College Commitment: Tyke Thompson (2018 West Salem HS/South Puget Sound CC)
The plan for Tyke Thompson has been achieved. The goal for the 6-foot-6 swingman was always to reach a four-year program and it will all start very soon. After playing last season at South Puget Sound, the 2018 West Salem High School graduate will be back on the court next season at St. Martin’s and Thursday night Thompson announced that he will be a Saint.
“I just liked it because Coach (Aaron) Landon was my coach at junior college and I thought it would be a good move to follow him over,” Thompson said. “I’m redshirting this year so I’ll have three years to play for him. I had to finish some classes at Puget Sound so I’ve finished that and got my final grades and my transcripts sent over today. So I’m joining and starting practicing and everything tomorrow.”
Thompson is definitely ready to get started and join his future teammates right in mid-season. “We’ve got a really young group and the freshmen here are going to be good pieces to work with,” Thompson said. “We’ll be good in the next couple of years.”
As a senior at West Salem, Thompson earned Second Team All-GVC honors while helping lead the Titans to the 6A state tournament. This past year at South Puget Sound in 2018-19, he averaged 12.8 points and 6.3 rebounds while shooting 35.2 percent from three-point range. He hopes to bring his combination of size and shooting to the Saints in 2020-21.
“I think I’ve gotten stronger and more confident (since high school),” Thompson said. “I just want to keep getting stronger and put on some weight, get to know my teammates and build chemistry.”
Thompson ranked as the #26 player in the final PrepHoops Oregon Class of 2018 rankings.