No Arizona prospect has emerged more this club season than Sunnyslope High School's talented 6-foot-3 rising senior guard Sammy Thompkins. While Thompkins was already considered among the elite prospects in the state's 2015 class, this gifted guard prospect has emerged as the state's premier performer, after a spring performance that has him now regarded among the top guard prospects in the country.
After having a strong junior season for himself with his Sunnyslope Vikings, Thompkins has raised his overall level of play considerably and is having his way with Arizona competition - recently turning in several scoring outbursts in a recent local tournament with his high school program. On a very depleted Sunnyslope roster heading into next high school season, Thompkins is the catalyst and will produce almost everything for the Vikings. As a result of Thompkins strong play, he has risen to become the top overall prospect in Arizona's 2015 class of prospects.
Thompkins has seen his college recruitment begin to soar as of late, especially after a recent stellar performance at this year's prestigious invite-only Pangos All-American Camp, which brings together many of the top prospects in the country for a weekend battle in front of numerous college scouts and media. In the event, Thompkins emerged as a high-major quality guard, and one of the elite guard prospects in the West. Thompkins would explode in this year’s event – ranking as the camp’s second leading overall scorer in the camp. While averaging 19+ points per/game in the camp, Thompkins would get selected among the Top 60 campers in the event and earning an all-star invitiation as a result of his efforts.
Thompkins proved in this weekend’s event that he is among the elite guard prospects in the West and will look to even raise his recruiting stock a great deal more after a strong summer, which will include an invite to this week's prestigious Reebok Breakout Camp in Philly (July 8-11).
Thompkins has already received a scholarship offer from San Jose State University, but is receiving strong interest from such schools as Michigan, Oregon State, Gonzaga, Arizona State, Iowa State, Washington State, Nebraska, Tulsa, Nevada, Grand Canyon, Saint Mary’s, Cal-State Northridge, Mississippi State, Pepperdine, Weber State and Northern Arizona, among many others. Thompkins should be a recipient of numerous scholarship offers over the next 3 weeks of play, with many high-major division-I schools looking to get involved with the talented guard prospect.
Thompkins will travel with a talented Arizona Magic Elite 17U team this summer to the Pangos Sweet 16 (CA) July 11-13, then to the Great American Shootout (TX) in Dallas July 17-19, and then finish in Las Vegas for the Pangos Fab 48 (NV) July 24-27th.
Thompkins’ nice development as a point guard has become a major factor in his college recruitment, after he had a terrific junior season for Sunnyslope High School. After transferring to the program after a strong sophomore season at Marana HS in Tucson, Thompkins came up huge for head coach Ray Portela, playing big all season for the Vikings and leading the team to a very impressive season. Thompkins was the team’s leading scorer – averaging 22.7 points, 3.3 assists, 5 rebounds and 2.2 steals per/game.
The son of former college standout Gary Thompkins, who played at Iowa State, Thompkins already possesses a college-ready body at such a young age. Thompkins’ physical size, strength and shooting stroke are glaring attributes for him as a college prospect. He is also capable of playing both guard positions on the floor, which makes him a versatile prospect and valuable to his team.