| Deon Thompson |
|
|
NOTING THOMPSON
Powerful young big man with an
array of offensive skills • Still a relative
newcomer to the game of basketball
• Expected to play a big role
along the Tar Heel frontline •
Working hard to become more of a
defensive presence • Should team
with Tyler Hansbrough and Alex
Stepheson to form a formidable
frontcourt • Played for Team USA
this past summer in the Under 19
World Championships in Serbia,
where he was the team's third-leading
scorer (10.0 ppg) and the leading
rebounder (6.1) • Had 18 points
and 13 rebounds in the semifinal
win over France, 17 points in an
earlier game against Lithuania and
16 in the gold medal loss to host
Serbia • Led the team in scoring in
the last two medal-round games •
Shot 56.3 percent from the floor in
the nine games, eight of which the
USA won.
FRESHMAN SEASON
(2006-07)
Made 14 of his last 19 shots
from the floor over the last six
games • Shot 55.8 percent from the
floor • Eleven of his last 16 rebounds
came on the offensive glass
• Scored in double figures twice -
14 at Arizona and in the NCAA
Tournament vs. Georgetown •
Scored nine points against High
Point, his highest output off the
bench until the Georgetown game
• Scored six points in nine minutes
(3 of 4 from the floor) in the win
over Ohio State, then the No. 1
ranked team in the coaches poll •
Grabbed five rebounds in the win
over Tennessee • Had eight points
and three assists against Florida Atlantic
• Had seven points and three
rebounds against Rutgers •
Blocked two shots and had two
steals against Dayton • Scored
eight points, including six straight
UNC points in a key second-half
run, in the win over Virginia • The
Cavaliers led 46-41 before Thompson
scored three straight UNC baskets
• Also added two blocks and two steals in an active 13-minute
stint • Scored six points on 3 for 3
from the floor in the loss at Virginia
Tech • Scored all seven of his
points in the first half in UNC's
win at 14th-ranked Clemson •
Added two assists and a steal • Had
two points, two offensive boards
and three steals vs. Georgia Tech •
Made his first collegiate start at
Arizona in place of
Brandan Wright (who
was sick) and responded
with season highs of 14
points and six rebounds
• Made 7 of 8 shots from
the floor • Played a season-
high 23 minutes •
Had six points and a season-
high seven rebounds
in 104-67 win over
Wake Forest • Scored six
points and had five rebounds
in home win
over NC State • Was 2
for 2 from the floor in
the ACC Tournament finals
vs. NC State •
Scored four points
against both EKU and
Michigan State • Had
three offensive rebounds
in 13 minutes against the
Spartans • Was outstanding
in the East Regional
final vs. Georgetown as
he scored 14 points on 6
of 7 shooting from the
floor and had six rebounds (four
offensive) in 21 minutes.
PREP/PERSONAL
Scored 30 or more points five
times and had 20 or more rebounds
on six occasions as a senior at Torrance
High School • Had a foot injury
early in his senior season •
Played for head coach George
Tachibana • Torrance Daily Breeze
2006 Player of the Year • Averaged
21.5 points, 13.8 rebounds and 4.6
blocked shots as a senior and 19.4
points, 11.3 boards and 4.6 blocks
in 2005 • Senior scoring high of 36
points against Reno • Had 22
points and 22 rebounds in playoff
win over South Torrance and 27
points, 16 rebounds and six blocks
in regional loss to Hoover • Led
Torrance to California Division IIA
finals in 2006 and quarterfinals
in 2005 • Had 28 points and 10 rebounds
in upset win over No. 2
seed Paso Robles in 2006 Division
II-A semifinals • Pioneer League
co-MVP in 2005.
