The difference between Santa Monica and Berkeley can be quite extreme. The ritzy shopping area of the 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica compared to the street vendors along Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley. The Santa Monica Pier has its beaches and bikinis while Sproul Plaza on the UC Berkeley campus is known for student protestors and demonstration burnings. But Berkeley now also has Trey Thompson, the junior point guard for the Berkeley High Yellowjackets who was with Santa Monica High last year.
Thompson made the move north to Berkeley because his parents switched jobs to the area. As a result, he made the move to Berkeley after some research. Thompson attended a Berkeley High open gym where he was able to meet Berkeley High Coach Damion McNeil and the other players. Thompson was able to play head to head against former Berkeley High Khufu Najee in the open gym. In addition to that positive basketball experience, Thompson enjoyed the surrounding Berkeley City and the UC Berkeley campus. As a result, the transition has been quite smooth.
At 6-foot-2 and 180 pounds, Thompson considers himself to be a play maker because he creates shots for his teammates or gets a critical steal for his team. His best skill is his perimeter shot. He models his game after Kobe Bryant because he has a winning mentality, never gives up, and plays through injuries. Thompson also likes Kevin Durant because he is often overlooked and underrated just as Durant was when he first went to the NBA. Coach McNeil says, "Trey is an outstanding three point shooter. He shoots the ball with great range, but also has a nice mid range game. He is a fierce competitor on the court. He is a vocal leader and possesses a high basketball I.Q."
As a sophomore last year, Thompson played for Santa Monica High that was a senior loaded team. The team went 27-4 and played in the CIF playoffs against Luezinger but lost 58-39. Santa Monica then made it to the second round of the state tournament but lost to Westchester 74-63. As the only underclassman sophomore on a senior laden team, he contributed and played significant minutes with some big scoring games. This Yellowjacket goes to the gym consistently to get stronger and quicker to allow him to reach the next level.
During this past summer, Thompson was working out and playing in tournaments with his Belmont Shores (Long Beach) club team. He is planning on finding a new AAU team for next spring. He works on getting stronger and faster. This Yellowjacket has been playing basketball since he was 4 but will be starting for the first time this upcoming year. He considers himself to be a leader on and off the court as he makes smart decisions and helps the people around him do the same. His individual goal this year is to get looks and offers from top colleges while the team goal is to win state.
Thompson should be primed to have a big year for Berkeley High. In Southern California, he was used to playing against top competition. Thompson played for Santa Monica High in the Fairfax Summer Classic that includes Southern California power high schools such as Fairfax, Price, Taft, Dorsey, Mater Dei, Crespi, among others. His first game was against Fairfax, which his team blew them out by over 20 and Thompson had 25 in that game. His second game was against Price, which was a team that returned most of their players from last year's state championship team. Santa Monica defeated them and Thompson had 20 in that game.
Berkeley plans to play a four guard set this year as key post player Akil Johnson is lost for the year due to a knee injury. The Yellowjackets are loaded with guards and wings on the team. Including Thompson, the team will also have Josh Amey, Ian Carr, Jalil Eppenger, and Langston Morris-Walker. Expect Thompson to help direct traffic and to put up some points and assists for a faster paced team.
Despite only going into his junior year, Cal Poly Pomona, UC Davis, UC Santa Barbara, San Francisco, and UNLV have contacted him. He would like to get away from home. He wants to play for a well coached program that is not on probation. This Yellowjacket would like to be in sunny weather as he grew up in Southern California.
Thompson has a 3.00 GPA but has not taken the SATs yet. He wants to attend a diverse school where he can major in sports medicine or sports broadcasting. Coach McNeil says, "I expect Trey will be a Division I scholarship athlete. He is mid major ready now, but I expect as he grows and develops higher, DI schools will come calling. He has the asset of being able to flat out shoot the ball, but with his drive and work ethic, he will be a coach's dream!"
Thompson considers himself to be hard working and persistent in achieving his personal goals. Coach McNeil says, "Trey is a well rounded student athlete. He always maintains a 3.0 or higher GPA. Trey's dad, Walt, was a football player in high school and college and his grandfather was a teacher/coach in the Midwest. Because of that, he has an understanding of what it takes to perform at a high level not only on the court, but in the classroom as well. Trey's mom, Michelle, is consistently reminding Trey that any goals he sets for himself will only be achieved if he is driven academically, and that character definitely matters! The parent support is the most important factor in shaping Trey as a student athlete."
Expect this Yellowjacket who made the trip from Santa Monica to Berkeley to be a stinging force on the basketball court the next two years for his Berkeley team.
No comments:
Post a Comment