Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images

Who Are Thomas Sorber’s Parents? A Look at the Family Behind the Rise of 2025 NBA Draft No. 15 Pick

From sacrifice to support, meet the family who shaped Thomas Sorber’s journey

Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images

Thomas Sorber, a 19-year-old Georgetown center, was selected by the reigning NBA champions, OKC Thunder as No. 15 pick after a strong freshman season. The former four-star recruit from Archbishop Ryan High School averaged 14.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 2 blocks across 24 games before a foot injury ended his year.

Sorber earned Big East Rookie of the Week honors after back-to-back standout performances to open the season. At the NBA Draft Combine, Sorber measured 6’9¼” barefoot with a 7’6″ wingspan and weighed in at 262.8 pounds, establishing himself as one of the most physically dominant prospects in the draft.

With the 15th pick of the NBA Draft the @okcthunder select Thomas Sorber (@ThomasSorber_)!

2025 #NBADraft presented by State Farm LIVE on ABC & ESPN! pic.twitter.com/EPTlpFMbK2
— NBA (@NBA) June 26, 2025

Who are Thomas Sorber’s parents?

Thomas Sorber’s parents are Peter and Tenneh Sorber, immigrants from war-torn Liberia who resettled in the United States in the late 1990s. Peter, his father and coach, died of colon cancer when Thomas was just six years old.

From that point on, Tenneh raised Thomas, his older brother, Peter Jr., and his older sister, Regina, on her own, navigating immense challenges while keeping her husband’s last wish alive: to keep their sons in Catholic school and on the basketball court.

If you don’t know who Thomas Sorber it is, it’s time to familiarize yourself

He’s a 19-year-old big with a 7’6” wing span and a versatile skillset that will fit seamlessly at the NBA level

His defense gives of shades of a future all-defensive contender, as he already has great… pic.twitter.com/7gHoiEgBmA
— Point Made Basketball (@pointmadebball) June 16, 2025

Who is Thomas Sorber’s mother?

Thomas Sorber’s mother is Tenneh Sorber. A woman who worked two to three jobs, sometimes going to bed hungry so her sons could eat. She drove him to club practices every weekend, ferried both boys to countless games, and supported Thomas at her best.

According to an interview with the Philadelphia Inquirer, “If they see me crying, they ask me why,” she recalled. “It’s like they’re afraid to lose me, so I said to myself, ‘I’ve got to be strong for these kids,’ because I was going through a lot.”

Thomas, in turn, never lost sight of that strength. “At the end of the day, I just want to make my mom happy,” he said, “not have her work another day.” Tenneh, ever-present yet selfless, guided him in his college decision too.

Their bond is rooted in frequent phone calls and quiet understanding. “She tells me almost every day that she’s proud of me,” Thomas shared. “Just keep being me. Don’t let anybody bring you down.”

Thomas Sorber offers supreme adaptability on both ends with his tremendous instincts, 7-foot-6 wingspan, and magnetic hands. The strides he’s made with his frame, conditioning, and overall skill level over the past 18 months have impressed NBA teams. https://t.co/sqEj0G5hCG pic.twitter.com/ooQccLx4l0
— Jacob Myers (@League_Him) June 14, 2025

Who is Thomas Sorber’s father?

Thomas Sorber’s father is Peter Sorber. He passed away in 2013 due to colon cancer. A soccer coach by passion, Peter encouraged his children’s early love for basketball, especially during those Saturday mornings at the park.

Tenneh stated to the Philadelphia Inquirer, “Thomas would always be crying because he was so little. They’re not giving him the ball, or it was just too much. Gradually, Thomas started picking up.”

Before his deathbed goodbye, Peter left Tenneh with a promise to uphold: keep the boys in Catholic school and let them chase their basketball dreams. It’s a legacy that still reverberates.

Thomas Sorber with some parting words on IG to Georgetown fans. pic.twitter.com/aIRsSs6fgk
— The Finger WAG (@FingerWAGHoyas) June 10, 2025

All three members of the Sorber family have dreamt of Peter watching Thomas play. In one shared dream, he sits between his sons, places his hands on their knees, and says, “It will be all right.”

Also Read: When is the NBA Champions Parade? What will be the OKC Thunder Championship Parade Route?

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Rudra Dubey

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I’m an academic turned sports writer from Raipur, India, specializing in the NFL, MMA, and tennis at The Playoffs. I previously wrote for Sportskeeda and hold a B.A. and M.A. in History. My journey into sports media began far from the field, rooted in the arts and sciences. Funny enough, I didn’t grow up a sports fan; I used to see it all as just noise. But a fateful writing job introduced me to the world of sports, and what began as a gig quickly became a passion. I understood those voices aren’t noise; they’re emotions of true sports fans, and now I am one of them, writing with the same energy I once questioned.