Trey Thompkins says he’ll skip NBA draft, remain at UGA
ATHENS -– Georgia sophomore forward Trey Thompkins has made his decision: He’ll forgo the NBA draft and remain at UGA for his junior season in 2010-11.
Thompkins revealed the decision in impromptu fashion Thursday night at the UGA Tipoff Club’s end-of-season banquet at Athens Country Club.
“Don’t worry, Coach, I’m coming back,” Thompkins said when coach Mark Fox alluded from the podium to the stay-or-go decision facing the first-team All-SEC player.
Thompkins’ words drew a long, loud ovation from the crowd of 200-plus and this reaction from an unsuspecting Fox: “God bless you, Trey.”
Thompkins, Georgia’s leading scorer and rebounder this past season, said in an interview immediately following the banquet that his decision is firm and final, although the deadline to enter the draft is 10 days away.
“I’m coming back,” he said.
Thompkins had been considering for the past month whether to enter the draft or remain at Georgia for another season. He said he reached his decision late Wednesday night.
“I was sitting in my room, thinking,” he said. “I was up in the air until [then]. It hit me that I want to stay in school. . . . It just popped in my head last night.”
Thompkins said he didn’t alert Fox or anyone else that he might reveal the decision at the banquet.
“My parents didn’t even know that was going to happen,” Thompkins said. “Coach just made it easy for me to announce it, so I did.”
Fox unwittingly triggered Thompkins’ announcement by referring to a comment made earlier in the banquet by assistant coach Stacey Palmore, who had said he was looking forward to having Thompkins back. “Now, Coach Palmore was calling you out about next year,” Fox said. “I’m not going to do that.”
At that point, Thompkins ended the suspense.
“I was shocked/not shocked when he said it,” Fox said. “Because in my heart that’s what I felt like he would probably do in the end, but I was surprised that he mentioned it tonight.”
Fox said he is proud of how maturely Thompkins handled the decision-making process, especially as many underclassmen less accomplished than him declared for the draft in recent weeks. Thompkins was second in the SEC in scoring (17.7 points per game) and fourth in rebounds (8.3 per game) this past season.
“You see it on the ticker every night. There’s somebody else on the ticker [entering the draft], and you’re scratching your head,” Fox said. “Then you see a guy who has a legitimate chance and a legitimate decision to make, and he makes a mature one like that. It makes you feel good.”
A big factor in the decision, Thompkins said, is the potential he sees for the 2010-11 Georgia basketball team. Teammate Travis Leslie, the Dogs’ second leading scorer this past season, earlier announced he also will return for his junior year.
“This team can be great,” Thompkins said. “I’ve got a passion to win, and I definitely see it in the future for us.”
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342 comments Add your comment
82Dawg
April 15th, 2010
10:24 pm
4 ncs are better than 1 …A-AN don’t really care but you are correct on that… but you still can’t say you had a complete season, when you loose to your in state rival…..can you?? you are a Tech fan…
Boca Baby
April 15th, 2010
10:26 pm
4 ncs are better than 1:
Let’s see, and I do know that all this doesn’t count since we all only care about football, but when has Tech last won a NC in any sport? UGA: Five straight gymnastics championships, Men’s Tennis two straight NCs in ‘07 and ‘08, lost in the finals last year, Women’s tennis ‘94 and 2000, Men’s golf ‘99 and ‘05, Women’s swimming’99,’00,01 and ‘05 and I won’t mention the Equestrian championships. Two years ago UGA played in the NC game in baseball and lost. In ‘07 the Dawgs finished #2 in the AP in football.
So, let’s hear about your pedigree–in the modern era.
82Dawg
April 15th, 2010
10:26 pm
ghsclassof2012 …well said
4 ncs are better than 1
April 15th, 2010
10:30 pm
Boca, I’ve never denied that ugay was great…………AT FEMALE SPORTS!!!!!!!!!!! Hahaha!!!!!!!!!!
Boca Baby
April 15th, 2010
10:31 pm
Well, we regularly kick your A$$ in football. Is that a male sport?
4 ncs are better than 1
April 15th, 2010
10:31 pm
You forgot WOMEN’S HORSESHOES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ghsclassof2012
April 15th, 2010
10:33 pm
Again, atleast their are women at UGA…
82Dawg
April 15th, 2010
10:33 pm
Do women even go to Tech??? Other than the ones with red dots on their foreheads..
