KNOXVILLE — Bryce Thompson enters his junior season at Tennessee in 2020.
Thompson will wear jersey No. 0 this season. He is the first Vol to ever wear the number in Tennessee football history.
The NCAA is allowing student-athletes to wear No. 0 for the first time in 2020.
Tennessee opened fall training camp Monday, marking the first time Thompson wore the number at Haslam Field.
KNOXVILLE, TN – AUGUST 17, 2020 – Defensive back Bryce Thompson #0 of the Tennessee Volunteers during 2020 Fall Camp practice on Haslam Field in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
The 5-foot-11, 185-pound defensive back has been a factor for the Vols at cornerback over the last two seasons, totaling six interceptions, 66 tackles, six TFLs, two sacks, 15 pass defections and forced one fumble in 22 games.
KNOXVILLE — Bryce Thompson enters his junior season at Tennessee in 2020.
The 5-foot-11, 185-pound defensive back has been a factor for the Vols at cornerback over the last two seasons, totaling six interceptions, 66 tackles, six TFLs, two sacks, 15 pass defections and forced one fumble in 22 games.
Thompson announced Sunday that he will wear jersey No. 0 for the Vols this season.
Bryce Thompson will be more of a factor on passing downs.
KNOXVILLE — Bryce Thompson enters his junior season at Tennessee in 2020.
The 5-foot-11, 185-pound defensive back has been a factor for the Vols at cornerback over the last two seasons, totaling six interceptions, 66 tackles, six TFLs, two sacks, 15 pass defections and forced one fumble in 22 games.
Thompson’s ability to attack the ball in open space, along with his decisive instincts and ball-hawking hands are why Tennessee’s defense will benefit even more this season.
Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire
Thompson will be a factor as a robber on passing downs in 2020 as the strong safety slides to linebacker, the nickel cornerback moves to free safety, allowing for the free safety to move to strong safety.
Tennessee will benefit this season with added player personnel on roster as freshman cornerback Key Lawrence is expected to play a significant role in the Vols’ rotation.
Lawrence’s ability to come in immediately and contribute affects Thompson, along with Warren Burrell and Alontae Taylor providing experience at cornerback. Added depth at cornerback benefits the Vols’ team and allows Thompson to play as a slot cornerback on passing downs.
Thompson’s presence on passing downs will allow Tennessee to have two bigger cornerbacks playing press coverage on the outside. Tennessee’s press coverage will be complimented by Thompson sitting back and reading the ball and attacking, while the boundary side brings pressure. As the boundary side brings pressure, Thompson can attack the ball in space as a robber.
Bryce Thompson enters his junior season as a cornerstone of Tennessee’s defensive backfield, partnering with Alontae Taylor as UT’s starting cornerbacks. In 10 games, Thompson had 22 tackles, three interceptions and one sack.
As one of the most talented defenders on Tennessee’s roster, Thompson is expected to take a significant step forward in 2020.
With the NBA trade deadline approaching, there may be some swaps of picks in the 2021 NBA Draft, which is considered to be a strong class.
With the NBA trade deadline approaching, there may be some swaps of picks in the 2021 NBA Draft, which is considered to be a strong class.
Now that the rosters for the McDonald’s All-American Game have been announced and the Hoophall Classic is complete, top prospects are emerging as future stars in the league.
This list does not include any of the top international prospects who will likely be selected in 2020 like Killian Hayes and Theo Maledon. It also does not mention any of the top returning players in the nation as it will be unclear who will opt to play in the NBA and it is still tough to predict at this point.
Instead, it offers an introduction to the current high school seniors and the international
All statistics are updated through February 3, 2020 and are pulled from D1Circuit.com, MaxPreps and RealGM unless stated otherwise.
1. Cade Cunningham, Oklahoma State (Committed)
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Guard, 6-foot-7, 18 years old, Montverde Academy (Florida)
Cade Cunningham is currently the anchor for Montverde Academy, which is being called the best high school team of all-time. They are currently ranked as the top school in the nation. The point forward is so good that an NBA scout recently told Yahoo’s Krysten Peek he would likely be the No. 1 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft if he were eligible. That indicates he might already be the best player who is not currently in the league. For proof: Cunningham averaged 18.0 points and 8.5 assists per 36 minutes at the U19 World Cup, trailing just one player for total assists (40) during the tournament. With his size and his playmaking ability, he is already showing flashes of becoming a future franchise cornerstone.
2. Jalen Green, Uncommitted
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Guard, 6-foot-5, 17 years old, Prolific Prep (California)
Jalen Green is an incredibly explosive athlete who has improved as a shooter over the past few years as well. The scorer has become a more consistent and reliable option on the floor, offering an attacking mentality that will continue to develop as his competition continues. One of his crowning achievements thus far: He took home tournament MVP during the U17 World Cup in 2018, leading the United States to the gold medal behind 15.7 points per game. He averaged 7.7 three-pointers per 40 minutes during this competition, showing he is a fearless shooter. His natural stroke from the free-throw line shows that his three-point percentage will likely increase within time, too.
3. Evan Mobley, USC (Committed)
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Big, 7-foot-0, 18 years old, Rancho Christian (California)
Evan Mobley was 2019’s Gatorade Player of the Year in California and came into the summer as the highest-rated player on RSCI, which compiles all of the rankings on recruiting sites like 247 Sports and Rivals. The versatile big brags a 7-foot-5 wingspan with a 40-inch vertical leap, a rare measurement combination. He has recently been listed as a small forward, however, which Sports Illustrated’s Jeremy Woo says “points to the dissonance” between his current identity and the best eventual fit in the NBA for someone his size. Still, there is arguably more to like about Mobley’s potential than that of 2020 projected lottery big man James Wiseman.
