Corny Thompson facts for kids
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 5, 1960 Middletown, Connecticut |
| Nationality | American |
| High school | Middletown (Middletown, Connecticut) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) |
| Listed weight | 225 lb (102 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | UConn (1978–1982) |
| NBA Draft | 1982 / Round: 3 / Pick: 50th overall |
| Selected by the Dallas Mavericks | |
| Pro career | 1982–1996 |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 1982–1983 | Dallas Mavericks |
| 1983–1984 | Detroit Spirits |
| 1984–1990 | Pallacanestro Varese |
| 1990–1994 | Joventut Badalona |
| 1994–1996 | León |
| As coach: | |
| 2011–present | Trotamundos de Carabobo |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Cornelius Allen "Corny" Thompson (born February 5, 1960) is a retired American professional basketball player. He was a tall player, standing 6 feet 8 inches (203 cm) and weighing 225 pounds (102 kg). He mainly played as a power forward, but sometimes also as a center. Corny was a key player for the Joventut Badalona team. They reached the EuroLeague final in 1992 and won the championship in 1994.
Contents
Corny Thompson's Early Life
Corny started playing basketball because people noticed he was very tall. He was about 6 feet 5 inches even before high school! He didn't take basketball seriously until middle school. From then on, Corny worked hard every year. He went to camps and became a much better player.
High School Basketball Star
Corny went to Middletown High School in Middletown, Connecticut. In his first year, Corny was so good that he moved straight to the Varsity team. The Varsity coach was Tom Labella. That year, the team only lost about 5 or 6 games.
From his second year through his senior year, Corny's team won an amazing 76 games in a row! This record has never been broken. The team also won three State Championships. They were even ranked among the top 25 basketball teams in the entire country. Corny was the team captain in 1976, 1977, and 1978. He still holds many records at Middletown High School today.
College Career at UConn
When it was time for college, Corny chose between several schools. These included North Carolina, Wesleyan, Virginia, Princeton, and UConn. Corny liked the idea of staying close to home. He thought it would be helpful to be near his family.
At the University of Connecticut (UConn), Corny was coached by Dom Perno. In his first year, Corny started in every game. The UConn Huskies team even made it to the NCAA Tournament. Corny was the top scorer for the team all four years he played at UConn. He finished his college career with 1,810 points and 1,017 rebounds. Corny graduated in 1982 with a degree in Business.
Professional Basketball Journey
Corny Thompson was chosen by the Dallas Mavericks in the 1982 NBA draft. He was the 50th player picked overall. He played 44 games with the Mavericks in the 1982–83 season. He averaged about 2.8 points and 2.7 rebounds per game.
Before his second year with the Mavericks, Corny hurt his knee. Because of this injury, he was released from the team. Corny worked very hard to get healthy again. He then went to Italy to play basketball for Pallacanestro Varese in the Italian league. He played there for six years.
Corny reached his full potential when he played in Spain. He joined the great Joventut Badalona team in the ACB League from 1990 to 1994. With this team, he made it to the FIBA European League final in 1992. Then, in 1994, he helped his team win the championship! Corny scored the winning 3-point shot in the 1994 FIBA European League Final Four against Olympiacos.
See also
In Spanish: Corny Thompson para niños
