Georgetown Basketball: Top 10 players that played for John Thompson II
As we look into the legacy of former Georgetown Basketball head coach John Thompson Jr., here are some of the great talent that developed under his watch.
The college basketball world continues to mourn the loss of a pioneer in John Thompson Jr. The 78-year-old Hall of Fame head coach of Georgetown Basketball passed away earlier this week, around the same time as fellow Hall of Famer Lute Olson.
Coach Thompson’s death is even more prevalent during these times of social unrest involving the African American community and concerns of systemic racism. The sports world has always had its own issues with that topic and in some ways, continues to work through some issues. It’s certainly have made strides in the past few decades, thanks in part to the leadership and courage of Coach Thompson.
As the Hoyas leader starting in the 1972-73 season, Thompson amassed 596 career wins in 27 seasons. He was Big East Coach of the Year multiple times and made the NCAA Tournament on 20 occasions.
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The Georgetown head coach made the Final Four three times, winning the ultimate surprise of a national championship in 1984 after beating the Houston Cougars. He became the first black head coach ever to win a title in Division 1 basketball history.
In the 27 years, there are countless moments where Thompson’s impact eclipsed anything that occurred on the court. That includes the physical, mental and emotional development of his players, including many who were African American and ultimately became better men during their time with the Hoyas.
Thompson helped developed Georgetown Basketball into a nationally recognized program up until his departure in 2000. Many quality players have helped, including several who ended up as stars in the NBA. For those not old enough to remember the elite talent that was there, here’s a list of the 10 best athletes who played for Coach Thompson.