Thompson to Sign with UConn on Wednesday
Ryan Thompson, a 6-6, 210 pound swingman/small forward from Western Nebraska C.C. in Scottsbluff, Neb., will sign a national letter of intent with the University of Connecticut on Wednesday.
JUCO Junction spoke with WNCC Head Coach Trace Bevell on Tuesday night, and he said that Thompson selected the Huskies over Hawaii after visiting both schools last week.
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"I think it's a good basketball decision for him," Bevell said. "He wanted to play at the highest level possible, and it doesn't get much higher than UConn."
Thompson is holding a 1 p.m. M.S.T. press conference tomorrow at Western Nebraska to announce his decision and sign the national letter of intent.
A native of Gold Coast, Australia, the sharpshooting Thompson averaged 13.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and two assists per game for the Cougars in 2002-2003. He shot 47 percent from the floor, 39 percent beyond the arc and 65 percent from the foul line.
In Thompson, the Huskies have landed a wing player with excellent size and versatility.
Still, Bevell feels there will be some sort of learning curve for Thompson to deal with next fall when he arrives in Storrs, Conn.
"He has to work on maintaining his intensity level and defense," the coach said. "He shoots the ball well enough and is athletic enough to play at that level, but there will be an adjustment level from the junior college ranks to the Big East."
Thompson earned All-Region IX honors in 2002-2003, leading the Cougars to their second NJCAA Tournament appearance in the last three years.
JUCO Junction covered the NJCAA Tournament last month and saw Thompson play twice. Western Nebraska was eliminated after losing their first two games of the tournament to SW Tennessee and Southeastern Illinois College.