Race Thompson, a 6-foot-7 junior forward from Robbinsdale (MN) Armstrong, is one of the top big men in the Midwest in the Class of 2018 and is considered the number three prospect from Minnesota in the class. Thompson received a scholarship offer from Minnesota last year.
Thompson averaged 20.1 points and 8.9 rebounds per game this season for the Falcons, who finished 18-9, losing to crosstown rival Robbinsdale Copper 82-74 in the first round of the Section 6AAAA playoffs. He scored in double figures in all 27 games, including a season-best 36 points versus Totino-Grace and has had twelve more other games of 20 or more points and another contest of more than 30 points, scoring 33 in the playoff loss to Cooper.
Gopher Hole caught up with Thompson Wednesday as he watched the Class AAAA State Tournament to talk about the latest on his recruitment and junior season.
Gopher Hole: You are here watching the games at the state tournament. What is it going to take for Armstrong to be here next year?
Race Thompson: Just a lot of time in the gym. We are getting a new section, I think this next year, so we just have to come to this season prepared, ready to go and just be prepared to win the games and get here and take over the state tournament.
Gopher Hole: You had a really good regular season. Unfortunately, you played your big crosstown rival in the first round of the playoffs. What happened that night?
Race Thompson: I wouldn’t say anything in particular. Our point guard got hurt, which was tough for us, but no excuses. We could still have won that game, but it is a rivalry game, so we both had a lot of energy coming into the game. They didn’t have the best regular season. They wanted to beat us. We wanted to beat them and it was just a good game, all-around and they just came out on top.
Gopher Hole: Is getting knocked out a little earlier than you had hoped a motivating factor for the returnees next year?
Race Thompson: Oh, yes. It definitely is. We have already been in the gym a couple of times, getting ready for next year. Just trying to get better every day is the goal.
Gopher Hole: The next thing you are getting ready for is AAU season. What are the expectations? I know that you guys will have not only one of the better teams in the state, but in the Midwest.
Race Thompson: We definitely think that we have the best team in the country. We don’t think that anyone can play with us. We are just going to go into all of our tournaments, The Gaunlet and play hard as we can and try to win every game we can.
Gopher Hole: What things are you really trying to work on now that the season is over to continue to improve yourself as a player?
Race Thompson: Just being able to be more versatile. Get more versatile than I already am. Just working on ball handling, shooting and all that other stuff.
Gopher Hole: Did you get a chance to go to many college basketball games this season? I know it is tough with your own high school schedule.
Race Thompson: I went Baylor, Marquette, Iowa State, Northwestern. I went to Minnesota, of course.
Gopher Hole: How many Gopher games did you get a chance to make it to?
Race Thompson: I made it to two or three.
Gopher Hole: Minnesota was 8-23 last year, but were one of the most improved teams this season. Does that change how you look at them at all?
Race Thompson: To go to a bigger school, I’m not really looking how they are doing. I’m just trying to feel comfortable with where I am at. I want to feel at home. That is the main goal.
Gopher Hole: The Gophers got a commitment from another junior, Daniel Oturu. Do you know him very well?
Race Thompson: Me and Daniel talk a lot. I’m not going to say that is going to influence my decision, but it is cool to see one of my friends going there and that is definitely in the back of my mind when I make my decision.
Gopher Hole: Has he tried to work on you a little bit, though?
Race Thompson: A little bit as a joke, but he knows the process and knows what people look for in schools, so he knows that doing that is not really going to change anything.
Gopher Hole: When you finally pick a school. What are going to be the main factors that make you pick School A over School B or C?
Race Thompson: I would say style of play. Where they see me playing and relationships.
Gopher Hole: How many offers are you up to right now?
Race Thompson: Eleven. (Nebraska, Iowa State, Baylor, Minnesota, North Dakota, Northern Iowa, Arizona State, Marquette, Northwestern, Creighton and Kansas State.)
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Gopher Hole: Any other schools besides those eleven that you are hearing from a lot?
Race Thompson: I hear from Butler, Michigan, Michigan State and Texas. That is all I can think of right now.
Gopher Hole: Do you watch the NCAA Tournament that much?
Race Thompson: Yes. I watch it.
Gopher Hole: What would it mean to maybe play in the NCAA Tournament?
Race Thompson: I think that I have a good chance of playing in the NCAA Tournament, if I pick my school. It would definitely be a cool thing because everybody in the country watches it. Everybody fills out a bracket, so that is definitely cool.
Gopher Hole: Did you fill out a bracket?
Race Thompson: No, I didn’t.
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Gopher Hole: Do you have a team that you would like to win?
Race Thompson: No. I don’t really have a team. I just watch them.
Gopher Hole: When you watch college games, what do you watch for? Do you watch players who play your position or what do you watch?
Race Thompson: I would say that I watch the whole game, but I guess that I would say that I watch the game different now that I know what I am going to play, where I am going to play, so I probably just watch my position and style of play.
Gopher Hole: Next year, you are going to be a senior. Is that kind of weird?
Race Thompson: It is definitely weird. These past three years went super fast, so just try to make the most of my senior year.
Gopher Hole: What is it going to mean to play Division I basketball?
Race Thompson: It means a lot. I put a lot of work in and it is going to pay off one of these days, so that is the main thing.