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A.D. on hoop

FOXBOROUGH – Patriots linebacker Adalius Thomas said his first love is basketball, and he’s been following the Celtics’ pursuit of Kevin Garnett with interest.

“I really admire the way he plays the game,” Thomas said after the Patriots’ training camp practice this morning. “A big, tall guy who can run, shoot and dribble, who really hustles and does his job well, it’s going to be exciting to see him in there.”

Thomas played basketball at Central Coosa High School in Equality, Ala., leading the team to the state basketball title. He was the team’s top scorer, rebounder and shot blocker.

Thomas said he still plays casually –- he was a regular at former baseball star Cal Ripken’s house in Baltimore for pickup games –- and in January of 2006 he suited up for a game with the Maryland Nighthawks of the American Basketball Association. At 6-foot-2 and 274 pounds, he easily dunks and said that “the day I can’t dunk is the day I retire.”

How would he assess his game?

“I play defense and rebound, that’s my main thing,” Thomas said. “I’m kind of Dennis Rodman-like. Everybody else likes to shoot and I figure there are enough shooters.”