UGASUXS:
April 15th, 2010
10:33 pm
Hey UGAG: Nice baseball team you have there at your crappy over rated and underachieving school.
ATHENS, Ga. – Tony Plagman and Jeff Rowland each went 4-for-5 to lead 14 different players with a hit, while the Georgia Tech baseball team (28-7) recorded its largest-ever victory over rival Georgia (11-22) with a 25-6 win Wednesday night at Foley Field. With the win, the Yellow Jackets clinched the three-game series between the two.
LMFAO! DAWGS SUCK AZZ! SICKEM WOOF WOOF WOOF!
Boca Baby
April 15th, 2010
10:34 pm
And, oh! We kicked your NCAA bid A$$ in the only other revenue sport. Does that count as a male sport?
The Truth
April 15th, 2010
10:35 pm
GA Tech Lies & Cheats & Everyone knows it. GA Tech and Tennessee are the two biggest outlaw schools in America.
Trey, you made the right choice for you, your family and for Georgia. It’s a perfect match. Congratulations Trey on making the announcement in such a fun way. We are so proud of you and look forward to next season. Go Dawgs!
Boca Baby
April 15th, 2010
10:35 pm
Yes there are women at Tech but you wouldn’t want to be seen with them unless you were entering a pet sow at the state fair.
UGASUXS:
April 15th, 2010
10:35 pm
82dawg: your school, team, fans and city all suck azz! Overated and louzy at everything but criminal arrests. Get a life and get out of your doublewide, go to the Jr. V and get a real dog, coz your DAWGS suck! THWG! Do you ever think you will beat UF? I mean, really, ever? JOKE!
ghsclassof2012
April 15th, 2010
10:35 pm
82- I’m not sure they even have those!
82Dawg
April 15th, 2010
10:38 pm
UGASUXS: …Do you think Tech can ever beat UGA two years in a row in football or basketball?
4 ncs are better than 1
April 15th, 2010
10:39 pm
I just like getting you guys fired up. You are sooooo easy. ghs………shouldn’t that be they are???? ghs, you are really starting to bore me, so I’m signing off, but remember this………4 beats 1!!!!!! 25-6!!!!!!!!!! Mark Fox can’t recruit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
UGASUXS:
April 15th, 2010
10:39 pm
Hey The Truth: Even with Trey back, your team will still suck azz! Get used to it. Although, I am worried you may have trouble this year in football, with powerhouses Colorado, Idaho State, Vandy, KY Jelly. Your in conference schedule is a joke and so is your out of conference. All I ever hear is how good the almighty SEC is, well, GT plays more ranked schools than your sorry azz team, with VT (Top 10), UNC (Top 15), Miami (Top 10), UGAG plays UF = Ranked and maybe USC, which you will lose. That’s about it. Hey, don’t worry, it’s another rebuilding year! Get a life, your team sucks!
Sanford Drive
April 15th, 2010
10:42 pm
I’m glad all the Techies are enjoying their consolation prize so much.
82Dawg
April 15th, 2010
10:42 pm
UGASUXS: …say what you want…but we still whipped your butts 9 out of 10 years
UGASUXS:
April 15th, 2010
10:43 pm
82mutt: When you win 8 in a row and beat UF, then start bragging but until then , keep your redneck mouth shut. We will beat you in football and basketabll this year and we pounded your almighty baseball team into oblivion on Wednesday at Phallic Field, I mean Foley Field. The largest beating in school history. 27-6 or something like that, sad, sad, sad, you all suck azz! Stick with the Gym Mutts, at least they can win at something. By the way, do you think you can beat Idaho State? LMFAO! UGA = JOKE!
Boca Baby
April 15th, 2010
10:45 pm
UGASUXS:
So, we don’t play the schedule this year that we have played the two previous years. Both of those years UGAs schedule was rated the #1 or #2 toughest schedule in all of football. But the schedule we play this year is still tougher than Techs. I cannot believe that you claim all those ACC schools are rated. The ACC is totally pathetic. Your champion, and you know who that is, has lost at least five straight bowl games.
UGASUXS:
April 15th, 2010
10:46 pm
82mutty: And UF has beat you what? 18 of 21. See, what you can’t comprehend is that I am a UF grad and a GT fan. So, what’s better than watching my alum kick your azzes every year. hey, any comments on your powerhouse baseball team?
