April 30, 2004
TEMPE, Ariz. - Head coach Rob Evans has announced the Arizona State men's basketball program has hired Brooks Thompson as an assistant coach. Thompson, the first-round draft pick of the Orlando Magic in the 1994 NBA draft, comes to ASU from Yavapai College where he led the RoughRiders to a 55-14 record over the past two seasons, earning Thompson consecutive NJCAA Region 1 Coach of the Year honors.
"I had the pleasure of coaching Brooks when he was in college and I know his work ethic, focus and energy will help our program immediately," says Evans, who was an assistant coach at Oklahoma State when Thompson was playing. "Brooks playing experiences at Texas A & M and Oklahoma State are valuable, and having a first-round NBA draft pick on your coaching staff is a huge asset. He did a great job at Yavapai."
Thompson took Yavapai College to levels of success previously unseen at the Prescott, Ariz., campus, compiling a 55-14 record over two seasons. His inaugural year in 2002-03 saw him lead the RoughRiders to their first ACCAC regular season championship the Region 1 Tournament championship and the most wins in school history with 28. The team followed that in 2003-04 as they repeated as ACCAC regular season champions and Region 1 champions, in addition to attaining the highest national ranking in the school's history at No. 8.
Thompson turned to coaching after a NBA playing career that included being a member of the Orlando Magic, Utah Jazz, Denver Nuggets, Phoenix Suns and New York Knicks. He competed in the NBA Finals during his rookie season with the Magic in 1994-95 and held the Orlando franchise record for most points in a quarter (21). He began his collegiate playing days at Texas A&M and eventually transferred to Oklahoma State where he competed in three NCAA tournaments (1992-94). He earned first-team All-Big Eight honors in 1993-94 and second-team in 1992-93.
Thompson returned to Oklahoma State to complete his studies, earning a bachelor of science degree in political science in 2001.