As the season kicks into high gear, Milwaukee Panthers guard Themus Fulks has emerged as a pivotal player. His steady contributions have been instrumental in the Panthers’ three-game winning streak, highlighted by a notable non-conference victory over Akron.
Fulks’ impressive guard play has been instrumental in the Panthers’ offensive success, providing coach Bart Lundy with the true floor general he lacked in his first two years at Milwaukee. His ability to get downhill, finish around the rim and create good opportunities for his teammates really sets the tone for the Panthers’ style of play.
The senior guard is delivering a strong campaign with his high-quality performance. He is averaging 15 points, 3.2 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game while shooting 54.4% from the field.
Milwaukee’s need for a true point guard, combined with Fulks’ strong relationship with Lundy and the team’s aspirations for an NCAA Tournament run, played key roles in his decision to transfer for his final collegiate season.
“I feel like God makes no mistakes, you know. I was destined to come here and play in Milwaukee. I got a taste of the tournament, and with this coaching staff, it gives me a fighting chance to get back to the tournament,” said Fulks. “The biggest thing for me is to go somewhere where the coaching staff believed in me and looked for me to be one of the guys.”
Fulks nearly transferred to Milwaukee in 2022, shortly after the Panthers hired Lundy as their head coach. He visited the school with BJ Freeman, who had two standout seasons with the Panthers before transferring to Arizona State.
Fulks already had a strong connection with the coaching staff. Lundy, who recruited him out of high school while coaching at Queens University, maintained a relationship with the North Carolina native. After starting his collegiate career at South Carolina State, Fulks spent the 2021-22 season at Dodge City Community College under Jake Williams, now Milwaukee’s associate head coach, where he played alongside Freeman.
Ultimately, Fulks chose Louisiana Lafayette over Milwaukee in 2022. While he performed well during his two seasons there, averaging 9.2 points per game as a sophomore and 10.6 points as a junior, the system wasn’t an ideal fit for his playing style. Now at Milwaukee, Fulks is thriving in a system that allows him greater freedom to lead on the court.
Fulks credits his season at Dodge City for preparing him to excel as a high-impact player at the Division I level.
“I’ve always felt like I was a really good player,” Fulks said. “In high school, I averaged 36 points and five assists per game. I felt like I was a really good player, but I just didn’t get the exposure. So with me going JUCO, I played in a really tough conference, and it showed that I can compete at the highest level.”
The Winston-Salem, North Carolina, native has played for three different programs during his collegiate career before transferring to Milwaukee for his final season. Each stop has played a crucial role in preparing him for this moment. One of Fulks’ primary goals this season is securing a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
Fulks gained valuable NCAA Tournament experience with Louisiana in 2023. That opportunity has fueled his determination to return to the tournament and leave a lasting impact with the Panthers. Milwaukee is looking to secure the Horizon League title and earn the automatic bid for the NCAA Tournament, seeking their first appearance since 2014.
The Panthers (8-4, 2-0 Horizon League) host Division III North Central (Ill.) at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Klotsche Center before diving fully into Horizon League play. They will then face IU Indy at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 29, at the Klotsche Center as conference action intensifies.
“We want to win conference,” said Fulks at The Bart Lundy Basketball Show on Monday. “We have an older team, so everybody knows we have to win these games. Everybody is going to be looking forward to and ready for conference play.”
