Editing Isiah Thomas (section)

==Early life==
Isiah Lord Thomas III is the son of Isiah Thomas II and Mary Thomas.<ref name="consciousness">{{cite news|url=http://www.consciousnessmagazine.com/IsiahThomas.html|author=Aaron Robinson|title=Isiah Thomas Receives Lifetime Humanitarian Award "Children Uniting Nations 2013 Awards Celebration and viewing Diner"|publisher=Consciousness magazine|date=2013|access-date=April 27, 2017|archive-date=August 12, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160812061731/http://consciousnessmagazine.com/IsiahThomas.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The youngest of 9 children, Thomas was born on April 30, 1961, in [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]], and grew up in the city's [[West Side, Chicago|West Side]]. He started playing basketball at age three and would dribble and shoot baskets as the halftime entertainment at [[Catholic Youth Organization]] games.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Berkow |first1=Ira |title=At 19, Thomas Makes His Decision |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/04/27/sports/at-19-thomas-makes-his-decision.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=29 July 2019 |date=27 April 1981 |archive-date=July 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190729180223/https://www.nytimes.com/1981/04/27/sports/at-19-thomas-makes-his-decision.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Thomas's father, Isiah Thomas II, was an army veteran wounded in the [[Battle of Saipan]].<ref name="consciousness"/> He later attended trade school, eventually becoming the first black supervisor at [[International Harvester]] in Chicago. When the plant closed, the only work he could find was as a janitor; the family fell into hardship. Isiah Thomas II left the family when Isiah was a young child.<ref name=consciousness/>

Isiah Thomas III attended [[Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica|Our Lady of Sorrows School]] and [[St. Joseph High School (Westchester, Illinois)|St. Joseph High School]] in [[Westchester, Illinois|Westchester]], which was a 20-minute commute from his home.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hartman |first1=Hermene |title=Pop A Cork With Isiah Thomas! |url=https://ndigo.com/2019/05/26/pop-cork-isiah-thomas/ |website=ndigo.com |access-date=July 29, 2019 |date=May 26, 2019 |archive-date=September 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220904111452/https://ndigo.com/2019/05/26/pop-cork-isiah-thomas/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="slate">{{cite news| url=http://www.slate.com/id/2144509| title=The Devil Wears Nikes; Liking Isiah Thomas against my better judgment| last=Metcalf| first=Stephen| date=June 29, 2006| work=Slate.com| access-date=November 2, 2008| archive-date=July 26, 2008| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080726031425/http://www.slate.com/id/2144509/| url-status=live}}</ref> Playing under coach [[Gene Pingatore]], he led St. Joseph to the state finals in his junior year and was considered one of the top college prospects in the country.<ref name=SI>{{cite magazine| last= Reed| first= William F.| title= There's No Doubting Thomas| url= https://www.si.com/vault/issue/70932/17| access-date= May 28, 2018| magazine= [[Sports Illustrated]]| date= April 6, 1981| archive-date= May 28, 2018| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180528222329/https://www.si.com/vault/issue/70932/17| url-status= live}}</ref>