Vito's Additional Blog On Thompson

[UNTLifer]

A little more on Thompson

As promised, here is a little more of what Tristan Thompson had to say about his decision to attend UNT.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of Thompson's journey through the recruiting process was that UNT wasn't even on his radar until the Mean Green made its run through the Sun Belt Conference tournament and earned its first bid to the NCAA Tournament since 1988.

UNT contacted Thompson a short time after it lost to Memphis. From there Mean Green head coach Johnny Jones closed the deal. Thompson said his relationship with Jones was the biggest factor in his decision, although UNT being close to his home in Angleton and the Mean Green losing three of its key wing players certainly didn't hurt.

Thompson's mother also appeared to be a factor. Thompson said he and his mother hit it off with Jones, who invited both to visit his family.

I also just received an e-mail from Brewster head coach Jason Smith. I didn't get a chance to include his comments in tomorrow's story, but here is what he had to say.

"Tristan was our most consistent scorer during the second half of our season, Smith said. "He is a pure scorer and has a tremendous basketball IQ. After the New Year, he averaged 17 points per game."

UNT's coaches cannot comment on Thompson until his letter of intent rolls off the fax tomorrow, but I also talked to Mike Kunstadt, the editor at Texashoops.com. Kunstadt had Thompson rated No. 18 in Texas in the class of 2006 and said he is the top-rated Texas high school player UNT has landed in at least five years who did not transfer from another college.

Considering UNT would have had no chance at Thompson before going to the NCAA Tournament, the question of whether Jones will capitalize on the Mean Green's bid appears to have been answered.

UNT has commitments from Thompson and Midland College point guard Ryan McCoy, a pair of players Rivals.com has ranked as three-star recruits, and Mesa (Ariz.) Community College guard Adam McCoy. The Mean Green has not had two three-star recruits in a class since Marqus Mitchell and Mark Wilson arrived in 2003. Ryan McCoy was ranked 40th in Texas in the class of 2005, giving UNT two top 40 players from Texas in its current recruiting class as well.

Granted, Wilson was a bust and Mitchell a role player, but you have to like a team's chances for success with players if they are highly regarded. Thompson was a highly recruited player with several other offers and both McCoys passed on other Division I offers.

Word is UNT has one scholarship left -- possibly two -- and will now turn its attention to finding a big man, potentially someone who would sit out the upcoming season and soften the blow the Mean Green takes when Keith Wooden and Quincy Williams graduate after next season.

For more on Thompson and to read exactly what he had to say, see tomorrow's Denton Record-Chronicle story. The following is a link:

http://www.dentonrc.com/sharedcontent/dws/...8.15ce15fe.html

[Harry]

By R.V. Baugus

Posted Mar 14, 2006

Congratulations to the following UIL State Basketball Boys All-Tournament Teams. As you can see, there is a sprinkling of underclassmen in this group, which means that some teams are pinning hopes on returning to Austin next year.

CLASS 5A

Joseph Fulce, Sr., Plano; John Roberson, Jr., Plano; Mike Singletary, Jr., Kingwood; Ben Uzoh, Sr., San Antonio Warren; Nic Wise, Sr., Kingwood.

CLASS 4A

Darrell Arthur, Sr., Dallas South Oak Cliff; DeAndre Brown, Jr., Fort Worth Dunbar; Cortney Hill, Sr., Fort Worth Dunbar; Ronnie Morgan, Sr., Dallas South Oak Cliff; Tristan Thompson, Sr., Angleton.

CLASS 3A

Jermydrell Burton, Sr., Carrollton Ranchview; Wayne Burton, Sr., Carrollton Ranchview; Kadeem Craddock, Jr., Dallas Roosevelt; Vincent McNeil Jr., So., Dallas Roosevelt; Cedric Robinson, Jr., Dallas Roosevelt.

CLASS 2A

Charles Holder, Sr., Arp; Sedrick Johnson, So., Arp; Daniel McPherson, Sr., Ponder; Zach Tillman, Sr., Tahoka; Corey Walker, So., Arp.

CLASS A

Drew Godwin, Jr., Bogata Rivercrest; Jake Hoelting, Sr., Nazareth; Matt Messer, Sr., Gruver; Aaron Palmer, Sr., Bogata Rivercrest; Dustin Schulte, Jr.,

[NT80]

"The Mean Green has not had two three-star recruits in a class since Marqus Mitchell and Mark Wilson arrived in 2003. Ryan McCoy was ranked 40th in Texas in the class of 2005, giving UNT two top 40 players from Texas in its current recruiting class as well.

Granted, Wilson was a bust and Mitchell a role player, but you have to like a team's chances for success with players if they are highly regarded. Thompson was a highly recruited player with several other offers and both McCoys passed on other Division I offers."

That is why I don't get too excited over players and their "stars" until they prove it on the college field or court.

[CMJ]

What does the "possibly two" mean? Which kid is unhappy about being here and considering leaving?

[Guest GrayEagleOne]

What does the "possibly two" mean? Which kid is unhappy about being here and considering leaving?

Just my guess, but I'd think that it's J J Jackson. He has played VERY sparingly since high school. I believe his problem is a bad foot. If he can't get healthy, I hope that he will forego his last year's scholarship. We desparately need two more big men.

[UNTLifer]

Any leads on who JJ might be targeting now?

[meangreenacct]

Any leads on who JJ might be targeting now?

I honestly don't know. The only big who we show up on the lists for is Anthony Harris, but I'm not sure if we're really pursuing him. Hopefully there's a big looking to transfer out of a power conference school for more PT.

[foutsrouts]

We have very little history of doing so, but I would guess that an overseas big man would also be a possibility. I've always thought that we are situated well for picking up some international talent, but it rarely seems to happen for us in any sport. I would love for us to find some kind of a diamond in the rough from the foreign b-ball world.

[CMJ]

I hope JJ can get another transfer in this year. But we HAVE to start getting more HS guys in the future, if only to make recruiting easier. We're basically having to replace half the regular rotation every year now.

[drex]

JJ at least has a lot more clout with which to recruit since he made the tournament. Back in Blakeley's era we had a seven foot Swede who played limitedly. He really was not much of a factor, but European basketball has come a long way since then.

[Green Means Go!]

JJ at least has a lot more clout with which to recruit since he made the tournament. Back in Blakeley's era we had a seven foot Swede who played limitedly. He really was not much of a factor, but European basketball has come a long way since then.

That's Swede's name was Bernt Malion. I think he only lasted a year at NT.

Anyway, one thing that I remember about him: As you know when we sign a high schooler from over here.....it might say that he played in District 13-5A or something like that. But, wanna guess what league Bernt played in over in Sweden?

The Stockholm Industrial League.

Edited May 2, 2007 by Green Means Go!