Tristan Thompson

[musubi]

Tristan, once listed at 6'8" and 215, supposedly has grown some recently is purported to now be 6'10" and 240. Just keeping everyone posted on the all-important breaking news.

Link

 

[mars]

This article says that Kabongo is staying at St. Benedict's. I thought he had transferred to Findlay?

 

[kevwun]

It was thought that he would follow Thompson to Findlay, but that didn't happen.

 

[gnaiko]

The few times I've seen him play on TV, I have been disappointed and not impressed. Certainly, doesn't show any skills that make him at one point the number 1 rated prospect for his class.

Then again, I watched Chris Bosh play the state tournament at the Erwin Center and felt he was very unimpressive and doesn't deserve all the hype. Maybe it's harder to gauge big men, for me anyways. Bosh certainly has turned out really well, so that should tell you about my talent evaluating skills.

 

[bierce]

FIBA site listed him at 6'7."
The Link

Team Canada site listed him at 6'9."
The Link


Douai tournament listed him at 6'9" (2.05 m).
The Link

I'm going to judge him on results, not listed measurements. In the Douai tournament, in which he played for the US team, I wasn't impressed with his rebounding totals, but they definitely improved as the tournament went on, and Sullinger was playing like a beast on the boards, anyway, so his opportunities may have been limited.

Thompson did have an ankle injury earlier in the FIBA tournament, so his impact on Team Canada probably suffered somewhat.
The Link

 

[musubi]

In all seriousness, I think big men are especially hard to evaluate at the high school level. There is great discrepancy in terms of physical maturity at the high school age. I think Thompson's hype is based on projected potential versus current production. If he's closer to 6'10" than 6'8, then I can get really excited about that potential. If he's 6'7", that would be a bit disappointing (more for him, as he's talking like a future pro...and 6'7" postmen don't usually fare well as pros).

For what it's worth, I think he's a nice player now. Good hustle, athletic lane filler that can get out on the break. I haven't been overwhelmed with him during the few games I've watched (whether it's been while he was a St. Benedict's or when he played for Findlay at the ESPN Rise Tournament), however. Needs to develop low-post moves and finish better against contact. Most high school bigs don't have developed low post moves, though, so that's not unique to Tristan.

 

[GoHornsGo90]

Well, I have to agree with you guys, but the reason Tristan is ranked so highly (though he's dropped recently) is his potential is out of this world. He's so athletic and controls his body perfectly. He does need huge work, though, and his shooting MUST improve.

 

[truehornone]

SL X, what do you think of thompson's game? i too have been pretty underwhelmed given his lofty ranking. he's much bulkier than i thought. i don't think he's a one and done type, as wright will have to rework his body some. curious on your thoughts.

 

[skymonkeyhorn]

Tristan is still a young bb player,with good/excellent IQ for the game. He is a gifted big man, several have commented on his body control and fillings the lanes. So we have a big that is in playing within himself.
Seeing Tristan since being a freshmen he has grown several inches and jumps better then he did, has a J out to 20 feet and can handle on the wing. Concentrate on his foot work and you will see that he is easy on his feet and gets position, he is not a banger at this point as he flows within the game. He will need to get more aggressive to be an outstanding 3-4 but he can be trouble for anyone to guard. Give him another 18 months to work on his game and get into 1st summer semester next year .
He will be excellent..... I also think he will be around 2 years mayber 3 if he does not explode the first 2 years.