FanPost

UK Hoops: Breaking It Down One Player At A Time- Janee Thompson

It has taken me too long to get back to these but with the first preseason game only three days off, I plan on getting them back on track.

As one of the top point guards in the class of 2012, it was no surprise that Janee Thompson was a standout performer with her play in Chicago. Thompson, ranked the No. 35 player in the class of 2012 by ESPN HoopGurlz, is an ultra-athletic point guard. She can break defenders down off the bounce and make plays in the halfcourt, as well as push the tempo and get easy buckets in transition. The 5-7 guard was a handful for defenses to contain as she consistently attacked and found ways to make a positive impact on the game. And any time you can add a McDonalds AA to the team, you dang sure better do it. Thompson is the next phase in UK recruiting. She personifies what Matthew Mitchell wants for UK at the point. She's blindingly fast, smart with the ball, and can pass as well as blow by you for a drive. Her skills will be second to none in the NCAA, and she is definitely WNBA material.

What is yet to be known is how much time she is going to get backing up Jennifer O' Neill at the point this season. I do know this, she is a lock down defender who is not afraid to take a game winning shot, and that is something that would reall compliment Adia Mathies in the back court for UK. She is the UK point of the future, but she will also play a big role this year, even if at first, it is coming off the bench. But with the up tempo defense that UK has become famous for, she may very well find herself splitting time with O'Neill equally. It will,be hard for Mitchell to keep her on the bench, that is for certain. It also allows Mitchell to move Maegan Conwright to the 2 which is a more natural position for her, and she can back up Mathies. The balance on this team is really going to be something. You folks are going to love Thompson, because she is a Brandon Knight/Rajon Rondo type guard. Smart, fast, and afraid of nothing.