4. Scottie Barnes, Florida State (Committed)
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Forward, 6-foot-8, 18 years old, Montverde Academy (Florida)
Scottie Barnes currently plays alongside Cunningham at Montverde Academy and has a lot to offer as he continues to develop. He is a stat-sheet stuffer capable of putting up impressive lines for points and rebounds as well as assists. Like Cunningham, he has a point-forward mentality which is elevated by the fact that he is also measured with an incredible 9-foot-1 standing reach. Barnes can be a plug-and-play option for almost any team on both offense and defense in the NCAA and eventually in the NBA. That was an especially attractive trait for him for Team USA in the U19 World Cup, where he was a strong facilitator from the elbow. He assisted on 16.8 percent of scores for his team when he was on the floor despite never acting as his offense’s primary playmaker.
5. Ziaire Williams, Uncommitted
(Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
Wing, 6-foot-8, 18 years old, Sierra Canyon (California)
Ziaire Williams is currently playing high school basketball at the high-profile Sierra Canyon. While he had to sit out the first few months of his senior year because of transfer rules, he has been a force to be reckoned with already. But that was no surprise for those who have followed the prospect. Williams led his AAU team (which also briefly included the aforementioned 2021 projected lottery pick Jalen Green) in points as well as rebounds and assists per game on the U17 circuit. The prospect has shown he is an above-average finisher near the rim, which will be important as he continues his growth. The Stepien’s Ross Homan also believes Williams can become the best shooter in this class. It will be fascinating to monitor his collegiate decision as he is the highest-rated recruit without an NCAA commitment yet.
Without the pressure of the recruitment process, Bryce Thompson is thriving.
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DALLAS – Booker T. Washington (Tulsa, Oklahoma) combo guard Bryce Thompson had heard about the stress relief that accompanies a college commitment but didn’t fully understand the extent of it until he committed to Kansas earlier this month.
“I know people say this all the time, but it’s true; it’s really a weight lifted off of your shoulders,” Thompson said. “Just in practice and training I feel so much more relaxed and calmer.”
He used that newfound tranquility to score 27 points in the Hornets’ 79-72 loss to Christian Brothers College (St. Louis, Missouri) Saturday at the Thanksgiving Hoopfest.
Thompson said he developed a more dominant mindset this summer after leading the Under Armour Association in scoring, averaging 25.3 points per game on the Oklahoma Run PWP.
“I just proved to myself what I could do on one of the biggest stages against some of the best players,” Thompson said. “I just hold myself with a higher standard when it comes to scoring.”
To that end, Thompson said he’s “already preparing” for Kansas in everything he does now, from training to mentality.
“College is the next level for me so preparing for a higher level only helps me in high school,” said Thompson, who added more than 5,000 followers on social media after committing to Kansas. “I have big goals and I want to be as prepared as possible for next year. I’m continuing to work on my ball handling and my jumping and my body; just anything that will put me in a better position to help Kansas, I’m in.”
Teammate of Bryce Thompson, Trey Phipps, signed with Oklahoma just one day after Thompson committed to the Kansas Jayhawks.
Teammate of Bryce Thompson at Booker T. Washington (Tulsa, Okla.), Trey Phipps, signed his National Letter of Intent with Oklahoma just one day after Thompson committed to the Kansas Jayhawks.
The three-star guard stands 6-foot-2 and weighs in at just 160 pounds, leaving plenty of room for Phipps to grow and develop once he is on campus.
“Becoming a Sooner is something I always dreamed about as a kid,” said Phipps in a press release from the university. “Being able to have the opportunity to play at OU is something I’m extremely grateful and excited for.”
Trey’s father, Conley Phipps was a part of two basketball teams, playing for the 1985-86 and 1986-87 Sooners under Coach Billy Tubbs.
Trey Phipps is no stranger to the big stage. In the 2019 6A Oklahoma State Basketball Championship game, Phipps capped off an MVP postseason with a 42 point performance to help secure a gold ball for the Hornets.
Phipps is a sharpshooter which will prove dangerous once he’s on campus next season.
“Trey is a terrific competitor who is a very hard worker and shoots the ball extremely well,” Lon Kruger said in a press release. “He has a passion to be at Oklahoma and will fit in very well right off the bat. We’re delighted to have him.”
In state 2020 product, Bryce Thompson chose Kansas over Oklahoma in front of a national audience on CBS Sports.
In state 2020 product, Bryce Thompson chose Kansas over Oklahoma in front of a national audience on CBS Sports.
The five-star guard out of Booker T. Washington (Tulsa, Okla.) had his choice of school, narrowing his decision to Kansas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and North Carolina.The Jayhawks prevailed even though the Sooners and Cowboys both made late charges.
Thompson is already 6-foot-4 and weighs in at 180 pounds, he does not have to do much to his body to get ready for collegiate basketball.
With a program steeped in history and tradition alike, Thompson adds another feather to the cap of Jayhawk head coach, Bill Self who has consistently had Kansas atop the Big 12 during his tenure.
Thompson’s commitment to Kansas jumped the Jayhawks up 40 spots in the 2020 recruiting rankings. Previous to Thompson’s commitment, Kansas had the No. 51 overall 2020 class of recruits coming to Lawrence, Kan. Now the Jayhawks are the No. 11 class in the country and back where they traditionally are ranked when it comes to recruiting.
Elite scoring guard Bryce Thompson did an exclusive blog breaking down the reasons behind his big decision.
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Booker T. Washington High School (Tulsa, Oklahoma) combo guard Bryce Thompson picked Kansas over Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and North Carolina.
Thompson, five-star prospect led the Under Armour Association in scoring this past summer and gives the Jayhawks their third commit from the 2020 class.
