Thompson to enter draft, could return to OSU
10.6 points and 9.2 rebounds. The redshirt junior, who transferred from Virginia Tech after playing one season for the Hokies, improved on his 2015-16 season, when he averaged 6.5 points and 5.1 rebounds.
A year ago, Thompson declared for the draft but did not hire an agent. He was not invited to the NBA combine and decided to return to school. He was beaten out by freshman Micah Potter for the starting spot during fall camp but eventually supplanted Potter and started 20 games, averaging 23.0 minutes and 3.5 fouls.
Thompson had not informed the coaching staff of his decision as of Tuesday afternoon, but Ohio State has not been expecting him to return for what would be his fifth year of college basketball, a team source said. Thompson did not make a final decision until after the Buckeyes’ season ended when they were not extended an NIT bid.
Thompson, who will turn 23 this summer, was the oldest player on Ohio State’s roster.
The Buckeyes have signed a four-star center prospect in Westerville South’s Kaleb Wesson for next season, and he is expected to compete with Potter for a starting spot. Ohio State also has signed a point guard, Braxton Beverly, and would have room for two more players in the class should Thompson leave.
Malcolm Hill scored 25 points, Leron Black had a double-double and Jamall Walker picked up a win in his debut as the interim coach for Illinois, a romp over short-handed Valparaiso in an opening game of the NIT on Tuesday night. Hill made 7 of 12 shots, including four 3-pointers, and 7 of 8 free throws and became the fourth player to surpass 1,800 points for the Illini (19-14), who are seeded second in their bracket and are home against Boise State next. Black had 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting and grabbed 12 rebounds. Walker served as an assistant to head coach John Groce for five seasons until Croce was fired on Saturday. Tevonn Walker had 25 points for Valparaiso (24-9), which reached last year’s NIT title game. The Crusaders were without Horizon League player of the year Alec Peters, the program’s all-time leading scorer and rebounder, who started all 134 games of his career before an injury sidelined him prior to the last regular season game.
Josh Okogie scored 24 points, Tadric Jackson added 19, and the pair combined for 31 secondhalf points as Georgia Tech pulled away from Indiana in the opening round of the NIT. Quinton Stephens had 16 points on 6 of 9 shooting, including four 3-pointers, for the Yellowjackets (18-15), who were seeded sixth in their bracket and play the winner of today’s Belmont-Georgia game. Ben Lammers added 11 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks. Juwan Morgan had 14 points and Thomas Bryant 13 for the thirdseeded Hoosiers (18-16), who were in the NIT for the fifth time, first since 2005. The teams traded big runs in the first half which ended with Georgia Tech up 34-27 as Indiana shot just 31 percent. The Hoosiers, who average 80 points and 48-percent shooting, took a 44-43 lead after Freddie McSwain Jr. made his only baskets, a tip-in followed by a dunk with 13:28 to play.