Will Thompson stay at Washington State?

  • Associated Press
  • Wednesday, March 30, 2011 8:04pm
  • Sports

PULLMAN— Klay Thompson held up his index finger as Washington State students chanted “one more year” following the team’s overtime victory over Northwestern in the quarterfinals of the NIT last week.

But the leading scorer in the Pac-10 was just indicating the Cougars had one more game, which they lost to Wichita State on Tuesday. Whether Thompson returns for his senior year is an open question.

Thompson had one of his worst games in the 75-44 loss to the Shockers, going 1-for-10 and tying his season low with six points.

“I think it’s just too early to tell,” said Thompson, a junior who led the Pac-10 with 22 points per game. “Just trying to enjoy the time that I have with my teammates.”

Thompson, the son of former No. 1 draft pick Mychal Thompson, has indicated repeatedly that he will decide after the season if he will enter this summer’s NBA draft. The 6-foot-6 guard set a WSU season scoring record with 733 points, and a 3-point field goal record with 98. He shot 44 percent from the field and 83 percent from the free throw line, and averaged more than five rebounds and nearly four assists per game.

Coach Ken Bone, who has indicated that he believes there is a 50-50 chance Thompson will return, said nothing has changed.

Bone has said WSU may also lose junior post DeAngelo Casto to a pro team in Europe because Casto has a child and is struggling to make ends meet.

“It’s just a matter of time and see what type of information they are able to gather,” Bone said Tuesday.

Washington State (22-13) finished on a downer. The 31-point loss was their worst of the season and their 44 points were second-lowest of the season. They did not make a 3-pointer for the first time since 2009.

But the 22 wins were tied for 10th most in team history, and they reached the semifinals of the NIT for the first time.

With no seniors on this team, Washington State figures to be even better next year if Thompson and Casto return.

If they leave, the Cougars will return Faisal Aden (12.9 ppg), point guard Reggie Moore (9 ppg) and forwards Brock Motum (7.7 ppg), Marcus Capers (5.9 ppg) and Abe Lodwick (3.6 ppg) among players who saw significant minutes.

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