As expected, freshman basketball player Fred Thomas has been academically cleared by the NCAA and is enrolled at Mississippi State, the school announced this afternoon.

This now gives first-year coach Rick Ray his entire allotment of the 2012-13 roster, which includes seven signees. Thomas, who led Jackson Jim Hill to the Class 6A state crown last season, is a 6-foot-5 guard who averaged 19.9 points and 5.9 rebounds as a senior. As a junior, he averaged 20.0 points and 6.3 rebounds.

Ray said on Aug. 9 that he anticipated Thomas being fully qualified for this fall. Thomas is expected to log a lot of playing time and will likely battle for a starting job at the three spot.

MSU opens preseason practices Oct. 12. The season begins Nov. 9 at Troy.