Isaiah Thompson left Purdue basketball looking for opportunity. Another brought him back

[ad_1]

WEST LAFAYETTE − After 96 games in a Purdue basketball jersey, Isaiah Thompson sought a new opportunity.

Thompson, a sharpshooting guard from Zionsville, found it in sunny Fort Myers, Florida.

But the search for the next basketball opportunity brought Thompson home, back to the Boilermaker bench.

“That speaks a lot of coach (Matt) Painter,” Thompson said. “He didn’t have to bring me back. I decided to leave here and he still gave me an opportunity to come back.”

Thompson, who played for the Boilers from 2019-22, was a starting guard the past two seasons at Florida Gulf Coast, where he was an All-ASUN Conference selection in 2022-23.

After exhausting his eligibility, Thompson was stuck with a dilemma: Go overseas and play professionally, or begin his coaching journey.

Thompson is currently in his first season of a two-year role as a graduate assistant coach.

Purdue Boilermakers director of player development P.J. Thompson (left) and Purdue Boilermakers graduate assistant Isaiah Thompson lead a drill during a September practice at Mackey Arena. Alex Martin/Journal and Courier

Purdue basketball family

Painter’s tenure as Purdue basketball coach has tied in the past and present as family.

Sometimes literally.

Last year’s national championship runner-up team featured three players − Chase Martin, Carson Barrett and Brian Waddell − who were sons of Painter’s former Purdue basketball teammates.

That team also featured a young coach, himself a former Purdue point guard, who was bestowed the duties of running the Boilermaker offense − P.J. Thompson.

More: Purdue’s P.J. Thompson star on rise. ‘Going to be one of best college coaches in country’

In 2019, as Isaiah Thompson was beginning his college basketball journey as a freshman, P.J. was in the same graduate assistant position Isaiah would eventually find himself in five years later.

“I’ve seen him grow from a G.A. to player development to assistant coach leading the offense,” Isaiah said of his older brother. “He was working me out…

[ad_2]
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/isaiah-thompson-left-purdue-basketball-142336073.html

Author : Journal & Courier

Publish date : 2024-12-13 14:23:00

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.