Klay Thompson
Encyclopedia
Klay Alexander Thompson (born on February 8, 1990) is an American
professional basketball player for the Golden State Warriors
of the National Basketball Association
. He is the son of former NBA
first overall draft pick Mychal Thompson. He played college basketball at Washington State University
.
in Santa Margarita, California
. In his junior season, he was named to the All-Area second team and to the Orange County third team. As a senior, Thompson averaged 21 points per game and led SMCHS to a 30–5 record and a Division III State Championship appearance. During the state championship, Thompson set a state finals record with seven 3-pointers in a game. He was named Division III State player of the year, League MVP, first-team Best in the West, and an EA Sports Second Team All American.
. He was named to the Pac-10 All-Freshman Team
and Collegehoops.net All-Freshman Honorable Mention Team after leading his team in 3-point field goal percentage and free throw percentage, and averaging 12.5 points per game.
Championship, of which he was named Most Outstanding Player after scoring a tournament single game record of 43 points in the championship game. This was also the third highest single game point total in WSU history. After becoming the third fastest Cougar to reach 1,000 points, Thompson was named to the All Pac-10 First Team
. He earned Pac-10 Player of the Week honors twice during the season and was chosen as a midseason candidate for the John R. Wooden Award
. Thompson finished the season averaging 19.6 points, which was second in the conference.
honors after leading the Pac-10 in scoring. He became just the third Cougar to win first-team all-district honors from the National Asssociation of Basketball Coaches twice in his career. In addition, he became the first Cougar to win Pac-10 Player of the Week three times when he won the award for the week of Nov. 22-28. He also won the award for the week of December 6–12. Soon after, Thompson was named one of the 30 midseason candidates for the John R. Wooden Award. In the 2011 Pac-10 tournament
, he set tournament records with 43 points and 8 three pointers. Thompson finished the season by setting WSU's single season scoring record with 733 points. He is WSU's 3rd all-time leading scorer.
after his junior season. He was selected 11th overall by the Golden State Warriors.
and his younger brother, Trayce, was drafted in the 2009 MLB Draft by the Chicago White Sox
. Klay faced controversy when he was suspended for his final regular season game at WSU after being issued a misdemeanor criminal citation for marijuana possession.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional basketball player for the Golden State Warriors
Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in Oakland, California. They are part of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
of the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
. He is the son of former NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
first overall draft pick Mychal Thompson. He played college basketball at Washington State University
Washington State University
Washington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university...
.
High school career
Thompson went to Santa Margarita Catholic High SchoolSanta Margarita Catholic High School
Santa Margarita Catholic High School is a coeducational college preparatory Roman Catholic high school located in Rancho Santa Margarita, California, United States. SMCHS was opened in the fall of 1987 under the direction of the Bishop of Orange...
in Santa Margarita, California
Santa Margarita, California
Santa Margarita is a census-designated place located in San Luis Obispo County, California. It was founded in 1897 near Cuesta Peak and San Luis Obispo along State Route 58. The town's name comes from the Mexican Alta California land grant. It is home to the Santa Margarita de Cortona Asistencia...
. In his junior season, he was named to the All-Area second team and to the Orange County third team. As a senior, Thompson averaged 21 points per game and led SMCHS to a 30–5 record and a Division III State Championship appearance. During the state championship, Thompson set a state finals record with seven 3-pointers in a game. He was named Division III State player of the year, League MVP, first-team Best in the West, and an EA Sports Second Team All American.
Freshman Season
As a freshman, Thompson started all 33 games at Washington State UniversityWashington State Cougars men's basketball
The Washington State Cougars Men's Basketball team represents Washington State University and competes in the Pacific-12 Conference of NCAA Division I...
. He was named to the Pac-10 All-Freshman Team
2008–09 Pacific-10 Conference men's basketball season
The 2008–09 Pacific-10 Conference men's basketball season ended with six teams participating in the 2009 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament and two teams playing in the College Basketball Invitational ....
and Collegehoops.net All-Freshman Honorable Mention Team after leading his team in 3-point field goal percentage and free throw percentage, and averaging 12.5 points per game.
Sophomore Season
Thompson began his sophomore season by leading the Cougars to the Great Alaska ShootoutGreat Alaska Shootout
The Great Alaska Shootout is an annual college basketball tournament in Anchorage, Alaska that features colleges from all over the United States. The University of Alaska Anchorage hosts the tournament every Thanksgiving. Tournament games are played at Sullivan Arena in Anchorage...
Championship, of which he was named Most Outstanding Player after scoring a tournament single game record of 43 points in the championship game. This was also the third highest single game point total in WSU history. After becoming the third fastest Cougar to reach 1,000 points, Thompson was named to the All Pac-10 First Team
2009–10 Pacific-10 Conference men's basketball season
The 2009–10 Pacific-10 Conference men's basketball season began with practices on October 17, 2009 and ended with the Pac-10 Tournament on March 10–13, 2010 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.-Pre-season:...
. He earned Pac-10 Player of the Week honors twice during the season and was chosen as a midseason candidate for the John R. Wooden Award
John R. Wooden Award
The John R. Wooden Award is an award given annually to the most outstanding men's and women's college basketball players. The program consists of the men's and women's Player of the Year awards, the Legends of Coaching award and recognizes the All–America Teams.The awards, given by the Los...
. Thompson finished the season averaging 19.6 points, which was second in the conference.
Junior Season
As a junior, Thompson earned All-Pac-10 first team2010–11 Pacific-10 Conference men's basketball season
The 2010–11 Pacific-10 Conference men's basketball season began with practices on October 18, 2010 and ended with the 2011 Pacific-10 Conference Men's Basketball Tournament from March 9–11, 2011 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The regular season began on the weekend of November 12, with the...
honors after leading the Pac-10 in scoring. He became just the third Cougar to win first-team all-district honors from the National Asssociation of Basketball Coaches twice in his career. In addition, he became the first Cougar to win Pac-10 Player of the Week three times when he won the award for the week of Nov. 22-28. He also won the award for the week of December 6–12. Soon after, Thompson was named one of the 30 midseason candidates for the John R. Wooden Award. In the 2011 Pac-10 tournament
2011 Pacific-10 Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
-Tournament notes:* Both men’s and women’s basketball tournament semi-final and final games will be held at the Staples Center.* Coach of the Year Award is renamed to honor Coach John Wooden...
, he set tournament records with 43 points and 8 three pointers. Thompson finished the season by setting WSU's single season scoring record with 733 points. He is WSU's 3rd all-time leading scorer.
Golden State Warriors
Thompson declared for, and opted to remain in, the 2011 NBA Draft2011 NBA Draft
The 2011 NBA Draft was held on June 23, 2011 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The draft started at 7:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time , and was broadcast in the United States on ESPN. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball...
after his junior season. He was selected 11th overall by the Golden State Warriors.
Personal
Thompson is the son of former NBA player Mychal Thompson. His older brother Mychel played basketball for Pepperdine UniversityPepperdine University
Pepperdine University is an independent, private, medium-sized university affiliated with the Churches of Christ. The university's campus overlooking the Pacific Ocean in unincorporated Los Angeles County, California, United States, near Malibu, is the location for Seaver College, the School of...
and his younger brother, Trayce, was drafted in the 2009 MLB Draft by the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
. Klay faced controversy when he was suspended for his final regular season game at WSU after being issued a misdemeanor criminal citation for marijuana possession.