Freshman Thompson Looks Like a Veteran

A team starting three seniors and an All-American junior turned to a freshman for stability, playmaking, and, yes, leadership.

In his first start, Dijon Thompson had his coming-out party for UCLA on Saturday, playing such a strong all-around game that Coach Steve Lavin removed him only for two minutes.

Thompson was the point guard, and it was impossible to tell it was a position he hasn’t played since his junior year at Redondo Union High.

He had 14 points, seven rebounds, four assists, two steals and only two turnovers.

After a while, the only telltale sign that he is a freshman was the goofy-looking tag sticking up from the back of his jersey.

Thompson said he felt more and more like a veteran as the game wore on. “I did feel good out there,” he said. “I stepped up when I had to.”

The 6-foot-7 Thompson was a surprise choice to start in place of senior forward Matt Barnes. Lavin made room in the lineup by moving Jason Kapono to forward.

“Dijon played well,” Kapono said. “With [point guard Cedric Bozeman] out another two weeks, it’s important for him to play with confidence and he did.”

UP NEXT

UCLA at Washington (6-3), Thursday, 7:30 p.m.--The Huskies have won the last four meetings with UCLA at Seattle and appear vastly improved from the team that was 10-20 overall and finished last in the Pac-10 last season. Forward Doug Wrenn (16.6 points a game) and guard Curtis Allen (12.8) are the top scorers for the Huskies, who have made 44.5% of their three-point attempts.