Northwestern Adds Michael Thompson to Program
1/12/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 12, 2004
EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern University Men's Basketball Head Coach Bill Carmody announced today that Michael Thompson (Joliet, Ill./Providence Catholic) has accepted an offer of admissions from the University and is joining the Wildcat program as a transfer from Duke University.
Thompson has enrolled in classes at Northwestern, and will be eligible to play as a junior for the Wildcats following the submission of grades after the fall term next year. Final exams will end Friday, Dec. 10.
"We are excited to have Michael join our program," said Carmody. "We recruited him out of high school; this is a case of better late than never. We feel he will step in and make an immediate impact next season. He is the kind of player we have been looking for -- one who will help this program reach a higher level in the Big Ten and nationally."
"We are excited that Chicago-area kids are thinking about Northwestern," continued Carmody. "This is what I envisioned when I came here -- Chicago kids taking advantage of the tremendous athletic and academic opportunities at Northwestern."
Thompson is a 6-10, 245-pound center. He appeared in three games as a sophomore this season for the Blue Devils, who were ranked No. 1 early in the season and currently sit second in the latest Associated Press national poll. His best effort came against Liberty at the Great Alaska Shootout, when he scored seven points in eight minutes. Last year, as a freshman, he averaged 1.3 points and 0.5 rebounds in 16 contests.
Thompson was a McDonald's High School All-America in 2002, and becomes just the second such player to be a part of the Wildcats program. Walker Lambiotte, a 1985 McDonald's All-America, played for the Wildcats from 1988-90 after two years at North Carolina State.
Big Ten basketball fans may remember Tavaras Hardy, a 2002 NU grad, also played at Providence Catholic prior to his stellar career with the Wildcats. Hardy graduated 18th on the Wildcats' all-time scoring list (1,122 points) and 10th on the all-time rebounding list (640).
MICHAEL THOMPSON
So. * C * 6-10 * 245
Joliet, Ill./Providence Catholic
2003-04 (at Duke): Appeared in three games ... Scored seven points, snared a rebound and blocked a shot in eight minutes vs. Liberty.
2002-03 (at Duke): Averaged 1.3 points and 0.5 rebounds per game in 16 contests ... Part of a freshman class that averaged 33.6 points per game, the sixth-highest figure by a rookie class in ACC history ... Season highs were six points vs. N.C. A&T (12/17), three rebounds vs. N.C. A&T (12/17), two blocked shots in two contests and 10 minutes twice ... Saw action in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 against Kansas (3/27) ... Tied career high with two blocked shots and grabbed one rebound in NCAA Tournament second round against Central Michigan (3/22) ... Recorded one blocked shot in two minutes against Clemson (2/9) ... Pulled down one rebound in five minutes against Maryland (1/18) ... Scored five points and grabbed two rebounds against Fairfield (1/2) ... Established career bests with six points and three rebounds against North Carolina A&T (12/17) ... Scored two points in four minutes against Michigan (12/7) ... Scored two points in three minutes of action against Davidson (11/25) ... Recorded five points, one rebound, one steal and a game-high two blocked shots in his collegiate debut against Army (11/23).
High School: A McDonald's All-America selection in 2002 (one of four to sign with Duke) ... Had seven points and three rebounds as the West's starting center in the McDonald's game ... A fourth-team Parade All-America in 2002 ... Ranked number 53 in the nation among all players by ESPN.com following his senior season ... Named all-state by the Champaign News-Gazette in 2002 ... An all-conference performer for three years and an all-area honoree four times as a prep player ... Averaged 25 points, 12 rebounds and four blocked shots per game in 2001-02 for Providence Catholic ... A high honorable mention preseason All-America by Street & Smith's in 2001-02 ... Averaged 24 points and 12 rebounds per game as a junior ... After an outstanding summer of basketball in 2001, Thompson was rated the nation's 17th-best prep prospect by BlueChipHoops.com and among the country's top 35 players by several other recruiting services ... Selected as the nation's fifth-best prep center in the preseason by Basketball News ... Named one of the top seven players at the prestigious Nike Camp ... Averaged 16 points and 11 rebounds as a sophomore and eight points and seven boards as a freshman ... High school coach was Eric Long.
USA Basketball: Participated in the USA Basketball Men's Youth Development Festival in Colorado Springs, Colo., in 2001 ... Member of the gold-medal winning North squad in that tournament.
Personal: Born Michael David Thompson on 12/9/83 ... Son of Mary Thompson.