82Dawg
April 15th, 2010
10:47 pm
UGASUXS: …until you beat us REGULARLY in football and basketball, I think you need to keep your nerd mouth shut, about sports you know nothing about…and with that good night
UGASUXS:
April 15th, 2010
10:50 pm
Boca: Can I have some of what your smoking. Dude, get a life, your schedule isn’t even close to the top 10, let alone 1 or 2. I mean look at it. Vandy = suxs, Idaho State = sux, KY = suxs, MSU = suxs, Aub = ok, Tenn = suxs, UF = LOSS, USC = LOSS, GT = Loss, but Arkansas may sneak up on you. LOL! Sorry azz schedule and sorry azz school. Keep smoking the ganja, as you will need it. Dawgs lose at least 3 with a easy azz shedule. If the ACC is so bad, then why is VT in the top 5, Miami in the Top 10 and UNC in the Top 15? Where are any of the schools I mentioned you play besides UF? Thought so, = not ranked although Idaho State could beat you. They only lost to two reams last year by a combined total of 186-3. LOL!
Boca Baby
April 15th, 2010
10:51 pm
UGASUXS:
So you are going to use the baseball victory as a springboard into a win in Athens this fall. Are you not aware that the entire offensive line (two deep) is coming back this fall with both of those running backs who destroyed you at Grant Field? And if you want to raise the question about who is going to be QB then let me tell you my grandmother could hand it off to those two horses. Perhaps you can get some of those diamond boys to come out and help you.
Boca Baby
April 15th, 2010
10:53 pm
Let’s not talk about pre-season rankings let’s talk about what is on the board at the end. The ACC and Tech all finish dismally every year. SEC! SEC! SEC!
Trey Will Stay! « Hoop Dawgs
April 15th, 2010
10:56 pm
[...] the AJC, Howard Thompkins III announced tonight at the Georgia Basketball Club’s end-of-season [...]
Sanford Drive
April 15th, 2010
10:56 pm
UGASUX,
UNC finished unranked. VT was 11 and Miami was 15.
MontyP
April 15th, 2010
10:56 pm
If Felton was there Trey is gone. Heck, Trey and Leslie probably would have been playing off the bench. This speaks volumes about the coaching staff. This upcoming season is looking promising. Bring on the kid from California and keep this train moving in the right direction.
Nate Dawg
April 15th, 2010
11:00 pm
I love how Tech fans hype Florida every time we mention how they can only beat us once a decade. I didn’t know UF was part of GA Tech. So we suck bc we can’t beat Florida of late. What does that say about yall????? Yall think u can beat Florida? The team that gets pounded by the team that can’t beat UF? And no Tech doesn’t have 4 NC’s; some of those are Alabama style fake ones. Even your school only claims three, one not being unanimous and one being your little half one from ‘90. And UGA has two by the way, not one.
Bean Counter
April 15th, 2010
11:07 pm
This is wonderful news. Now we need to focus on Dwayne Polee!! Would love to see him in Athens.
mark
April 15th, 2010
11:07 pm
UGASUXS
lets see, its comical how you bad mouth georgia for playing an easy schedule..
buth the truth is that tech plays
south carolina state LOL
middle tennessee state LOL
duke LOL
and tech is playing only 4 teams who went to a bowl game last year. but for georgia we plays 6 teams who were in a bowl last year.
you must be a republican to be filled with the hatred and lies
mark
April 15th, 2010
11:09 pm
i would also love to see dwayne in georgia. but do we have anymore scholorships left??? please tell us tim tucker
HugoStiglitz
April 15th, 2010
11:18 pm
A smart move. He wasnt going to be a very high pick this year. If he comes back and gets better then he is now then he can push himself into possibly a lottery pick next year which would be much better financially for him.
mike on lake hartwell
April 15th, 2010
11:26 pm
thank you, young man. best of luck to you.
go dawgs.
heywood jablomey
April 15th, 2010
11:33 pm
I have never been on a Georgia Tech blog, nor do i plan to.
Perhaps you Nerds should consider returning the favor.
F’n losers.
BleedRedandBlack
April 15th, 2010
11:35 pm
You idiots are laughable. Look what the Padres did to the Braves on Monday…then the Braves came back and won the series. It must be extremely frustrating to be a GT fan. I sympathize for you.
