Player Profile: Boston Thompson (2018/Nyssa HS/Team Jones)
Every once in a while, players literally come out of no where and appear in front of scouts and coaches & create a lot of “where did he come from?” or “who is this guy?” reactions. The Oregon class of 2018 has one of those guys in 6’8 post Boston Thompson from Nyssa High School. Nyssa, a small town with a high school enrollment of around 275 students, located in the mountain time zone on the Oregon-Idaho border has never been known as a hotbed for big time small school hoops. This year, the Bulldogs missed out on going to the state tournament, losing before the round of 16 in the Oregon playoffs. Add to that the fact that Thompson didn’t participate on the AAU circuit last summer and you have a bit of an unknown to college coaches and recruiting services alike. We caught up with 2018 post to get his thoughts on his development as a player, his college options, and what he thinks are his strength & weaknesses as a player.
Thompson, a 6’8 athletic post, was a human highlight reel on his way to earning first team all league honors for Nyssa. He averaged 16 points & 8 rebounds while facing constant double teams and defensive tactics. This spring, Thompson is playing for Team Jones which is coached by Benji Hedgecock and usually features players from smaller rural parts of the state. “I’ve really enjoyed playing with Team Jones this spring. We have some unselfish guys who do a good job of sharing the ball. I’m looking forward to playing against some good competition this summer.” Two months ago, Thompson was a virtual unknown and now he and his coaches are hearing from colleges on a regular basis. National juco power College of Southern Idaho (CSI) recently offered him, an unusual move for a junior college at this stage in his recruiting. “I’m also hearing from Eastern Oregon, Northwest Nazarene, Northwest Christian, Portland State, and several other junior colleges. I’m looking for a school that will help me to continue to improve as a player.” Thompson expressed an interest in studying something mechanical.
When asked to assess his strengths and weaknesses, Thompson responded “I feel like I do a good job of challenging shots and protecting the rim on defense. On offense I attack the basket with aggression and can shoot to 3 point range.” “Things I’m trying to work on are getting stronger, improving my offensive footwork, and getting used to playing against bigger players.”
PREP HOOPS EVALUATION:
Boston Thompson is a very intriguing prospect that has seemingly emerged out of nowhere. The 6’8 2018 post player from eastern Oregon is an athletic post who runs the floor well in transition and finishes above the rim. An active defender who protects the rim. Must play well against better competition this spring & summer. Rarely plays against quality big men in his high school program. Easy to project as low to mid major D1 player down the road. Colleges of all sizes and levels should make a point of seeing Thompson play this summer.