The 6-foot-11 Jason Thompson, who led Lenape High School to the 2004 Group IV championship, was projected to go in the mid-to-late first round.

Oddly enough, Thompson wasn't even at the draft, which is held at Madison Square Garden. The guy from Italy was there but the guy from New Jersey wasn't. Go figure.

Reported by Jerry Carino's Hoops Haven

Named Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Player of the Year as a senior. Earned First Team All-Conference honors his junior and senior seasons and earned Second Team honors as a sophomore. Honored as the MAAC Defensive Player of the Year his final two seasons. Finished collegiate career as Rider’s third all-time leading scorer with 2,040 points, all-time leading rebounder with 1,171 boards, and all-time leading shot blocker with 235 rejections. Posted 54 career double-doubles.

Senior (2007-08): Led the MAAC in rebounding (12.1 ppg, ranked second nationally) and ranked second in scoring (20.4 ppg) and blocked shots (2.7 bpg). Scored 20 or more points 21 times, topping the 30-point mark twice. Registered 24 double-doubles including the last eight games of the season. Posted at least 20 points and 20 rebounds in three contests. Recorded career-high 33 points and grabbed 12 rebounds vs. St. Peter’s. Scored 26 points and pulled down a career-high 24 rebounds vs. Siena. Tallied 23 points, 21 rebounds and a season-high seven blocked shots vs. Delaware. Earned All-Tournament honors at the Old Spice Classic after averaging 23 points, 10.7 rebounds and 3.0 blocked shots in games vs. North Carolina State, Penn State and Kansas State. Registered 32 points and 18 rebounds vs. Marist in the semifinals of the MAAC Tournament. Tallied 15 points and 17 rebounds at Old Dominion in the first round of the post-season NIT.

Junior (2006-07): Led the MAAC in scoring (20.1 ppg) and rebounding (10.1 rpg). Was one of only three players to average over 20 points and 10 rebounds, joining Kevin Durant of Texas and Nick Fazekas of Nevada. Registered 17 double-doubles. Set a season-high of 31 points vs. Niagara. Matched season high with 31 points and added 16 rebounds and a career-high seven blocks vs. Siena. Registered 23 points and a career-high 20 rebounds vs. Manhattan. Tallied 24 points and 16 rebounds vs. Iona in the first round of the MAAC Tournament.

Sophomore (2005-06): Averaged 16.6 points (ranked seventh in the MAAC), 8.4 rebounds (fourth) and 1.8 blocked shots (second). Scored 20 or more points eight times and recorded eight double-doubles. Posted a season-high 28 points and added 11 rebounds at St. Peter’s. Scored 15 points at Villanova. Tallied 26 points at Canisius. Registered 25 points and 12 rebounds at Fairfield. Recorded 26 points vs. Iona. Pulled down a season-high 15 rebounds vs. Manhattan.

Freshman (2004-05): Averaged 9.1 points while leading the team in rebounding (7.4 rpg, fifth in the MAAC) and blocked shots (1.0 bpg). Scored in double figures 14 times, registering a season-high 18 points at Niagara. Posted five double-doubles. Grabbed a season-high 13 rebounds at St. Peter’s and vs. Iona. Scored 16 points at Delaware. Tallied 15 points and nine rebounds vs. Fairfield in the semifinals of the MAAC Tournament.

Strengths: Fluid athlete who is very active on both ends of the floor. Works hard on the glass and on defense. Has decent ball skills for a big man, and a solid offensive repertoire in the post.

Personal: Majored in communications. Younger brother Ryan is a sophomore guard at Rider. Career goals include becoming a TV sports anchor.

By NBA Media Ventures, LLC.