Stephen Thompson Interview MBB 2015

[Gundo]

Premierball has been scouting Stephen Thompson Jr. since the 8th grade.

“Thompson Jr. has the upside to be one of the top combo guards in the country on the next level. He’s mechanics, poise and IQ make him a must recruit for all programs. We compare Thompson Jr. to a young Stephen Curry.”

-PoP, Premierball Scouting Recruiting Analyst

We caught up with Thompson Jr. after his Father, Thompson Sr. accepted the Oregon St. Assistant job. Here is what Thompson Jr had to say…

1. Name a college or NBA player that most fans, coaches or scouts compare you too?
Thompson Jr: Stephen Curry and James Young

2. What position do you see yourself playing in college?
Thompson Jr: Combo Guard

3. When you think of college basketball what are the first five schools that come to mind?
Thompson Jr: Kentucky, Duke, Syracuse, Uconn and Stanford

4. What schools have offered you?
Thompson Jr: Stanford, Arizona State, Uconn, San Diego State, USC, Gonzaga, Boston College, Creighton, Colorado, UNLV, New Mexico, Wake Forest and CAL.

5. Describe your game for coaches and fans that have not seen you up close?
Thompson Jr: I like to shoot the three, hit midrange shots, drive for floaters and play the passing lane for steals. I can handle the ball and set up my teammates. I like playing an uptempo style of play.

6. How many unofficial college visits have you been to and where?
Thompson Jr: Three: San Diego State, USC and Stanford.

7. What is your official height, weight and length?
Thompson Jr: 6’3”; 160 lbs.

8. Will you sign in the Fall or the Spring?
Thompson Jr: Most likely the fall.

9. Give us a list of 5 schools that have contacted you the most or longest?
Thompson Jr: Gonzaga, Arizona State, Stanford, Boston College and USC.

10. Do you have any visits planned in the near future?
Thompson Jr: No dates planned yet.

11. Why do you think you are such a highly recruited prospect?
Thompson Jr: I think I am being recruited because of my ability to score and defend with my length. I think that when coaches watch an entire game, they see that I impact the game in avariety of ways and that I am a complete player.

12. Talked to us about your Dad and younger brother?
Thompson Jr: We workout everyday together and are all very competitive. My brother is a good, smart player who is fun to play with. My dad teaches me a lot about the game.

13. Can you recall the most made 3 pt fgm in a single game?
Thompson Jr: 8 in a game.

14. Who are some of the mentors that got you to where you are at right now?
Thompson Jr: My father has definitely influenced me the most not only with basketball, but also demonstrating what it means to be a man. I also look to my mom for guidance. I am
really thankful for my parents.

15. What are your strengths on the floor?
Thompson Jr: Three point shooting and overall scoring, length and on-ball defense.

16. How hard do you work on your game? How much time do you put in?
 Thompson Jr: Very hard, at least 2hrs a day aside from regular workout and practices with my high school or club team.
 
17. When did you first pick up a ball and can you tell us who taught you how to shoot the basketball?
Thompson Jr: When I was about 3 or 4 years old, I played on my first basketball team. My father taught me how to shoot.
 
18. What are your short term goals as a basketball player?
 Thompson Jr: To win another state championship; sign with a Division I school for college basketball.

19. What are some of the long term goals as a player?
Thompson Jr: Play professionally.

20. Share with us something interesting about how you train and get mentally prepared?
Thompson Jr: I listen to my father’s instruction; he always gives good advice.

21. What gets your game flowing and what trainers do you work with?
Thompson Jr: Hitting shots gets my game flowing; I work with my dad, Tony Falce and Coach Jason Crowe on individual skill work in addition to what Coach Mitchell (my high school coach) has me do.

22.Do you have a twitter that you would like to share with us?
Thompson Jr: N/A

23. Are you Nike or Adidas, what’s your favorite shoe?
Thompson Jr: No preference.

24. Please share with us any of your dads inspirational basketball quotes.
Thompson Jr: My dad always says, “Great things never come easy” and he often reminds me (and my brother, Ethan) to be strong in our faith, be willing to sacrifice, always work hard, demonstrate good character and success will follow.

25. 1. Your father landing the Oregon St job does it effect your college decision?
Thompson Jr: My father landing the Oregon State Assistant job means that Oregon State now becomes an option, but I am still open.

26. Will your father actively recruit your to Oregon St?
Thompson Jr: Yes, my father will actively recruit me.

27. Are you still open minded about playing for another school even with your father coaching at Oregon St?
Thompson Jr: Yes, I am still open-minded.

28. Will the family move to Oregon anytime soon?
Thompson Jr: The family is staying down in Southern California for at least one more year.

292.Did your dad promise your delivery or did he have a pre existing relationship with Oregon coach tinkle? Tinkle son is also in the same situation.. Have you spoken to him at all?
Thompson Jr: My father did not promise my delivery and he knew Coach Tinkle before he got the job. Yes, I have talked to Tres about the situation.

30. Any shout-outs to your supporters?
Thompson Jr: I just want to thank my parents and family for their encouragement. It means a lot to me to know they support me.

 

[azteccc]

Based on that... Stanford is looking strong.

[Gundo]

FYI- he has a brother Ethan Thompson.

During the game that Rivals.com watched, rising sophomore Ethan Thompson struggled to convert shots from deep and finishes at the rim. A 6-foot-2 combo guard, Thompson was however able to get any kind of look he wanted and whenever he wanted to do so. Having also seen Thompson at the Best of Summer event earlier in the weekend, it is evident that he is a potential high-major talent. The younger brother of class of 2015 four-star Stephen Thompson, his father is a newly hired assistant at Oregon State.

