Thompson Motivated by USA Opportunity

COLORADO SPRINGS -- One medal wasn't enough for Amanda Thompson.

After helping her 2005 Youth Development Festival team to capture the gold medal and secure a perfect 5-0 record, Amanda Thompson told herself she had to have more USA Basketball. So, when the invitation to the 2006 USA Women's U20 National Team Trials arrived in her mailbox, she knew she had been given an opportunity. Her invitation, however, should have come as no surprise. Thompson ranked ninth among all 2005 Festival participants in scoring (9.4 ppg.), fifth for rebounding (7.8 rpg.), third for offensive rebounding (4.6), seventh for field goal percentage (.647), tied for ninth for blocked shots (0.8 bpg.), tied for 13th for defensive rebounds per game (3.2) and tied for 14th for assists (1.6 apg.).

The 6-0 forward and 2006 WBCA and McDonald's High School All-American, averaged 24 points, 13 rebounds and four assists per game as a senior at Whitney Young High School (Ill.) in 2005-06. This fall, the Chicago native will join fellow trials participants Ashley and Courtney Paris at the University of Oklahoma for her freshman season.

USA Basketball | 05-06 Review | Incoming Freshman

Thompson, a high school honor-roll student at Whitney Young, is as versatile off the court as she is on it. She loves lasagna, hates scary movies and idolizes USA Basketball greats Lisa Leslie, Tamika Catchings and Sheryl Swoopes. Recently, she sat down with usabasketball.com to dish about trials and going one-on-one against two-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Jordan.

What would making this team mean to you?
It would mean so much because when I first got here for the Festival last year, I had my mind set on, I gotta make it back to this place.' And when I got the letter in the mail, that just made my life. It's just like I got an opportunity, and I gotta take that chance. I gotta have fun with it, but I also gotta be competitive because I know there are a lot of girls that are older than me.

You are one of the younger participants, has that been a factor?
You know what, it's not as hard as I thought it would be. As long as you keep playing hard and being aggressive, then you'll stick out one way or another.

How has your experience been so far?
I feel great, actually. I've been working out a lot before I got here, so my body is in good condition.

What has been the most fun?
The fun part is all the drills and how the court coaches teach you a lot of stuff. Like if you're doing something wrong or if you could do something better on the floor, they'll tell you. And you can keep that in your mind and use it for future reference. I like learning new things, and I've already learned a lot.

You are headed to the University of Oklahoma to play with Ashley and Courtney Paris, who are both at trials, are you looking forward to playing with them?
I'm excited. I've played with them earlier and it was fun and I kinda just started thinking ahead about just wondering what it would be like to play with them for real, in a real season. Definitely looking forward to it, I can't wait. Both of them have good work ethics. I'm just coming along to bring my work ethic so they can help me out, and I can get better as a person and as a basketball player.

Have you gotten a chance to hang out?
Yeah, a lot. Our rooms are right next to each other. So, we're always walking around. We'll maybe eat lunch or breakfast, or something like that together. We've been hanging out a lot.

You told us you had opportunity to play against Michael Jordanhow did that happen?
Well, I was at a gym one time, it was a Hoops gym in Chicago. And he was up there shooting around, and I was up there shooting around. He came in and my coach dared me to play him. So I just asked him, and he actually played. He was back-boarding threes from like half court and beyond. I was like wow.' I was really amazed and really happy.

How did you play?
You know what, I made a couple of shots, but then, after playing against Michael Jordan, you get a little nervous. So after he started hitting shots from like half court, I was like okay look, you won.' But I never backed down or anything. He's real competitive, and I'm real competitive too, so we were going at it.

Did he give you any advice?
Not really. Just to keep shooting and working on my game.

Your cousin is NBA player Byron Russell. Are you close?
Yeah. When I was younger, I used to go to a lot of his games. Like when he played at Utah, I used to go. After I got older and I started playing ball myself, we couldn't really do that like we used to. It was harder.

Was he an important influence for you?
Oh yeah, definitely, because he made it to the league. I saw what he could do and I was like, Well, if I keep myself focused on the game, then I can get the same kinda thing.'

What is the strongest part of your game?
Quickness.

What is the weakest part of your game?
Defense.

Favorite TV show?
One Tree Hill

Favorite movie?
Brown Sugar

Favorite comedian?
Jamie Foxx

What's in your CD player right now?
Jamie Foxx

What is the last book you read?
The Coldest Winter Ever. I read it for school, but it's more like for fun because I got really into it. I actually had to do a commercial on it for class. I'll get into more books, now, after that book.

Pet peeve?
Just not being real.

If you could have dinner with three people from past or present who would they be?
Lisa Leslie, Tamika Catchings and Sheryl Swoopes. That would be really inspiring to just talk to these people who respect the game a lot and who achieved a lot. I'd ask them about all the things they've been through at all the different levels they've played at, and what the differences are. How to prepare and how to train. I'd just soak it all in.

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Image and text courtesy of usabasketball.com

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