UGA basketball has returned to relevance for this upcoming season thanks to a great recruiting class. The last time Georgia basketball advanced to the NCAA Tournament was in 2015. Prior to the 2015 season, Georgia made the NCAA Tournament in 2011 thanks to Trey Thompkins and Travis Leslie.
Following the tournament appearance, where the Dawgs fell to Isaiah Thomas’s Washington Huskies, the Los Angeles Clippers drafted both Travis Leslie and Trey Thompkins. Thompkins was a second round pick and played limited minutes his rookie season. In 2012, he suffered a bone bruise in his knee, which forced him to miss both the 2012-2013 seasons. The Clippers cut Thompkins in 2013.
Next, Thompkins played in Russia for a season before he signed with Real Madrid. He’s spent the past four seasons playing for Real Madrid, which is one of the premier basketball clubs in Europe, much like their famous soccer team. This season Thompkins has averaged 18 minutes per game while scoring over 10 PPG in the top Spanish league.
Last season, Thompkins helped lead Real Madrid to a EuroLeague championship. Thompkins played along side NBA superstar Luka Doncic that season. Thompkins still has the beautiful outside shot that made him so effective at Georgia:
Thompkins has picked up Spanish over the years in Spain and has found a great niche for himself overseas. Thompkins is competing for championships at the highest level of European basketball. Being able to play the sport he loves, while getting paid isn’t a bad way of life. Thompkins could get a shot to compete for an NBA bench role, but at this point, being a key player on Real Madrid may be more exciting for him.
