Thompson To Suit Up For Mean Green

mgsteve · August 16, 2007

Tristan Thompson’s decision on where to begin his college basketball career didn’t turn out to be a shocker.

The Facts’ 2006 Brazoria County Most Valuable Player, who helped lead the Angleton Wildcats to their first appearance in the Class 4A state tournament that season, at one point appeared ready to sign with Wichita State. Instead, he will suit up with the Mean Green of North Texas State.

“I was set to go visit them, but then the entire coaching staff got hired at Texas A&M,” Thompson said. “As soon as North Texas found out, they asked me for a visit. They were losing both of their starting guards and their coach, Johnny Jones, said if I wanted the job it was mine.”

Thompson spurned other schools, included Georgia and Penn State, to come back to the Lone Star State.

After graduating from Angleton, he spent a year at Brewster Academy, a New England prep school, because he thought his game still needed to grow. Not only did his game intensify, but so did he.

“I’m about 6-5 now and weigh 200 pounds,” Thompson said. “I have more contact now when I am going to the basket.”

At Brewster, Thompson averaged 15 points in 13 contests and also had breakout performances of 29, 21 and 18 points. Thompson also netted 25 points in the title game as Brewster captured the New England Prep School Athletic Conference championship.

From all indications, Thompson seemed elated with his stay at Brewster.

“It put my game to another level because we had seven or eight guys who went Division I and another two Division II,” he said. “On a nightly basis, I played against guys who were Division I players.”

Thompson will join a North Texas squad that won a school record 23 games, its first Sun Belt Conference title and earned an automatic berth in the NCAA tournament. They bowed out in the tournament’s first round, but gave second-seeded Memphis all it could handle in a 73-58 loss.

“I’ve been going to summer school at North Texas and also doing their training program,” Thompson said. “Right now I just want to focus on my freshman year and get this team back to the tournament. This offense is going to suit me just fine because they score about 75 points a game and the coach doesn’t run too many plays. For the most part it is just up and down the court.”

The former McDonald’s All-America nominee averaged 26.6 points per game in his final year with Angleton. He earned Class 4A all-state honors and was considered the 18th-ranked player coming out of high school in Texas.

oldschoollefty · August 16, 2007

Brazoria County
Tristan Thompson’s decision on where to begin his college basketball career didn’t turn out to be a shocker.
The Facts’ 2006 Brazoria County Most Valuable Player, who helped lead the Angleton Wildcats to their first appearance in the Class 4A state tournament that season, at one point appeared ready to sign with Wichita State. Instead, he will suit up with the Mean Green of North Texas State.“I was set to go visit them, but then the entire coaching staff got hired at Texas A&M,” Thompson said. “As soon as North Texas found out, they asked me for a visit. They were losing both of their starting guards and their coach, Johnny Jones, said if I wanted the job it was mine.”
Thompson spurned other schools, included Georgia and Penn State, to come back to the Lone Star State.
After graduating from Angleton, he spent a year at Brewster Academy, a New England prep school, because he thought his game still needed to grow. Not only did his game intensify, but so did he.
“I’m about 6-5 now and weigh 200 pounds,” Thompson said. “I have more contact now when I am going to the basket.”
At Brewster, Thompson averaged 15 points in 13 contests and also had breakout performances of 29, 21 and 18 points. Thompson also netted 25 points in the title game as Brewster captured the New England Prep School Athletic Conference championship.
From all indications, Thompson seemed elated with his stay at Brewster.
“It put my game to another level because we had seven or eight guys who went Division I and another two Division II,” he said. “On a nightly basis, I played against guys who were Division I players.”
Thompson will join a North Texas squad that won a school record 23 games, its first Sun Belt Conference title and earned an automatic berth in the NCAA tournament. They bowed out in the tournament’s first round, but gave second-seeded Memphis all it could handle in a 73-58 loss.
“I’ve been going to summer school at North Texas and also doing their training program,” Thompson said. “Right now I just want to focus on my freshman year and get this team back to the tournament. This offense is going to suit me just fine because they score about 75 points a game and the coach doesn’t run too many plays. For the most part it is just up and down the court.”
The former McDonald’s All-America nominee averaged 26.6 points per game in his final year with Angleton. He earned Class 4A all-state honors and was considered the 18th-ranked player coming out of high school in Texas.