Why Shaq Thompson is Going to be a Star

Rated as the best safety in the nation for the Class
of 2012, the five-star recruit recruit from Sacramento, California committed to the University of Washington on January 31st, after previously committing to the University of California, Berkeley.

In June, Thompson was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the 18th round of the MLB Draft. After deciding to sign with Boston and play baseball in the summer before heading to Seattle, Thompson would go on to make national headlines after posting one of the worst stat lines in Minor League Baseball history, going 0 for 39 with 37 strikeouts in 13 games with Boston's Gulf Coast League Team.

However, Thompson's dreadful beginning to his baseball career could be a blessing in disguise for the Washington Huskies. Thompson has never known failure when it comes to sports. In his last two years at Grant High School, Thompson led the Pacers to a 21-5 record, while playing quarterback, running back, safety, and even on occasion, punter. His disastrous start in baseball could be beneficial because for the first time in his sports career, he has experienced failure, a necessary aspect in achieving success. While his baseball and football careers are completely separate, the criticism that he has already endured could motivate him to work even harder to be a star at the University of Washington. That isn't to say his work ethic isn't strong already, in fact, Huskies Head Coach Steve Sarkisian has praised Thompson's work ethic as "tremendous" and says that he is an "excellent leader".

At 6-2, 215, and a 40-yard dash of 4.57, Thompson possesses both strength and speed. This combination of strength and speed, combined with his versatility of playing multiple positions, should enable Thompson to become a star player not just in the Pac-12, but on the national level.

After graduating Grant High School with a 3.2 GPA, Thompson has shown that he is not only committed to his performance on the field, but off the field as well. In an era of student-athletes underperforming in the classroom, his commitment to academics will ensure that Thompson is a smart football player who stays out of trouble and makes plays on the field during his time at the University of Washington.


Follow me on twitter @bparker17 or via email at bphusky@uw.edu