Thompson looking to make an impact in the NBA

The National Basketball Association and their player union finally reached a handshake agreement in principal on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement.  As a result, some future player’s dreams will be coming true.  

That is the case the for former Texas Longhorn standout Tristan Thompson.  Thompson was selected with the four overall pick in this year’s NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers.  Although only playing one season with Texas, Thompson was the third highest Longhorn ever drafted by the NBA.   Tristan was born in Brampton, Ontario in Canada and played high school basketball at Saint Benedict’s Preparatory School in Newark, NJ.   Thompson chose to go to school in Newark, because he wanted to play with better completion and get additional exposure as a player.

During his senior year at Saint Benedict Thompson got into a heated argument with his coach and left the team and transferred to Findlay Prep.  At Findlay Prep Thompson would join his former AAU and future Texas teammate Cory Joseph.  In 2009 Thompson became only the third Canadian basketball player to be named to the McDonalds All-American team. 

At Texas Thompson led the team in rebounding with 7.8 rebounds per game and with 86 blocked shots and he had a scoring average of 13 points per game.  "We're very excited for Tristan and his family," Texas coach Rick Barnes said. "I'm not sure we've seen a player improve so quickly once he came to campus last June. I often tell people jokingly that Tristan improved too much, as our staff would have loved the opportunity to coach Tristan for several more years. The exciting thing is Tristan is truly just getting started in his development. Tristan is a wonderful person and Cleveland is getting a special individual who will work hard every day, both on the court and in the community."

Although the CBA with the NBA has not been finalized it appears that the rookie scale will be similar to the one in the previous agreement, which means once it is approved Thompson will quickly sign in first professional contract with the Cavaliers.  Thompson said, “It is definitely exciting with Coach (Byron) Scott and the coaching staff and young team rebuilding.  They want to win and I am a winner and I want to come in and contribute”.