Good for her. Worth $440K today with a husband working as a janitor as he was previously the first black supervisor at an International Harvester plant that closed down.

 

Isiah Thomas recalls his college recruitment: "My mom closed the briefcase and said, ‘My son’s not for sale" - Basketball Network - Your daily dose of basketball

 

Very impressive. Isiah ends up going to Indiana, and he should have been on the Dream Team. 

 

It was Mary Thomas who ultimately made the decision. She called a press conference and announced, “My son has made his decision. He’s going to Indiana University.” Isiah remembers the moment with humor: “I wasn’t even smiling. My head was down. It was totally her decision.”

The rest is history. Thomas led Indiana to a national championship and launched his path to the NBA Hall of Fame. But it all started with a mother who, in the midst of poverty, showed that some things—like her son’s future—are simply not for sale.