By ANDRE MACK-ROBINSON – Variety Writer
Five-foot-five Clarke Central High School sophomore Donavin Thompson defeats basketball stereotypes each time he steps on the court.
Clarke Central High School head varsity basketball Coach Andre McIntyre was hired in 2009. Upon his hiring, he began attending Clarke Middle School basketball games to search for prospective players. He noticed a small player who had to constantly fix his baggy uniform to fit his body. This player stood out to McIntyre.
Photo by Carlo Nasisse
That player McIntyre spotted is now a member of the 2011-12 CCHS varsity basketball team. He is sophomore Donavin Thompson, playing as the team’s point guard. Only standing five-foot-five and weighting in at 120, he constantly has to prove he can play with bigger athletes.
“I’m going to be one of the smallest people on the court so I have to have a lot of heart,” Thompson said. “I’m not scared to go against people; I’m not going to back down from a player who is bigger, taller and better because I know I’m going to give it my all.”
As a freshman, Thompson was placed on the junior varsity team. McIntyre promoted Thompson to the varsity team for the 2011-12 season.
“I knew that he understood the game of basketball.” McIntyre said “I knew he could compete with the older kids because he understood the game so I decided to bring him up (to the varsity team) for experience.”
Being teased and picked on by other teams and coaches was an obstacle Thompson had to overcome in his career. At first he struggled, but he quickly learned the advantages of being small. Thompson acquired technical skills in order to compensate for his lack of height, which is a feature attributed to most basketball players.
“(Donavin) uses his quickness to blow by bigger players and to disrupt the offense by getting steals. He has a basketball IQ which is very important to have as a point guard,” McIntyre said. “He can see the game developing. A lot of play-ers just play and run up and down the court but Donavin actually sees the plays develop before it actually happens. That is what makes him able to compete against the bigger kids and older guys.”
The coaching staff takes advantage of Thompson’s size and puts him in positions to score and cause turnovers.
“All of the bigger guys just out-muscle him so he has to play in space so the stronger guys can’t get their hands on them and overpower him,” McIntyre said. “He uses his quickness to blow by bigger players and to disrupt the offense by getting steals”
The coaching staff feels Thompson must improve certain areas of his game in order for him further improve on his game.
“His weakness is his strength, I wouldn’t say his size because there’s a lot of short point guards but he has to improve his strength,” McIntyre said. “He needs to be stronger and develop his jump shot, continue to work hard on it.”
Despite this weakness, Thompson’s element of surprise leaves an impression on his opponents.
“He is able to surprise other players because they look at him as this little small guy and they don’t realize that he can actually play,” McIntyre said.
For the 2011-12 season, Thompson’s expectations are high. He hopes to take his game to the next level and is willing to do the necessary work required to get there.
“This season will be a huge year for me; I have to step on the court with a hungry attitude to get better. My goal is to start and achieve the hustle award,” Thompson said. “Being small will never be my excuse, and it’s a matter of me playing with courage and heart.”
