Thompson harbors NCAA tourney, NBA draft hopes at Rider University

This small-time setting was about the last place you would expect to find an NBA prospect, but there he was in Rider\’s handsome cranberry red uniform, a visitor from the decidedly mid-major MAAC, long and lean like the 1 that adorns his jersey\’s back. Meet Jason Thompson, the best 6-foot-11, 250-pound forward you\’ve never heard of.

Last season, Thompson averaged 20.1 points and 10.1 rebounds a game, placing him with Kevin Durant and Nick Fazekas as the only 20-and-10 players in Division I. This season, after a summer spent working out at camps run by LeBron James and Amare Stoudemire, he\’s averaging 19.8 points and 11.3 rebounds a game.