University of New Orleans has to be excited about keeping some big time local talent home! With an announcement via Twitter "Blessed to be a Privateer" Tomyree Thompson, a rising senior at St. Mary's (New Orleans) and our #10 ranked 2021 prospect has announced she's committing to playing basketball in her home town of New Orleans at UNO.
If you're really dialed into girls basketball in the state then you know about St. Mary's Academy a small Division III school in New Orleans where Tomyree helped lead them to a state runner up trophy her freshmen year. Be sure to keep an eye out for St. Mary's this year as they look to get back into the state championship hunt. We caught up with Coach Haywood, head coach of St. Mary's about Tomyree and her time at St. Mary's.
Coach Haywood / High School Coach - "Tomyree came aboard four years ago as an 8th grader. She was just what our program needed at the time. She brought a confidence that our upperclassman needed to take their game to a higher level. It has come full circle she came being just what the players here at the time needed....Now it's her senior year and those players are gone and she is the one who needs help. I have no doubt she will be able to incorporate their skills with hers to make us competitive. She is the second St. Mary's player to sign with UNO. I was surprised that she decided to stay home but she was comfortable and felt it was the best situation for her. It is a great sign for UNO because Tomyree is a big time talent and is able to play at the major D1 level. I'm excited for both Tomyree and UNO!"
While St. Mary's is one of the smaller schools in the state it's always hard to evaluate those players to a college level. She would easily dominate that level and would stand out every night but the first time she really caught my eye was on the AAU scene when she still stood out on a LOADED Lady Blues team! Going up against several other college prospects every game but also playing up with several girls from New Orleans that will be suiting up at the Division I level this year....she still stood out with her big frame and guard skills at 5'9. You could tell she enjoys competition and she really brought her game to that next level! Her high motor and relentless attacking on the offensive end allows her to live at the free throw line. She can defend multiple positions she her size and physicality and add when you put other great basketball players around her she proved she'll raise her game to meet that level....UNO got a great basketball prospect! We had a chance to catch up with Tomyree and do a quick Q&A on her decision to stay home!
What stood out for you the most about UNO than all of the other programs that recruited you and why did you choose UNO?
"What stood out the most about UNO to me was how much Coach D cared for her players & I chose UNO mainly because of how she pushes her players to be the best person on and off the court."
When did you first realize you had what it takes to play at the college level?
"I first realized I had what it takes to play ball at a college level when everything started to get really easy....Scoring, passing, dribbling was slight."
What was your recruitment like—when did it begin and when did everything really accelerate?
"My recruitment started when I was in the 8th grade but I was just getting letters. It accelerated when I became a sophomore , that’s when I got my first offer."
Why’d you decide to end your recruitment when you did?
"I decided to end my recruitment because UNO really felt like home to me , that’s one college offer I couldn't keep off my mind. I had to commit , I didn't want to lose my chance playing for them."
What was your most memorable moment during the high school career so far?
"My most memorable moment during my high school career was when I played my first championship game on a varsity level. The experience was the best."
What do you think was the biggest growth in your game that led to you getting scholarship offers?
"I think my biggest growth in my game that led me to getting offers was being able to finish at the rim & I developed a mid range shot."