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Redondo's Thompson to trade Seahawk red for Bruin blue
by John Tawa
FoxStudentSports.com
Dijon
Thompson, Redondo Union High's stand-out 6-foot-7 senior orally committed, Tuesday,
to attend UCLA next year.
"He's one of the premier players I've ever coached," Redondo coach Jim Nielsen said. "He's certainly one of the most dangerous at the wing position. He's been an absolute joy to coach. He'll be a great addition to UCLA."
In addition to UCLA, Thompson had been considering Big East power Connecticut and Arizona, where his former Redondo teammate, 6-foot-9 power forward Andrew Zahn, went last year. He said he settled on the Bruins, principally because of Westwood's proximity to his Southern California home.
"I have a lot of family here," Thompson said. "It's a better education and a good fit. I'm very fortunate."
Thompson is the fourth player to commit to UCLA in what is quickly becoming one of the finest recruiting classes in the country. He joins 6-foot-5 guard Cedric Bozeman (Mater Dei High in Santa Ana), 6-foot-10 center Michael Fey (Capital High in Olympia, Washington) and 6-foot-7 forward Andre Patterson (Washington Prep, Los Angeles).
"It's going to be a great class coming in," said Thompson, who averaged 14.8 points, 7.6 rebounds and four assists for a 25-5 team last year.
With his ticket punched for Westwood next year, Thompson can concentrate on improving on the court and in the classroom, although he doesn't seem to need much improvement in either area.
Academically, Thompson carries a 3.0 GPA at Redondo's prestigious of Health and Fitness.
The soft-spoken Thompson also is putting in the hours shoring up a characterized by a sweet jump shot from 22 feet in and the to play the point and both wing positions.
"I'm in the weight room and I'm working on my individual game," he. "I'm focusing on the weaknesses I had last year - having a shot every game and a little more patience with my
passes."
Talking moments before giving his commitment, Thompson seemed amazed how far he has come - from the skinny freshman who played on the junior varsity during Redondo's run to the CIF finals in 1998 to the national top 30 player who'll don the blue and for UCLA in 2001.
"I knew I had the talent to do it," he said. "But I never thought it actually happen." ER