- See more at: basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1661213#sthash.7SggsVhF.dpuf

[craztec]

Jul 24, 2014 23:09:48 GMT -8 azteccc said:

Based on that... Stanford is looking strong.

I'm thinking Oregon State. The fact that his father's there, who obviously plays a large role in his life, & that he's already spoken with Tres (ESPN #46), who will no doubt follow his father to OSU. Those two combined can lift OSU out of basketball obscurity, that has to be tantalizing.

[rockshow]

Jul 24, 2014 23:09:48 GMT -8 azteccc said:

Based on that... Stanford is looking strong.

That's what I thought too.

[TheSanDiegan]

Jul 24, 2014 23:09:48 GMT -8 azteccc said:

Based on that... Stanford is looking strong.

I have to agree - I'm reading a lot of Stanford between the lines in that interview.

[Gundo]

I wouldn't doubt the kid ends up at Oregon State with his dad. They are a close family, dad was a star at Syracuse and he is real life coach from CSULA. Here's his bio from OSU:  

Thompson, 45, is known as one of the best college basketball players in Syracuse University history. After playing professionally in the NBA, CBA, ABA and overseas, he was an assistant coach at Cal State L.A. for three years before taking over the program as the head coach in 2005.

“It is a great opportunity to join the Oregon State basketball staff,” Thompson said. “Working for Coach Tinkle, who is a great coach and human being will be an honor. I look forward to assisting Coach Tinkle as he leads Oregon State men’s basketball to the top of the Pac-12.”

Thompson went 126-120 in his nine years as the head coach at Cal State L.A. and his teams regularly ranked at or near the top of Division II in scoring defense and field-goal percentage defense each season. He led the Golden Eagles to the California Collegiate Athletic Association Championship Tournament five consecutive years from 2010-14 and his teams had a winning record in each of his final four seasons.

His best campaign at Cal State L.A. came in 2011-12 when Thompson directed the Golden Eagles to a 17-10 overall record and 13-9 mark in California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play, its best conference record since 2001. The team went 16-11 overall in 2012-13, and matched its CCAA record from the previous season at 13-9, and 15-12 overall in his final season.

Cal State L.A. won its first-ever conference tournament game when it beat Cal State San Bernardino, 66-60, in San Bernardino in 2011 and finished the 2010-11 season with a 15-13 record after posting a 14-14 mark in 2009-10.

Thompson had his first winning season in 2007-08 when he led the Golden Eagles to a 17-11 overall record and a tie for third in the CCAA. Cal State L.A. finished that season ranked ninth in the NCAA Division II West Regional and made its first appearance in a regional poll since 2000. The 17 wins were the most for the Golden Eagles since the 1999-2000 season and the third-place finish in the conference was the best since finishing second in 2000.

In his first season as the head coach, the Golden Eagles had one of the biggest turnaround in NCAA Division II basketball by improving nine games overall from the previous year. The team swept local rival Cal State Dominguez Hills and upset Cal State Bakersfield to highlight a 10-17 season.

Thompson began his coaching career in 2002 when he joined the Cal State L.A. staff in 2002. After three years as an assistant he was promoted to head coach in March 2005 following the retirement of Dave Yanai.

A native of Los Angeles, Calif., and a Crenshaw High School graduate, Thompson had his No. 32 jersey retired at the school. He went to Syracuse University and became a three-year starter on the Orangemen basketball team while earning All-America honors in 1989 and 1990 and being named the Big East Conference’s Men’s Basketball Scholar Athlete of the Year in 1990.

During his four years at Syracuse, the Orangemen went 113-31 overall, won Big East titles in 1987 and 1990, made four NCAA Tournament appearances, including three trips to the Sweet 16, and reached the 1987 NCAA Championship Game against Indiana.

Thompson is second all-time at Syracuse with 144 games played and seventh in scoring with 1,956 points. He still owns the second-best career shooting mark in NCAA Tournament history at 68.4 percent in 15 games, trailing only UCLA’s Bill Walton who had a 68.6 percent clip in 12 games.

After graduating from Syracuse in 1990 with a bachelor’s degree in marketing, Thompson had stints with the NBA's Orlando Magic, Sacramento Kings and Denver Nuggets. He also played in Europe, Japan, the CBA and the ABA.

Before joining the Cal State L.A. coaching staff in 2002, Thompson served as Athletic Director for the Coast Christian School in Redondo Beach. He was also a Co-Founder and Director of Give & Go Basketball Academy and a coach for the Southern California All-Stars.

Thompson was born on Dec. 2, 1968 in Los Angeles, Calif. He and his wife, Amy, have two sons, Stephen Jr. and Ethan.

THE STEPHEN THOMPSON FILE

PERSONAL
Born: December 2, 1968 (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Family: wife - Amy; sons - Stephen Jr. and Ethan

EDUCATION
B.S., Marketing, Syracuse, 1990

COACHING EXPERIENCE
2002-05 -- Cal State-Los Angeles, Assistant Coach
2005-14 -- Cal State-Los Angeles, Head Coach

PLAYING EXPERIENCE
1986-90 -- Syracuse University

[Gundo]

Watching the tape of Bishop Montgomery vs Moreau Catholic CIF IV Championship game. Stephen Thompson can handle the ball, play defense as well as shoot. The 4-star recruit would fit in well with the Aztecs. His brother Ethan can fill it up as well, I think he is a Sophomore this year. It's amazing to watch 17 year old and 14 year old kids perform well on the court. Stephen's GPA is 4.3 so he can play anywhere at the next level.