One of Arizona’s brightest young basketball stars is officially on the move, after it was announced this week that Jacobi Thompson, a 6-foot-5 rising sophomore and one of the premier prospects in Arizona’s 2029 class, has transferred from Arcadia High School and is now enrolled at Mesa High School. The move is one of the biggest offseason developments in Arizona high school basketball and immediately strengthens an already talented Mesa program. Thompson enjoyed a tremendous freshman campaign at Arcadia High School, where he helped lead the Titans to the 4A State Championship. His outstanding play throughout the postseason earned him Most Valuable Player honors in the 4A State Championship game, cementing his status as one of the state’s top emerging young stars. His move to Mesa High School is another big development this off-season, which has sent shockwaves throughout the state.
As a mere freshman, Thompson averaged 16.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.5 steals per game, proving himself to be one of the most productive and complete young prospects in the country. His ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor helped propel Arcadia to a State Championship, and established him as one of the top prospects in the country for the 2029 class. It remains unclear when Thompson will be eligible to compete for Mesa under current AIA transfer rules, but whenever he is cleared to take the floor, he is expected to make an immediate impact.
Thompson’s arrival comes at an important time for Mesa after the program lost the services of superstar guard Kyi Kyi Miles, who transferred to AZ Compass Prep this spring. While Miles leaves a significant void, the addition of Thompson dramatically changes the outlook for the Jackrabbits heading into the upcoming season. Mesa already returns a talented roster, and Thompson will immediately be inserted into a lineup that now features fellow 2029 standout Jace Paris, a 6-foot-10 rising sophomore regarded among Arizona’s top young frontcourt prospects, along with ultra-athletic senior guard Daijon Grayson. The trio gives Mesa one of the most intriguing cores in the state and immediately places the Jackrabbits squarely in the conversation to compete for an Open Division State Championship.
From a skill-set standpoint, Thompson is a tremendous talent. The left-handed wing is an incredibly versatile scorer with outstanding body control and the ability to finish at an elite level both in transition and in the half-court set. He is difficult to defend because of his ability to change speeds, utilizing hesitation dribbles and stop-and-go moves that consistently create driving lanes to the basket. Thompson also possesses an excellent mid-range game, while his ability to make shots from long range forces defenders to close out aggressively, allowing him to attack the rim and finish through contact. A versatile ball-handler capable of playing multiple positions, Thompson is equally comfortable creating offense for himself or facilitating for teammates. He enjoys having the basketball in his hands, where his vision and feel for the game allow him to consistently make winning plays.
Defensively, Thompson is every bit as impressive. He is an excellent rebounder from the guard and wing positions, plays passing lanes extremely well, and uses his length, instincts and anticipation to create turnovers and ignite transition opportunities.
Still only entering his sophomore season, Thompson has tremendous room for growth and continues to project as one of the nation’s top young basketball prospects. His combination of size, versatility, athleticism and feel for the game gives him one of the brightest futures in Arizona basketball.
I will continue to follow Jacobi Thompson closely as he begins the next chapter of his career at Mesa High School. His future is exceptionally bright, and his arrival gives the Jackrabbits another major piece, as they look to compete among Arizona’s elite programs in the seasons ahead.
Arizona Preps Scouting Report: A native of California, Thompson Jr. recently moved to the state of Arizona after an illustrious middle school career. A nationally acclaimed young prospect for the 2029 Class and an immediate impact performer within the state of Arizona. Thompson is a skilled young prospect with loads of athleticism and talent, and he is just beginning to realize his amazing potential for the future. As a left-hander, Jacobi is an incredibly versatile scorer with excellent body control and the ability to finish at an elite level both in the open court and in the half-court set. He is difficult to defend as a result of his ability to stop and go, and hesitation dribbles that open up his drives to the basket, and also mid-range game. Hs ability to make shots with range allows him to also drive past defenders and finish strong at the rim. He is also a versatile ball handler that can play multiple positions on the floor. A good passer who loves to involve his teammates, Thompson likes to make plays for himself and his teammates, and enjoys having the basketball in his hands, where he is able to make plays. Also a strong rebounder from the guard or wing position, and an excellent defender that plays passing lanes. Still very young, he’s only going to continue to grow and mature into a top-rated national prospect.
