December 19, 2007
 

Craig Haley
NJHoops.com Columnist


Ironically, Rider senior center Jason Thompson says he is not a "stat guy". You would think he might be considering all he does is compile huge statistics.

The 6-foot-11 3/4, 253-pound big man was the only returning player in Division I to have averaged a double-double last season (and one of only three overall). He's well on his way to a repeat performance, with seven double-doubles in Rider's 7-4 start. Overall, he is averaging 20.5 points on 55-percent field-goal shooting and 11.6 rebounds, with an equally impressive 3.0 assists and 3.3 blocked shots per game.

Having grown from 6-8, 200 pounds as a freshman in 2004-05, he is one of the more scrutinized players at a mid-major college. A future in the NBA is possible, though foremost in his mind is winning the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference title.

"One of the things I've said to some of the NBA scouts," said Rider athletic director Don Harnum, who was Thompson's head coach as a freshman, "is, 'Don't forget that Jason's still getting better. So if you're projecting him, project where he's going to be at 25 because it's not even close where he was at 17 versus where he is at 21.' And big guys tend to get better as they go, a little bit later blooming, later developing. I think his best days are when he's 26, 27."

Thompson went one-on-one with NJ Hoops in the continuing "Five Questions" series:

How would say the season is going for you?

JT: "It's going OK. I wish we could have won a little bit more in Orlando (where Rider went 1-2 at the Old Spice Classic over Thanksgiving weekend), but I think pretty much we got a lot of respect. If we would have gotten another (win), maybe N.C. State or Kansas State, as well as we played against them - you know we stopped Michael Beasley - we would be be getting even more attention than we're getting now.

This year, more than ever, you seem to be playing well against the big non-conference opponents. Do you agree?

JT: "Yeah, some of the stuff I did over the summer definitely helped, going to LeBron's (James) and Amare's (Stoudemire) camps, and just getting some of the respect that I think I deserve. The numbers I put up last year were mostly against mid-majors. The big teams we played, like Notre Dame and Villanova, I would get in foul trouble, and I'd have like season lows. Now, since I played well in Orlando against three big-time teams, I'm starting to get the respect and some looks from people."

With so many people watching you, do you feel any added pressure knowing the NBA is out there?

JT: "No, I think the only pressure that I had was mostly in the summer. I know with me averaging 20 and 10 against mid-majors I got a lot of looks and there were a lot of NBA scouts there. I knew I had to play well, and I did. Even if I didn't have a good shooting day, I would do the hustle plays and know not to give up. And I took challenges, I guarded LeBron and guarded Amare. I try not to worry about that stuff when I'm playing.

"I try not to worry about it because it's not just about me, it's about my team, and me trying to help my team as much as I can win a championship this year."

Is there added focus knowing you're sort of that borderline of a guaranteed contract of the first round or being in the second round? Do you feel you have to get yourself to the first round?

JT:"It's just one of my goals. But you have some guys who don't even get drafted and have guaranteed contracts. So I'm really not worrying about the NBA right now, but that's definitely one of my goals. And to do as much as I can to help my team. And for me leading my team to a championship will help my status. (Scouts) are not just going to worry about the points and the rebounds. Scouts look at, does he have good hands? Is he is a good leader? Is he a good listener? How is he off the court? Stuff like that."

What is happening for you guys this year, moreso than ever, that you can say, 'This is why we can win the MAAC title'?

JT: "One of the reasons is because our defense has improved. Not being a stat guy, we lead our league in field-goal percentage defense. And that just was one of our focuses. When you come during the preseason, you're like, 'Ah, man,' because you just have a practice of like all defense – you don't even touch the ball. But when you have that type of mentality …

"The offense is going to come. We all know we're good scorers and we all improved our game individually. When we get stops and get rebounds and we run, we're really a tough team to stop."


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