March 19, 2007 - Jason Thompson Named to 2007 collegeinsider.com Mid-Major All-American Team
March 19, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Men’s College Basketball
Rider’s Thompson Mid-Major All-American
LAWRENCEVILLE—Jason Thompson of the Rider University basketball team was named to the CollegeInsider.com 2007 Mid-Major All-America team. “Jason had a very special season,” said Rider head coach Tommy Dempsey, “and it is great to see him rewarded by CollegeInsider.”
A 6’10” junior forward from Mt. Laurel (Lenape), Thompson was one of just three players in Division I to average more than 20 points (20.1) and 10 rebounds (10.1) per game. The other two were Kevin Durant of Texas and Nick Fazekas of Nevada.
The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year, Thompson was a first team All-MAAC and second team All-District 3 selection. He was first in the MAAC in rebounding and blocked shots, third in scoring, eighth in field goal percentage and 15th in free throw percentage. Nationally, Thompson ranked 10th in rebounding, 24th in scoring, 34th in blocks and 76th in field goal percentage.
Thompson enters his senior year with 1,346 career points, 11th highest ever at Rider, and 759 rebounds, sixth highest ever at Rider. “This award is something that we can build on going forward,” Dempsey said, “to help create an awareness that he is one of the better big kids in the country. I think he is going to work extremely hard over the next several months to be one of the dominant college basketball players in Division I next year.”
“Overlooked by most in the MAAC this season all Thompson did was average a double-double (20 points, 10 rebounds),” CollegeInsider.com wrote. “Don’t be fooled into thinking he’s just another methodical big man in a small league. He has guard skills. He could be an All-American next season.”
Thompson compiled 17 ‘double-doubles’ this season and now has 30 ‘double-doubles’ in three seasons. Thompson grabbed 20 rebounds in a victory over Manhattan this season, tying the Rider record for caroms in a game.
“CollegeInsider does a terrific job of covering Mid-Major Division I basketball, and to select Jason amongst a group of such good players shows that they’ve really done their homework,” Dempsey said.
-RU-
collegeInsider.com 2007 MID-MAJOR ALL-AMERICA TEAM
Craig Bradshaw C 6-10 Sr. Winthrop Gerald Brown G 6-4 Jr. Loyola (Maryland) Stephen Curry G 6-0 Fr. Davidson Nate Funk G 6-3 Sr. Creighton A.J. Graves G 6-1 Jr. Butler Caleb Green F 6-8 Sr. Oral Roberts Kyle Hines F 6-6 Sr. UNC-Greensboro Jared Jordan G 6-2 Sr. Marist Courtney Lee G/F 6-5 Jr. Western Kentucky Eric Maynor G 6-2 So. VCU Bo McCalebb G 6-0 Jr. New Orleans Gary Neal G 6-4 Sr. Towson Derek Raivio G 6-3 Sr. Gonzaga Blake Schilb G/F 6-7 Sr. Loyola (Chicago) Keith Simmons G/F 6-5 Sr. Holy Cross Loren Stokes G 6-3 Sr. Hofstra Jaamal Tatum G 6-2 Sr. Southern Illinois Jason Thompson F 6-10 Jr. Rider Anthony Tolliver F 6-9 Sr. Creighton Jamar Wilson G 6-1 Sr. Albany DaShaun Wood G 5-11 Sr. Wright State
