Georgia Sports Blog FanShop

July 1, 2009

Trey Thompkins update from New Zealand

Howard "Trey" Thompkins III is in New Zealand with Team USA's U19 team, and things are going well. The team played an international friendly upon arrival in New Zealand against Croatia and won 97-68

Trey had seven points and seven rebounds in the game.  Team USA Head Mentor Jamie Dixon (head coach at Pitt) said this about the team so far:

"I would say the thing that really stands out (about the USA team) is how different guys have impacted throughout and how it has changed constantly. I had a couple of people who have been through this who said that. Even just in practices from one day to the next, guys would change, different guys would step up and I think really that's going to be our strength. The strength of this team is we have 12 players top to bottom, that might be our advantage over some other teams.

"John Shurna today played really well today and he didn't play as much in our last scrimmage. Tyshawn Taylor played really well, so we've had different guys. Seth Curry has been our leading scorer, so has Howard Thompkins, but today I don't think they were and so we had different guys today. I think that again will be our strength and we've really stressed that as well through these 10 days, that we're going need all 12 guys to win every game and I think the guys are seeing that as well."

To learn that Trey is one of the leading scorers for a team like this through the practice sessions is promising. It'll be interesting to see how he performs as they get into more serious international play.

PWD

3 comments:

MikeInValdosta said...

How 'bout that Howard!

Anonymous said...

His haircut and the way he wears his socks make me sick.

Mr. Sanchez said...

that seems a bit petty 2:51, but I've disliked players for less.

Hopefully this is a good experience for him. As I said the other day, he'll never be a great run/jump athlete, so an experience like this, where he has to use his limited physical tools against superior athletes, learning to use his big butt and wide shoulders to create space, could be a huge improvement in his game. And we need a go-to player like he's capable of becoming. If Dustin Ware can lead the team mentally, and Thompkins be the #1 option on the floor, this team has some decent pieces. It won't be an easy year, but Fox has some things to work with.

 
Copyright 2009 Georgia Sports Blog. Powered by Blogger Blogger Templates create by Deluxe Templates. WP by Masterplan