BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Race Thompson turned a key piece of Indiana’s basketball workforce below Mike Woodson final season, and it was a lot enjoyable that he is determined to return again for extra.
Thompson, a Plymouth, Minn., native, has been at Indiana for 5 years already, however he is benefiting from the bonus COVID-19 12 months to ”run it again,” as he stated on social media Thursday evening in asserting his return to the Hoosiers.
“I belief Coach Woodson and his plan for me to grow to be one of the best participant I may be to take my sport to a different stage,” Thompson stated Thursday evening.
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The 6-foot-8 Thompson was a workforce captain a 12 months in the past, and had his finest season as a Hoosier. He averaged a career-high 11.1 factors per sport and seven.5 rebounds, additionally a profession finest. He additionally turned a bit extra of a fringe menace, making 15 three-pointers after making solely six complete in his earlier three years.
Thompson began and performed in all 35 video games final 12 months, enjoying up entrance with shut good friend Trayce Jackson-Davis. They’ve performed collectively three years now, and there was some concern about what each of them would do that offseason. Thompson is the primary domino to fall.
Jackson-Davis, the workforce’s main scorer and rebounder, declared for the NBA Draft final week, however he didn’t rent an agent and is conserving his faculty eligibility choices open. Solely first-round picks get assured contracts, and he is not a first-round decide in any of the preferred mock drafts. He is a second-round decide in some, however many others do not have him getting drafted in any respect.
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Thompson and Jackson-Davis are roommates and better of buddies. Thompson’s return in excellent news for Indiana followers hoping that Jackson-Davis will return as properly.
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Indiana ahead Race Thompson (25) and Indiana ahead Miller Kopp (12) field out Purdue ahead Mason Gillis (0) throughout the second half of an NCAA males’s basketball sport, Saturday, March 5, 2022 at Mackey Area in West Lafayette.
Indiana’s Race Thompson (25) fights the feelings throughout his tackle throughout senior evening actions after the Indiana versus Rutgers males’s basketball sport at Simon Skjodt Meeting Corridor on Wednesday, March 1, 2022.
Indiana’s Race Thompson (25) hugs Tracye Jackson-Davis (23) after his tackle throughout senior evening actions after the Indiana versus Rutgers males’s basketball sport at Simon Skjodt Meeting Corridor on Wednesday, March 1, 2022.
Mar 10, 2022; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Michigan Wolverines guard Eli Brooks (55) dribbles the ball whereas Indiana Hoosiers ahead Race Thompson (25) defends within the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Obligatory Credit score: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports activities
Michigan ahead Brandon Johns Jr. rebounds towards Indiana forwards Race Thompson throughout the first half of the Massive Ten match sport on Thursday, March 10, 2022, in Indianapolis.
Mar 11, 2022; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Illinois Combating Illini middle Kofi Cockburn (21) strikes to shoot the ball whereas Indiana Hoosiers ahead Race Thompson (25) defends within the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Obligatory Credit score: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports activities
Mar 11, 2022; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Hoosiers ahead Race Thompson (25) catches the ball whereas Illinois Combating Illini guard Luke Goode (10) defends within the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Obligatory Credit score: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports activities
Mar 11, 2022; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Hoosiers ahead Race Thompson (25) shoots the ball over Illinois Combating Illini guard Da’Monte Williams (20) within the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Obligatory Credit score: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports activities
Mar 11, 2022; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Hoosiers ahead Race Thompson (25) shoots the ball whereas Illinois Combating Illini ahead Coleman Hawkins (33) and middle Kofi Cockburn (21) defend within the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Obligatory Credit score: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports activities
Mar 12, 2022; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Hoosiers ahead Race Thompson (25) rebounds the ball whereas Iowa Hawkeyes ahead Filip Rebraca (0) defends within the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Obligatory Credit score: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports activities
Mar 14, 2022; Dayton, OH, USA; Indiana Hoosiers ahead Trayce Jackson-Davis (23) guard Xavier Johnson (0) ahead Race Thompson (25) communicate with the media throughout observe the day earlier than the beginning of the First 4 of the 2022 NCAA Event at UD Area. Obligatory Credit score: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports activities
Mar 14, 2022; Dayton, OH, USA; Indiana Hoosiers ahead Race Thompson (25) shoots the ball throughout observe the day earlier than the beginning of the First 4 of the 2022 NCAA Event at UD Area. Obligatory Credit score: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports activities
Mar 14, 2022; Dayton, OH, USA; Indiana Hoosiers ahead Race Thompson (25) goes to the basket throughout observe the day earlier than the beginning of the First 4 of the 2022 NCAA Event at UD Area. Obligatory Credit score: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports activities
Mar 14, 2022; Dayton, OH, USA; Indiana Hoosiers ahead Race Thompson (25) shoots the ball throughout observe the day earlier than the beginning of the First 4 of the 2022 NCAA Event at UD Area. Obligatory Credit score: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports activities
Mar 15, 2022; Dayton, OH, USA; Indiana Hoosiers ahead Race Thompson (25) appears to be like to maneuver the ball within the first half towards the Wyoming Cowboys throughout the First 4 of the 2022 NCAA Event at UD Area. Obligatory Credit score: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports activities
Mar 15, 2022; Dayton, OH, USA; Indiana Hoosiers ahead Race Thompson (25) dunks the ball within the first half towards the Wyoming Cowboys throughout the First 4 of the 2022 NCAA Event at UD Area. Obligatory Credit score: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports activities
Mar 15, 2022; Dayton, OH, USA; Indiana Hoosiers ahead Race Thompson (25) shoots the ball over Wyoming Cowboys ahead Jeremiah Oden (25) within the second half throughout the First 4 of the 2022 NCAA Event at UD Area. Obligatory Credit score: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports activities
Indiana’s Race Thompson (25) grabs a rebound throughout the Indiana versus Wyoming NCAA First 4 match sport at College of Dayton Area on Tuesday, March 15, 2022.
Mar 15, 2022; Dayton, OH, USA; Indiana Hoosiers ahead Miller Kopp (12) celebrates with Indiana Hoosiers ahead Race Thompson (25) after defeating Wyoming Cowboys throughout the First 4 of the 2022 NCAA Event at UD Area. Obligatory Credit score: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports activities
Mar 17, 2022; Portland, OR, USA; Indiana Hoosiers ahead Race Thompson (25) is defended by Saint Mary’s Gaels ahead Kyle Bowen (14) and ahead Matthias Tass (11) throughout the first half throughout the first spherical of the 2022 NCAA Event at Moda Heart. Obligatory Credit score: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports activities
Thompson reclassified to enroll early at Indiana, and redshirted his first 12 months. He performed in solely 9 video games in 2018-19, however then performed in 29 video games the next 12 months. He began all 27 video games in 2020-21, and averaged 9.2 factors per sport. However the Hoosiers went simply 12-15 that 12 months and Archie Miller was fired.
Mike Woodson, a former Indiana nice participant from 1976-80, was employed as the top coach and talked Thompson into stayed, vowing to increase his sport. All of it paid off, as Thompson was an honorable point out all-Massive Ten choice by the media.
Thompson went by way of Senior Night time ceremonies in early March, however left the door open for a return. The Hoosiers gained two video games within the Massive Ten Event and earned an invite to the NCAA Event, their first in six years.
Indiana beat Wyoming, however then misplaced to Saint Mary’s in Portland, Ore.
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