Boys’ basketball: Loyola officially has its first 7-footer in Thomas Welsh

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Junior center Thomas Welsh of Los Angels Loyola is officially breathing the rarefied air reserved for 7-footers.

Last week, Loyola measured its players with their shoes on, and Welsh came in just over 7 feet, Coach Jamal Adams said. Last season he was listed at 6-11.

There was no screaming or yelling in the Welsh home. They and lots of other people already knew he had reached 7 feet in his size 17 shoes. And everyone seems to be tall in the Welsh family. His younger brother, Henry, is a 6-8 freshman at Loyola.

But Welsh likes being a 7-footer.

‘It’s something I’ve always talked about, ‘Yeah, I’m going to be 7-feet tall one day,’’ he said.

Most importantly, he keeps improving as a basketball player. He continues to make giant strides in strength and agility. He’s dunking the ball much more easily. And few work harder on and off the court.

-- Eric Sondheimer