After a standout freshman campaign in which he averaged 14.9 points and 9.1 rebounds per game, Hunter Thompson raised his game to another level this season.
The 6-foot-10 Pine Bluffs sophomore not only increased his numbers across the board – 18.7 points and 10.7 rebounds – but he helped lead the Hornets (24-2) to a third-place finish at the Wyoming State High School Class 2A Boys Basketball Championship. It was Pine Bluffs' best showing at state since 1985.
“I don’t want to say Hunter was overwhelmed as a freshman, but at the start of last year he was very bright-eyed,” Pine Bluffs head coach Will Gray said. “This year he was just a smarter player. He’s also stronger and more of a leader.”
Thompson, who led Class 2A with 2.6 blocks per game, shot 65 percent from the field and converted 42 percent of his attempts from behind the arc, already knew he could score and rebound. So he turned his focus elsewhere in an attempt to help the Hornets improve on last season’s 17-12 mark.
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“I wanted to be more of a vocal leader and I wanted to be someone that other players could come to when they had a question,” Thompson said. “Even though I’m just a sophomore, all of my teammates respect me and they know that I take basketball really seriously.”
Thompson’s stats, along with his intangibles, have earned him recognition as the Star-Tribune’s Boys Basketball Player of the Year. Others in consideration for the award were Jalen Krening of Rawlins and Trey Schroefel of Buffalo.
Gray credits Thompson’s unparalleled work ethic, especially in the weight room, with helping the sophomore elevate his game.
“Hunter was in the weight room four times a week,” Gray said. “He knew he needed to be stronger, so he really took pride in that. And when you’ve got your best player working that hard the rest of the team just follows his lead. Our kids know the weight room is serious business now.”
In addition to his in-state accomplishments, Thompson has already received accolades for his work on the AAU circuit, where he plays for the Utah Prospects out of Salt Lake City. He has been contacted by numerous Division I programs, including Wyoming and Sweet 16 schools Arizona and Gonzaga. Creighton head coach Greg McDermott was in Casper to watch Thompson play at the state tournament earlier this month.
Still, Thompson is determined to work on the parts of his game that don’t always appear in the highlights.
“I don’t have to go out and score 25 points every night,” he said. “When I have an off night I can rely on my teammates. If I’m in a shooting slump I can let my teammates pick up the scoring and I can contribute in other ways … rebounding, defending, being a vocal leader.
“I just want to do what I can to help us win.”
Contact sports reporter Jack Nowlin at 307-266-0528 or jack.nowlin@trib.com. Follow him on Twitter @CASJackN