Thanks Trey. Hope your year is enjoyable and highly successful so it pays huge dividends.
Go Dawgs!
NewnanDawg
April 15th, 2010
11:36 pm
What a great confirmation on the great season to come. The banquet was awesome and I was so happy to hear that the players seem to know how much we appreciate their role in starting this era. I hope they can look back one day and always know they were part of the team that started something phenomenal.
Go Dawgs!
boots
April 15th, 2010
11:36 pm
Was at dinner tonight with friends talking about UGA basketball. Glad to get home and hear the news about Trey. Coach Fox, the fact that we were discussing the team at dinner is a great sign that the fans are excited about next year. Can’t wait to have the signings finish strong and see the team playing this fall. Go Dawgs!
grahzny bratchny
April 15th, 2010
11:44 pm
Tech trolls, get your own blog. Any of you think you are a better person for typing B.S. about UGA and it’s sports programs? We all know recent history counts and and when it comes to beating UGA, it does not happen often.
We’ll keep our football coach and you can have yours.
We’ll keep our sorry basketball program, team play and superior coach. Ya’ll go ahead and figure how not to prep your one and dones, inbounds plays, and wish that excellent recruiter actually left for St. Johns.
When the UGA baseball team puts it together, your team somehow lays down in the regionals.
You’ve got some nice golfers on the tour and a member of the 2 Live Stews, they like dogs and poodles too.
I’ve got no problem with Tech. Being gifted mathematically is nice, but it must create a deficit in common sense – even worse, ya’ll are some sore winners.
Looking forward to another season of Trey and Travis.
Taylor
April 15th, 2010
11:51 pm
Glad to hear, looking forward to a 20 win season next year.
david
April 16th, 2010
12:05 am
go dawgs
Reptillicide
April 16th, 2010
12:25 am
I’m going to skip past all the absurd hater comments about Thompkins being “mediocre” and all that, just want to say that this is absolutely huge. Not just Trey coming back, but Leslie too. This could be the team that has Georgia turning the corner for good.
And I imagine that realization of that is what likely makes the Techies so sensitive about it.
Tim Tucker
April 16th, 2010
1:06 am
mark,
Yes, there are scholarships left. Mark Fox said tonight he could sign one or even two more players this spring.
BuLLdawg's Mom
April 16th, 2010
1:26 am
Glad Trey is coming back. That is huge for the program. The Dawgs were tough to beat this year. Next year they should be even tougher. It is pretty pathetic how many nerds have such Dawg envy that they spend their time trolling articles about Georgia. How many Georgia fans even bother to read about what’s going on at Tech? BuLLdawg is sleeping peacefully. He’s so cute when he’s not ranting about Mark Richt.
jasont13
April 16th, 2010
4:17 am
UGA has 5 recognized Football National Championships not 1 you idiots. 1927, 1942, 1946, 1968 and 1980. Do some research.
Meatlake
April 16th, 2010
6:17 am
Firstly, Congrats Trey, Coach Fox and the team. Best of luck next year and enjoy it while you can Trey. Secondly, all the vitriole from the Techies is just the realization that all of their best basketball players going all the way back to Marbury consistently jump ship, and that they’re gonna continue to get thier butts whipped by us in basketball as well as football for a long time to come now. It just plain sucks for them so bad that they’ve resorted to talking trash about baseball, and citing their “historic win” over the vaunted Cumberland team. You see, it’s just not fun knowing going in that you’re gonna lose… again, to your biggest rival. Just clean old fashioned hate is all. Holy crap, maybe they should schedule Charleston Southern like UF last year just for the brag factor. Things are looking up in the Classic City for the hoops as well as the gridiron. And…uuh…oh yeah, Hunker Down You Hairy Dawgs!
Maxx
April 16th, 2010
6:17 am
That’s what I’m talkin about! Go Dawgs!
Pig Farmer Fan
April 16th, 2010
7:14 am
Welll gaaaahhhhh leeee. Shoot fire, a middlin player on a middlin team decides to stay. too bad that Nike dude is gonna ghet our head coach. dont nobody wanna coach us in hoops no mo?. And why we playin football against dem Jackets in the spring? Oh wait that wasssa baseball score?
25-6…..oh my.
beatdowns galore
April 16th, 2010
7:49 am
Wait for more beatdowns to come ….football,basketball and baseball…..what a bunch of clowns!