The Swiss Army Knife: Hollis Thompson

This is the eighth in a series previewing the 2010-2011 Hoyas.  For a complete look at this year’s team, go here.

Jeff Green. DaJuan Summers. Austin Freeman. Greg Monroe. Hollis Thompson?

Seemingly every year during the JTIII era, a freshman earns a starting role, plays heavy minutes, and then vaults into an even more successful sophomore year. Hollis Thompson did all the right things to continue that tradition. After graduating high school early, Thompson arrived on campus in January 2009, several months before his first game. He had a feathery touch from deep, and integrated himself well into the offense.

But Thompson’s freshman campaign wasn’t nearly as successful as those of his forebears.  He posted decent numbers — 4.8 ppg, 2.4 rpg, and an assist and steal per outing–but he was strictly a role player.  Partly, Thompson was unable to take a larger role because those in front of him — Austin Freeman, Jason Clark, and Chris Wright — gobbled up the lion’s share, and then some, of the back-court and wing minutes.  While Freeman, Summers, and Monroe all held down starting positions, and played starters’ minutes, for each of their respective freshman seasons, Thompson was relegated to spot duty, rarely playing more than half of any game. Moreover, because of the Hoyas’ guard rotation, Thompson, when he got in the game, was strictly complementary, an offensive option rather than an initiator.

In the last third of the season, Thopmson seemed to embrace his role.  He shot better, making over fifty percent of his field goals and over half his three-point attempts over the last eleven games, while ratcheting up his point production by a basket per contest.  He hit timely three-pointers, including to preserve the lead against Syracuse in the Big East Tournament.  While Thompson wasn’t an immediate star, he fit in well where he was needed.

This year, Thompson’s role remains to be determined.  As convincingly demonstrated over at Hoya Prospectus, Thompson will see time at the 4 this year.  The short explanation is that if assume that the 1, 2, and 3 positions are more or less interchangeable, then budget roughly 34 minutes apiece for Clark, Wright, and Freeman, only 18 minutes total per game remain for Thompson, Vee Sanford and Markel Starks.  Given that Starks will be handed over the keys to the offense next year, and Sanford will be an upperclassman counted on in big spots, they’ll probably play nearly 18 minutes between the two of them, leaving Thompson out in the cold. Unless, that is, Thompson plays the 4 (writing “power forward” in connection with the lithe Thompson seems far too incongruous).

JTIII repeatedly has stated that this year’s Hoyas will be a versatile bunch.  At an alumni event in Chicago this June, the coach specifically stated that there were many ways to “skin a cat.” After taking a closer look the minutes, he might as well have been talking about Thompson, who will once again be called upon to make contributions where circumstances allow.  He may roam the baseline against the zone, or find himself defending opposing power forwards.  He’ll have to show offensive versatility not required of him in his first year and, like everyone on the roster, will need to crash the boards at every turn. Thompson undoubtedly will find himself open for his share of wing and corner threes — his bread and butter — but he must develop the rest of his game to meet the team’s needs.

By their second years on campus, Jeff Green and Greg Monroe were the best players on their respective squads, while Austin Freeman and DaJuan Summers were starters counted on for major offensive contributions.  Hollis Thompson will not generate the same headlines this season.  His contributions may be more nuanced, but are no less essential to the team’s success.