Thompson Named Hoops Captain for 2009-10
September 15, 2009
Click on the above video player for an interview with Mychel Thompson.
MALIBU, Calif. ­- Pepperdine veteran Mychel Thompson has been voted team captain of the 2009-10 men's basketball team, head coach Tom Asbury announced today.
"We place a lot of importance on the selection of team captain each year," Asbury said. "This is an important responsibility within our program, and players and coaches alike communicate through this individual. We feel Mychel will do a great job representing the basketball team. He has provided a great deal of leadership through his career and we anticipate him continuing this trend."
Thompson (Portland, Ore./Stoneridge Prep), a 6-foot-7 junior forward, is the only player on the 2009-10 squad that has played two full seasons at Pepperdine. He was a starter in each of his first two seasons, averaging 8.1 points as a freshman and 9.6 points as a sophomore. Thompson was the team's second-leading scorer last season. Through two seasons he has made 91 three-pointers and is likely to break into Pepperdine's career top 10 this season.
His father, Mychal, was a 12-year veteran in the NBA and the #1 overall pick in the 1978 NBA Draft. One brother, Klay, plays basketball at Washington State, and another, Trayce, recently signed a pro baseball contract with the Chicago White Sox organization.
A young Pepperdine team made great strides last season under the leadership of Asbury, who returned to Malibu to begin his second stint as the head coach of the Waves. The squad went 9-23 overall and 5-9 for sixth place in the WCC, but three of the top four scorers were freshmen and the other one (Thompson) was a sophomore. The 2009-10 Waves have 12 returning lettermen, believed to be the most in school history.
Orange & Blue Madness (Pepperdine's version of Midnight Madness) is set for Friday, Oct. 16, at 8:45 p.m. in Firestone Fieldhouse. The Waves' only exhibition is on Friday, Nov. 6, against Westmont, and the non-conference opener is on Friday, Nov. 13, against Pacific in Firestone Fieldhouse.
Season tickets are now on sale for the 2009-10 season. Special rates are in place until September 30: a courtside seat is $476, lower reserved seating is $179 and upper reserved seating is $143. Season tickets can be purchased by visiting the athletic offices in Heritage Hall, calling (866) WAVE-TIX or by visiting www.pepperdinesports.com, accessing the ticket brochure PDF and mailing it in.
