Young Mike Thomas had a choice. Tap dancing, or basketball.

Years later as a freshman at Hawaii, Thomas had another decision to make. Pout about his role, or do something about it.

Each time, it was really no choice at all. He went with the latter.

The Rainbow Warriors forward, now a sophomore starter, has taken large steps toward fulfilling the promise that lay dormant for most of his first go-around in Manoa.

If you toss out his tentative performances in the first two games of the season (a combined three points on 1-for-8 shooting) the 6-foot-7 Thomas has averaged nearly 10 points per game on 51.8 percent shooting over the past eight, helping UH to an unexpected 7-3 start.

He’s played out of position much of the time as a makeshift center in coach Benjy Taylor’s small-ball schemes, but is second on the team in field-goal percentage heading into Friday’s matchup against Chaminade at the Blaisdell Arena.

A breakout season was not a question of if, but when for Thomas, who came to UH in 2013 as an athletic and talented post player out of El Camino Real High in Los Angeles. But the answer came sooner than some might have expected after he shot 28 percent in 5.6 minutes a night as a lanky freshman.

It came partially out of necessity — UH lost star forward Isaac Fotu to the pros in the preseason, then freshman big man Sammis Reyes to injuries and an eventual decision to transfer out — but Thomas was ready. An offseason of rigorous workouts, both in the gym and in the weight room, combined with an aggressive mentality built up his once-scarce confidence from a weakness to a weapon.

"I’m starting to adapt to it more, getting used to the fatigue and the body and the way we’re playing and everything," Thomas said. "It’s just a little different to go from nothing to playing."

Now he gets his name called over the loudspeakers and gets recognized around campus.

You wouldn’t know it by talking to him.

Mike’s younger brother by three years, Brandon, is a guard at Taft High in Los Angeles. His game is considerably different, but he’s taken his older brother’s lead in social respects.

"We’re kind of low-key people," Brandon said. "He doesn’t want it to be about him. It helps the team aspect and everything."

When Mike was 12, his father, John, worked at a local YMCA. Tap dancing and basketball were the only options. Brandon had the same choice and took the same path, and hopes to follow his brother’s lead to play Division I in a couple of years.

Thomas will occasionally yell out in frustration or elation on the court, but otherwise won’t say much. At all. Especially to opponents.

"I think it helps, because sometimes an opponent takes you lightly because you’re not talking." Thomas said. "It doesn’t get them amped. But I’m already amped and ready to play."

Taylor sees a switch in Thomas whenever he takes the floor.

"He’s a wonderful human being. A great kid, a smart student-athlete," the coach said. "But you know, the thing I like about him is, (on the court) he’ll punch you in the mouth any chance he gets. When he gets in the 94 by 50 now, he’s a handful. He gets his paws on that ball and he’s as tough as they come."

There’s still quite a bit of room for growth for the lefty. Thomas’ nascent perimeter game has so far gone mostly untapped, as he’s usually needed down low. But once 6-11 forward Stefan Jankovic is eligible to play (likely in the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic) Thomas might get to step out for shots more and attack the rim on the run.

"He has all the potential in the world, I think," forward Aaron Valdes said.

Taylor, who said he thought Thomas should have played more last season, would like to see his minutes climb from about 21 a game to in the neighborhood of 25 or 26. But that’s dependent on him staying out of foul trouble.

Of UH’s 10 games so far, Thomas finished with four fouls in five games and fouled out in a sixth.

"I need to learn how to play without fouls and everything," he said. "I think I’m getting better at it."

Away from basketball, his interests range from math — he’s an accounting major and enjoys number crunching — to photographing Oahu’s lush scenery.

He comes across as quiet and somewhat reserved, but he’s actually a pretty social guy off the court. He even recruited a few of his L.A.-area friends to attend school at UH.

"I enjoy talking to people. It’s not like I’m a hermit or anything," he said with a laugh. "But I’m never going to be yelling my opinions and all that stuff."