Thompson’s Still Getting it Done

Ron Bailey, Publisher

T.J. Thompson, showe here after competing for the AWash entry of the 6th Annual Golden Child Awards charity basketball event.

June 23, 2006 – Washington, D.C. area product, Ronald ‘T.J’. Thompson has constantly been forced to prove himself in hoops. Despite being one of the best guards in the D.C. area his senior year at Newport Prep, Thompson was under-recruited before deciding to attend George Washington University, then coached by Tom Penders.

Despite being undervalued in high school, a phenomenon he still believes exists, Thompson went to G.W., improved, and proved himself indispensable. Four years later in 2004-2005, he was named first team all Atlantic 10 Conference as a senior, leading the Colonials to a 22-8 record as the squad’s point guard, and coach-on-the-floor. Inexplicably, T.J. was again undervalued; he was not drafted by a National Basketball Association franchise.

Not allowing that latest slight to damper his desire for success, the 5’10” Thompson signed to play with the Continental Basketball Association’s Albany Patroons. In route to being named All-CBA and leading the league in scoring last year, T.J. notched averages of 25.4 points, 5.2 assists, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.8 steals per contest. He credited much of his success in Albany to their coach, Michael Ray Richardson. “He made it real easy” said Thompson at the 6th Annual Golden Child Awards event. “He said as I go, we go. I owe a lot to him”.

As that stat line attests, Thompson did a little bit of everything for the expansion Patroons. It’s the same mentality he displayed at George Washington, though he almost transfered. Penders’ stay at G.W. ended after T.J.’s first year, at which time Thompson revealed “I was thinking about leaving and going to Charlotte”, but didn’t as then new (and current) head coach Karl Hobbs “asked to give him a chance” and stay.

T.J. did, and functioned as the team’s bedrock and leader for the next three years. Hobbs, notoriously hard on point guards, was even more so on him, as Thompson shared “It was his first head coaching job, and I was his first point guard”. As such, he believes “He (Hobbs) had to be harder on me”, since much of setting the foundation for the team was predicated on Thompson providing a good example.

In addition to becoming an excellent leader, T.J. was known for providing an outside shooting threat for the G.W. Colonial’s – earning him the moniker “The Dagger” - but also getting the ball into his teammate’s hands, where they could best produce. Averaging 13.6 points, 2.9 assists, and 2.0 rebounds a game as a senior, Thompson led the team to an A-10 Tournament title and their first NCAA Tournament bid since he arrived at the Foggy Bottom campus in 1990.

Most importantly, Thompson graduated from George Washington, with a degree in Sociology. As all student-athletes should do, T.J. used basketball as scholastic motivation. “If it weren’t for basketball, I probably wouldn’t have been in school” he shared. But he was, and made the most of it, as he believes “What’s the use in going to a school for four years, and not getting a degree?”

During his senior season in which G.W. reintroduced itself as a national player, Thompson epitomized a team player – one in which personal success is eclipsed by team success. Unfortunately, NBA general managers didn’t see fit to reward that mentality, or at least factor it into his draft board position. Holding no reservations, he opined “I sacrificed for the team, and didn’t show my total game”.

Thompson is showing it now. At the Golden Child Awards event, T.J. dropped 25 points playing against other professional caliber competition. His jumper was deadly well beyond the three point line, while Thompson’s playmaking and penetrating abilities stood out.

Fuerza Regina, a member of Mexico’s Liza Nacional de Basquetbol, has taken notice, recently offering T.J. a contract. He departed for the club’s home in Monterrey, Mexico this week, and is presently preparing for their first exhibition game, and the subsequent season which starts July 6th. There is also a possibility that he may participate in the New York Knick’s summer league operation this summer (the contract with Fuerza Regina allows for that).

At the Golden Child Awards, Thompson indicated he felt “fortunate” for the professional basketball opportunities, as it evidences “the hard work is paying off”. T.J.’s fiancé, Alima Loo, summed Thompson’s work ethic best during a recent telephone interview, saying “He’s one of the most determined people I have ever seen…He gets it done”.

Nobody can argue with that, based on Thompson’s body of work. i95Ballerz.com would like to salute T.J. Thompson. He’s pressed on through challenging situations, distinguishing himself on the court, despite others undervaluing what he brings to the court. He just gets it done.

Thompson, shown here in George Washington silks, rejoices against Atlantic 10 rival, Saint Joes.