St. John's University Athletics
University High's Amber Thompson Signs With St. John's
11/20/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 20, 2010
QUEENS, N.Y. - St. John's head women's basketball coach Kim Barnes Arico announced Amber Thompson, a Newark, N.J. native and former teammate of Red Storm sophomore point guard Nadirah McKenith, as the second recruit to sign a National Letter of Intent (NLI) with St. John's during the early signing period. Thompson signed Monday, just before the early signing deadline of Wednesday, Nov. 17.
Thompson will join Mallory Jones for the St. John's freshman class of 2011-12. "We're very excited to have Amber sign on with our program," remarked head coach Kim Barnes Arico. "Amber is a proven winner from University High School, under the direction of head coach Felecia Oliver. She will bring size, athleticism and skill to our front line which we will need to win night in and night out in the BIG EAST Conference. She has good hands and can run the floor like a deer. It is a tremendous opportunity for Amber and for us to have her reunite with her former point guard in Nadirah McKenith, who also played at University. We hope the two of them can replicate the success they had together in winning the 2008 New Jersey Group I Championship title, and bring it on the court with St. John's."
Amber Thompson 6-2 F University High School Newark, N.J.
Blue Star Basketball ranks Thompson as No. 91 in the country, and she's been noted as an excellent rebounder who really attacks the glass. She is also rated the 49th-best forward by ESPN-Hoopgurlz. A native of Newark, N.J., Thompson averaged 10.1 points per game, 7.5 rebounds per game, 4.0 blocks and 1.5 steals per game as junior in 2009-10. She was a member of the Newark All-County Team and helped win a state championship as a freshman (2007-08) and returned to the championship as a sophomore (2008-09).
She has good footwork in the post and has a solid jump shot off the high post. She participated in the Nike Nationals in July 2010 and was noted as one of the truest forwards on the court in her recruiting class. She played on Team Jersey in the NYC Golden Hoops Tournament in August 2010. She also helped her team to first place in the third annual "You Got Schooled" College Scholarship 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament on June 27, 2010 at the JFK Recreational Center in Newark, N.J. Thompson was also named to the Newark Star-Ledger's All-Group 1 Third Team in 2009-10 as was tabbed one of the Star-Ledger's "Juniors To Watch" prior to the season.
Thompson has also been noted for her size, athleticism and mobility.
St. John's made their fifth NCAA Tournament appearance in program history in 2009-10, advancing to the second round and finishing with a 25-7 overall record, a 12-4 conference slate and a No. 15 final AP ranking. Led by nine letterwinners, including junior Da'Shena Stevens, a Sporting News Preseason Second Team All-American, 2011 Naismith Trophy Watch List member and Preseason All-BIG EAST selection, sophomore Shenneika Smith, another 2011 Naismith Trophy Watch List member and Preseason All-BIG EAST selection and 2010 Full Court Press Freshman All-American and sophomore McKenith, a 2010 Nancy Lieberman Award Final Candidate, the Red Storm was picked to finish fifth in the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll and has been rated as high as 13th in the basketball preview magazines.
The Red Storm will lose two scholarship seniors for the 2011-12 academic year as both Sky Lindsay and Centhya "Coco" Hart will graduate. Both Lindsay and Hart play key minutes for St. John's, as both have played in all 103 games in their careers so far. Lindsay has been a consistent starter as well.
