The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1190316
He was among the best post players in the ACC his last two years of college. He earned third-team All-ACC status as a junior in 1991-92, averaging 15.6 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game, while shooting a blistering and still school-record 62.4 percent from the field. He followed up with 15.5 points, 9.1 boards and 1.4 blocks per outing his senior year and again earned third-team all-league honors. For his career, Thompson played in 118 games, starting 88 of them, and averaged 10.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per contest. His 58.8 career field goal percentage remains a school record. Thompson said the games against North Carolina provide the top memories of his NCSU career — and there was one contest that stood out from his other meetings against the Tar Heels. He made 12 of 14 shots from the field for 29 points in a 99-94 win over UNC at the Dean E. Smith Center on Feb. 22, 1992. The total was one point shy of his career best, a 30-point effort against Duke in 1993. Thompson went 4-4 against North Carolina in his NC State ca- reer, including a season sweep his junior year when he played with star power forward Tom Gugliotta. "Any time we played Carolina, it was always memorable," Thompson said. "Then there was just Reynolds Coliseum in gen- eral. That place was electric. "There was nothing like playing in Reynolds." Gugliotta, Rodney Monroe, Chris Corchiani, Brian Howard and Todd Fuller were all former teammates who made the NBA, and Jamie Knox has gone on to a successful stint as an agent. Thompson is also still close to past teammates Bryant Feggins, Lakista McCuller and Mark Davis. "I stay in contact with Chris Corchiani, Cozell McQueen and Chucky Brown, who I didn't play with," Thompson said. "I still miss Lorenzo Charles [who passed away]. That was really a family. I also talk to Vinny [Del Negro] some. "I think Corchiani has done a good job of getting the guys to- gether from time to time." Thompson played in 14 games his rookie year with the Trail Blazers and then headed overseas, where he played for 13 teams from 1994-2008 before retiring. "I'll never forget playing against Shaquille O'Neal, Patrick Ew- ing and Hakeem Olajuwon," Thompson said. "Also Karl Malone and Charles Barkley. It's hard to find big guys now who want to be inside the paint." Thompson played in Italy for six years and Spain for six more, before he finished up with three seasons in Turkey. He returned home to the Triad area and eventually, through past connections, found a new profession — teaching and coaching in high school. However, Thompson wasn't interested in coaching when he was a player at NC State. "I never thought about coaching," he said. "I was always knowl- edgeable of everything on the court. I just understood the game, but never thought about coaching when I was playing." Thompson was friends with former Maryland guard Keith Gatlin, who was coaching at High Point Wesleyan Christian Academy, and just decided to help him out one day. A couple of 3A indepen- dent school state titles later (2013 and 2014), and he had caught the coaching bug. "I just fell in love with teach- ing the game and looking at it from the other side," Thompson said. "That competitiveness filled a gap after I retired in 2008." At Wesleyan, Thompson was able to work with current NBA players Harry Giles (Sacramento Kings) and Theo Pinson (Brook- lyn Nets), and other Division I standouts such as Brandon Childress (Wake Forest) and Montay Brandon (Florida State), among others. Another High Point Wesleyan alum is special to Thompson — his son, UNC Greensboro sophomore forward Khyre Thompson. His other son, Kevin Thompson Jr., is a recent UNC Greensboro graduate. An ordinary meeting with Thompson's former prep coach proved very eventful. Coach And Teacher After A Long Career As A Basketball Player, Kevin Thompson Has Found New Callings Kevin Thompson Men's Basketball (1989-93) Age: 48 Living: Kernersville, N.C. Occupation: Special education teacher and boys' basketball coach at Walkertown (N.C.) High. Did You Know? Thompson ranks 35th in school history with 1,250 points, 10th with 815 rebounds and third with 150 blocks. JANUARY 2020 ■ 49 "I just fell in love with teaching the game and looking at it from the other side. That competitiveness filled a gap after I retired in 2008." ■ Thompson