The University of Montana basketball coaching staff began reaching out to Tyler Thompson when the young baller was in the summer between his freshman and sophomore years at Vanden High. They were the first school to do so.
The relationship
remained steady and finally blossomed to fruition when the 6-foot-6 Thompson
committed to Coach Travis DeCuire on September 4 after
taking an official visit over the weekend of September 2 and 3.
Montana initially extended an official offer on June 28.
Why Montana?
His reasons for signing on with the Grizzlies are multiple. "I
chose Montana because it's a winning program and Coach Trav and
the assistant coaches are good people. I also really like Missoula
-- it feels like the Bay Area in some ways. The people are
great."
He added, "Montana plays like I prefer, getting up and down the court, with guys performing in different roles and positions."
Thompson offered that among his skills are "being a three-way scorer (long distance, mid-range and at the rim. I also want to guard the best opponent. I take pride in that and also in making plays without having to score.
Beating out a fellow West Coast Conference member is a critical victory for DeCuire as Montana and Coach Steve Lavin's San Diego Toreros were Thompson's final two choices.
The foremost positive of McCuire's landing of Thompson is the
latter has the potential to be a major plus player for the
Grizzlies. Sooner rather than later, Thompson will become
Montana's leading scorer and make his teammates more effective
because of the attention he will demand defenses.
Regarding leadership, Thompson said, "I am a leader on my high
school team. That has helped me to develop my game to another
level. Everyone has to stay in line and play their role. You have
to offer praise or call some out, whatever is appropriate."
Asked to name his major basketball influences,Thompson offer his
parents, various friends and other family members, his middle
school, high school and AAU coaches plus John McCall, one
of my biggest influences who has coached me since I was seven or
eight." McCall played basketball at Solano Community College.
His best basketball moment came "in Vanden winning our section
championship against rival Vacaville in our sophomore year."
A Former Footballer
Thompson offered "I used to play football as a running back
and linebacker," wryly observing that the ranks of hoopsters are
filled with former footballers attempting to reduce chances of incurring serious injuries.
A plus is that family and friends will be able to catch Thompson in person when
Montana comes to Sacramento State during conference play.
He's mulling over business and kinesiology as his major.
Thompson closed with "I've always developed five-year plans in order to reach my goals. What I did here is write down the steps I needed to take to in order to get to D1 basketball. Soon, I'll need to create a new five-year plan."
That he will.
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