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SF Sam Thompson (JB Monferrato - Italy)

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Updated: September 20, 2010
Sam Thompson commits to Ohio State
By Scott Powers
ESPNChicago.com

CHICAGO -- Whitney Young senior forward Sam Thompson understood that committing to Ohio State on Sunday means he won't be liked when he travels to Illinois and Northwestern in the years to come.

"It adds the element of [home]," Thompson said. "I hope that the crowds are against me. That makes it all the more fun."

Thompson had been one of the bigger in-state names waiting to commit before he chose Ohio State over Florida on Sunday. Thompson, who is 6-foot-7, is the 12th-ranked small forward and 56th-ranked overall Class of 2011 player by ESPN Scouts Inc.

Thompson decided on the Buckeyes for their academics, the basketball program's recent success and where he'll fit in coach Thad Matta's system as a swingman.

"That was important," Thompson said of his role. "I definitely looked at Evan Turner. That wasn't the whole basis on my decision-making. I looked at all the wings that have played under coach Matta over the years. I think he really lets them play. The wings in his offense are allowed to make a lot of plays at both ends of the court."
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http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/news/story?id=5594910
 
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Buckskin86;1775248; said:
http://blogs.suntimes.com/hoopsreport/2010/09/sam_thompson_a_buckeye.html

Over the past two years the Hoops Report has often compared Thompson to former UNLV and NBA player Stacey Augmon, due to his versatility and the potential to be an impact, difference-making player on the defensive end. The 6-6 Thompson is a superior athlete, with long arms, wiry frame, great bounce and explosiveness off the floor. He can be a stat sheet filler with steals, blocks, points and rebounds. As his perimeter skills progress, which has included an improved perimeter jumper, Thompson will become the prototypical small forward that could set him apart from other true wings.
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Love that comparison...
 
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And don't forget that TM targeted ET due to his defense and versatility - that he'd played PG early in his h.s. career. Sam has some of those same qualities in his game. He's also skinny like ET was coming out of h.s. Outstanding get!
:osu:
 
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Scouting Report: Think of Thompson as a Daequan Cook with more length. He doesn?t overpower but he has strength on the drive, He doesn?t try to jump over people in the lane but he has hops. He runs hot and cold from the outside but is a good passer and rebounder for a wing. Thompson glides to the basket and is comfortable in the open floor. As a bonus, he?s a very effective defender who loves to challenge shots.

An ESPN.com/Scouts, Inc. assessment claimed, ?Sam Thompson has a great feel for the game. He plays with a tremendous vision on the floor and his mid-range game is off the charts. He catches the ball with strength on the perimeter and has a great series of footwork and one dribble moves. He takes the ball to the glass and scores with efficiency. The floater off the glass is a weapon he uses better than most in his class.
?He keeps getting better defending the ball and shows marked improvement off the ball defensively, his hands and quick feet allow him to get in the passing lanes to steal and lead the break. He can block shots when he is coming from the weak side. He has a little bit of a hitch in his outside shot but he is capable of hitting the deep three, opening up the drive for him.?
How he fits in: Thompson made an official visit to campus the weekend of Sept. 11-12 and took in the OSU-Miami (Fla.) football game. He got to meet the players in the program, other recruits and all of the assistant coaches, which made him feel more at ease about opting for Ohio State. He apparently isn?t scared off by the commitment of Ross, who surprisingly was added to the class Aug. 16, and he gives the Buckeyes even more size and explosion from the wing considering Ross is a 6-8 glider and DeShaun Thomas and J.D. Weatherspoon are freshmen in the OSU program. Matta will have the option of putting interchangeable parts on the floor with the likes of those players, much as he did last season with Evan Turner, David Lighty, Will Buford and Jon Diebler.

The knock: While most analysts agree that Thompson is a topflight prospect in the 2011 class they haven?t been able to see much of him this calendar year. Not only did he miss several months of action with an ankle injury, he also didn?t make it through the July evaluation period as he had more problems with his leg. He was a top-40 prospect across the board until being slowed this summer.
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Rapp?s assessment: Thompson isn?t a lights-out shooter and may need a little time to make his mark in the OSU program, but he has all the qualities that Matta craves ? he?s long, athletic, coachable, willing to defend and happy to share the ball. He also knows how to win. He helped Whitney Young capture a state title two years ago and the team returned to the title game last season before losing to Chicago Simeon to finish 23-7. If he can prove he can stay healthy there is every reason to believe he can become a contributor for Ohio State, an elite Big Ten program.
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http://sportsrappup.com/sections/stories/10-09-20/Rapp_Around_Thompson_Climbs_Aboard.aspx
 
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?I view Sam as a wing, but he?s also played some point at 6-foot-7,? Matta said of the Whitney Young senior.

?We had a guy from Chicago a year ago or so who was kind of like that.?

Of course that was Evan Turner, who won the National Player of the Year award running the point for Ohio State last season. Much like Turner, Thompson is rated as a four-star prospect and the No. 14 small forward in the class of 2011.

He led Whitney Young to an Illinois state title as a sophomore in 2008 and state runner-up as a junior last season, where he averaged 12 points, 8.4 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 3.6 blocks per game.

?The other thing I love about Sam is he?s a guy who takes great pride in his defense,? Matta said.
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http://www.the-ozone.net/hoops/10-11Mens/signingday.html
 
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Superb get. I love the versatility that Thompson brings. He reminds me of a skinny Dave Lighty, with a better stroke and possibly better hops :yow2: I love him in combination with Q Ross, the way Thompson plays defense, will force Q to defend, or his minutes will be lessened.

The Bucks needed some guys ready to step into the holes left by the departure of Lighty and Diebs and possibly Bufurd (hope not, he could really add that Senior leadership) and Thompson brings that love of defense that will alllow him to see the floor early, he also brings that slashing ability along with a nice stroke. If he works on his mid-range game, ala ET and Buford, the sky is the limit.
 
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Thompson's team beat Lew Wallace, 53-38. Lew Wallace features MSU signee Branden Dawson. This was Whitney Young's season opener.

Young senior Sam Thompson, an Ohio State recruit, used his 6-7 frame and athleticism to frustrate Lew Wallace?s star Brandon Dawson early and often. Dawson, a Michigan State recruit, managed only two field goals in the first half. He scored 17 in the game, nine of those came from the free throw line. He shot 4 of 14 from the field.

?[Thompson] did a tremendous job,? Slaughter said. ?He pretty much carried the load on Dawson, but we had some other people helping out.?

Senior Luke Hager led the Dolphins with 12 points. Thompson finished with 11 points, eight rebounds and two blocks. Pearson and Tommy Hamilton Jr. each added seven points.

?I?d give us a B minus for the first game,? Slaughter said. ?The key was the defensive job on Dawson, he?s a great player.?
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http://yourseason.suntimes.com/boys...oung-gary-lew-wallace-boys-basketball.article
 
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DZ83CK;1822698; said:
Thompson's team beat Lew Wallace, 53-38. Lew Wallace features MSU signee Branden Dawson. This was Whitney Young's season opener.


http://yourseason.suntimes.com/boys...oung-gary-lew-wallace-boys-basketball.article
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Good stuff, I may be mistaken, but that's probably the same Branden Dawson, who, according to the information you provided in the recruiting thread, is rated as the best incoming prospect to the B10. So his team was dominated, and he was held way down by an incoming Buckeye.

It's great to see that Thompson is already embracing being a defensive stopper, at least against top flight prospects. This bodes well for him next year, as Matta likes guys who defend.

This is just another small sign, that the golden age of Buckeye athletics we're living through is set to continue into the foreseeable future :biggrin:
 
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