Versatile Thompson Shines for Chieftains

Andrew Thompson dribbled the basketball between his legs then let a shot fly from inches behind the 3-point line.

The gym was empty Wednesday afternoon, expect for Thompson, who was the first one at practice for the better part of 20 minutes.

After the ball swished through the net, he chased it down and repeated the process, over and over and over again, from different spots on the floor.

Dribble. Shoot. Score. Chase. Repeat.

This is what it takes. Although he might not be a household name in Utica, coaches around the Macomb Area Conference White agree, Thompson might be one of the toughest covers in the division.

His 6-foot-5-inch frame, his ability to score the ball from the block and the perimeter, and his versatility make him a very tough player for any team to guard.

"He's an extremely talented player, for starters," coach Gerry Kraemer said. "I mean, he can play multiple positions. He can post up people and he's a pretty good 3-point shooter as well. Like the rest of the team, Andrew is coming into his own this season. He's a great inside-outside guy. When you're 6-foot-5-inches and as versatile as he is, you're a tough guy to guard on most nights. We're just glad to have him on our side."

The versatility the coach talks about is something that sets the Chieftains junior apart from other big men in the MAC. At some point, Thompson has played all five positions on the floor.

His natural slot, however, is a small forward, he says.

"I like playing small forward," Thompson said. "I think it's the spot where I'm most comfortable, but if the team needs me to play someplace else, I'll do that too."

The three, as it's commonly called, is a position that suits the talented Thompson well. His size and ability to knock down the perimeter jumper means he can shoot over the top of many small forwards in the conference, while his inside game gives him an advantage over smaller players matched up against him at the same position.

"Right now he is a great three," Kraemer said. "He can be active in our offense. We can put him in different spots on the floor as a three. I think that's where we're going to utilize him this season. In the future, though, as he gets stronger, I think he's going to be able to post some guys up and get good looks at the basket."

Although Thompson has turned the heads of many fans, as well as the opposition's players and coaches, he wasn't always a superstar.

"It took a lot of hard work," Thompson said. "I've really worked on my shot a lot, and it's 10 times better now than it was when I was in ninth grade. That, and I did a lot of work in the weight room, too, trying to get faster and stronger. My dad really helped me out, a lot. It is just hard work, that's all it is. There really isn't a big secret—just a lot of hard work."

The work continues too.

Thompson was the first in the gym before practice Wednesday afternoon, and there's a good chance he'll be the last one to leave.

"First one in to practice, last one out of practice," he said. "That's what I'm thinking—it takes a lot of hard work, and a lot of extra work. I want to play at the next level, and I have to put that work in if I want to do that."

The work has paid off for Thompson.

He's averaging double figures, and, as stated earlier, he's one of the conference's true offensive threats.

His sharpshooting skills from beyond the arch sets up a to-the-basket game that he didn't have much of last season.

"He's a very good shooter, but, like I tell the entire team, don't settle," the coach said. "Get the highest percentage shot you can. If you're not 'on' with you're 3-point shots, then there are other ways you can help your team. In a game earlier this year, his 3-point shot just wasn't falling. So, he got to the hole continuously and had a great game offensively."

Thompson doesn't necessarily look to take the ball to the hoop, but this season, he will when he needs to.

"It's not like I worked on taking the ball to the basket," Thompson said. "It just sort of comes naturally now."

This facet of Thompson's game is just another indication of how he's matured as a player, and how much potential he has on the court.

"I think a year of maturity physically and mentally has helped Andrew this year for sure," the coach said. "And I think this next off-season, if he commits himself to the weight room, can take him up another level."

He's already become the focal point of opposing game plans, and another level up is a scary prospect for the rest of the division.

"I'm comfortable with defenses paying more attention to me," Thompson said. "I dealt with it during my freshman year, and playing travel basketball in the summer helps that too. I've got great teammates around me that can pick me up when they need to, and that makes it even tougher for the other team."

With that, Thompson turned and began shooting once again, the first guy to show up for practice Wednesday afternoon, and the last guy out.