the Preseason All-MEAC First Team and was a major factor in voters’ decision to name Howard as the preseason favorite to win the conference. Since then, Thomas has earned three MEAC Player of the Week nods and one Defensive Player of the Week honor while averaging 15.4 points and 7.7 rebounds per game.  

Not too bad for a young woman who was doubting if she’d ever get back on the court again.  

“I believe [my health scare] happened for a reason. God wanted me to refocus on basketball — and on myself,” Thomas said, crediting the situation with sharpening her mental game. “It made me want to lock in, work harder, and be better every single day.” 

Thomas’ mother, Sheena Douglas, remembers how frightening this period was and grateful for the support her daughter received, saying the diagnosis hit “like a ton of bricks.” 

“It was very tough for the entire family. As a mom, it was hard to think that your baby may not be able to play the game they love so much,” said Douglas, who comes from a family who loves sports, especially basketball, and had Thomas playing in youth leagues at just three years old. Her parents and sister joined her on the drive from Cleveland to Washington to be present for Thomas’ procedure and are grateful to not just see Thomas recover but thrive once again on the basketball court.  

“We leaned on our faith and with the support of family and her coaches, we go through it,” said Douglas, who is looking forward to making it out for Senior Night later this month and being present in Norfolk for the MEAC Basketball Tournament. 

“We already have the family group chat for the MEAC and it’s around her grandmother’s birthday, so we’re definitely looking forward to it,” Douglas said. “I’ll be in the stands and coaching from the sidelines, but also just looking forward to the atmosphere and energy of HBCU basketball.” 

Thomas and her teammates are truly living up to preseason expectations. At 16-7 overall, they sit atop the MEAC with a 6-1 conference record. This Saturday, they host South Carolina State in a game that will air on ESPN+. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. The team will then head to Dover to play Delaware State on Thursday, Feb. 12 before a Valentine’s Day showdown against the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, a game in which they hope to avenge a 62-56 loss back in January. 

This season is certainly moving as Thomas hoped, and she truly believes that leaving Kentucky and choosing to play for an HBCU was the best decision she could have made. The decision was more than just basketball; it was about belonging.  

“People thought I downgraded leaving the SEC. But for me, it was an upgrade. I’m in the best place I could possibly be,” Thomas said. “At Kentucky, there weren’t many spaces for Black people. I felt boxed in. Here, I can be myself, whether that’s talking about anime, playing video games, or just hanging out with people who get me. 

“Everybody here wants to see you win, not just on the court, but in life,” Thomas said. “I’ve really found community.” 

Thomas has also found, in Coach Grace, a mentor and confidant. Admittedly, Thomas said, her passion for the game may have caused her to rightfully earn the nickname of “Crash Out Baby,” last year. But, with another year under her belt and Coach Grace’s guidance, Thomas says she sees the growth from one season to the next. 

“The support is different here,” she said “Coach Ty advocates for us everywhere. She talks about us like we matter. She listens. She’s not judgmental. That’s something I didn’t always have (before Howard).” 

“And her support has helped me become a better leader. I realized if I fall apart, the whole team feels it,” Thomas added. “Coach Grace keeps me together. She tells me I have to be locked in because I am a leader.” 

In addition to being a leader on the court, Thomas embraces any opportunity to be an inspiration to others. Whether it’s not receiving recruiting offers until well into her senior year of high school, feeling unseen at the University of Kentucky, or facing a health scare soon after transferring to Howard, Thomas has proven repeatedly that she truly has the heart of champion.  

“You can start anywhere and still make it. You just have to believe in yourself and outwork everybody,” said Thomas, who remains locked in on helping the team win the MEAC Regular Season Championship and improve upon last season’s second place finish in the MEAC Tournament Championship game. And, of course, she has her sights set on being named MEAC Player of the Year. 

“I feel like my first half of the season put me in that conversation. Now I just have to keep building,” Thomas said, adding that she’s hopeful more students will get on board and come out to the remaining home games this season at Burr.  

“We get a lot of traction on social media,” Thomas said with a laugh, referencing the popular anonymous chat group, Fizz. “But I want to see that translate into real life support and see everyone come out to our games.” 

For Thomas, basketball may be the stage — but her story is about faith, growth, and finding home at Howard.  

And doing so with a whole heart.