2008 NBA Draft Preview: Jason Thompson

Mt. Laurel, NJ's own 6-foot-11, 21-year-old Jason Thompson will be a player to be considered and drafted into the NBA during the 2008 NBA draft. He played college basketball for Rider University and has numerous awards on his resume including; 2007 MAAC Defensive Player of the Year, 2007 fist All-MAAC Team, and 2005 CollegeInsider.com Freshman All-American Team. He has also been presented the Gilbert P. Rossi Award by Rider University three times for being the most valuable player on the Rider University men's basketball team.

Jason Thompson has been a forward for Rider starting for four years. Known for his size, ability to rebound, amazing ball-handling skills for his size and position, his mid-range jump shots, ability and will to run the floor, his immensely unselfish attitude and his passing ability, Jason Thompson's strengths are extremely clear to all of those people who watch him complete in the sport of basketball. Unfortunately for Jason his weaknesses are obvious as well. Jason Thompson often settles for shots that are less then ideal, is a poor defender in all aspects, and often lacks toughness and strength underneath the basket, he will need to improve on these components of his game in order to be a star in the NBA.

While, it is still early to be making predictions about the NBA draft, several websites have released their mock draft predictions. Jason Thompson is placed at the end of the first round of picks or towards the beginning of the second round by almost all sites. NBC Sports placed him higher than most of the other sources as number nineteen and going to the Cleveland Cavaliers, and collegehoopsnet.com has listed Jason Thompson in the second round of picks at 33 and expect him to go to the Seattle Supersonics.