Jason Thompson (basketball)

Infobox NBA Player
name = Jason Thompson


league = NBA
number =
height = height|ft=6|in=11
weight = convert|250|lb|kg st|abbr=on|lk=on
position = Power Forward / Center
birth_date = birth date and age|1986|7|21
birth_place = Mt. Laurel, NJ, USA
team = Sacramento Kings
number = 34
former_teams =
highschool = Lenape High School, Medford, NJ
college = Rider
nationality = USA
draft = 12th overall
draft_team = Sacramento Kings
draft_year = 2008
career_start = 2008
awards =
profile = jason_thompson

Jason Carlton Thompson (born July 21, 1986) was the starting center of the Rider Broncs men's basketball team until 2008. Thompson led his Lenape High School squad to the 2004 New Jersey Group IV State Title. [Carchidi, Sam. [http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PI&s_site=philly&p_multi=PI&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0FE57C3CA77EAFD6&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM "Lenape's Thompson selects Rider"] , "The Philadelphia Inquirer", October 21, 2003. "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." Accessed April 9, 2008.] His hometown is Mount Laurel Township, New Jersey. He was drafted by the Sacramento Kings in the 2008 NBA Draft (12th overall).

Thompson is currently listed at 6 feet, 11 inches, and 245 lbs [ [http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/2008-06-26-1726284896_x.htm "USAToday" - Kings take Thompson with 12th pick] . Retrieved on June 28, 2008.] 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, 12.1 rebounds and 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 Richard "Digger" Phelps graduated in 1963.

ee also

*List of college men's basketball players with 2000 points and 1000 rebounds

References