Jason Thompson (basketball)

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Jason Thompson
College Rider
Conference MAAC
Sport Basketball
Position Power Forward/Center
Jersey # 1
Class Senior
Career 2005 – present
Height ft 10 in (2.08 m)
Weight 245 lb (111 kg)
Nationality USA
Born July 21, 1986 (1986-07-21) (age 21)
High school Lenape High School,
Medford, NJ

Jason Thompson (born July 21, 1986) is currently the starting center of the Rider University men's basketball team. Thompson led his Lenape High School squad to the 2004 New Jersey Group IV State Title.[1] He is projected to be drafted late in the first round or early in the second round of the upcoming 2008 NBA Draft in the summer.[2] His hometown is Mount Laurel Township, New Jersey.

Thompson is currently listed at 6 feet, 10 inches, and 245 lbs. He was one of three players in the NCAA in 2007 to average 20 points, and 10 rebounds per game. The other two individuals were Kevin Durant of the University of Texas and Nick Fazekas of the University of Nevada.

As a senior during the 2007-2008 season, Thompson averaged 20.4 points per game, 12.1 rebounds per game, and a hefty 2.7 blocks per game. His strongest performance was on March 9, 2008 when he scored 32 points and grabbed 18 rebounds against Marist College. He led Rider to the 2008 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament finale against Siena College falling short 74-53. Rider finished the regular season and conference tournament schedule with a strong 23-10 record, but still missed an at-large bid to the National Invitation Tournament. However, Rider did receive a bid to the inaugural College Basketball Invitational tournament in 2008. Rider lost its first round game to the Old Dominion University Monarchs 68-65.

Thompson's younger brother, Ryan, also plays guard for the Rider Broncs, and will be a junior in the upcoming 2008-2009 season. Jason Thompson is arguably the best and most notable basketball player to come out of the Rider program since Digger Phelps graduated in 1963.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Carchidi, Sam. "Lenape's Thompson selects Rider", The Philadelphia Inquirer, October 21, 2003. Accessed [{April 9]], 2008. "Senior Jason Thompson, a 6-foot-8 forward/center from Lenape High, has made an oral commitment to attend Rider University on a basketball scholarship, Indians coach Bill Lange announced yesterday."
  2. ^ NBADraft.net | Home