Magnum Opus: The Thompsons

Torrance, CA (May 21, 2014): Bishop Montgomery junior basketball standout Stephen Thompson, Jr. ’15 has put up some impressive numbers in his first three years on campus. This season, he was joined at the school by his younger brother, Ethan Thompson ‘17, a freshman who is off to a tremendous start building his own high school résumé. By now, most fans of the BMHS boys’ basketball team are well aware that the Thompson brothers are doing their best to keep up with the accomplishments of their father, Stephen, Sr., a two-time City Player of the Year at Crenshaw High School, an All-American at Syracuse University, and a professional in the NBA. What some people may not know is that the Thompson brothers have another pair of shoes to fill when it comes to their success at Bishop Montgomery: their mother, Amy.

From 1985-1988, Amy Thompson (back then she was Amy Bayona ’88) had an outstanding career of her own while attending Bishop Montgomery. On the volleyball court, Amy was a four-year varsity player and all-league performer who went on to play at Northern Arizona University alongside her twin sister, Adrienne ’88. In fact, Amy and Adrienne followed in the footsteps of their older sister, Abby '85, who starred at BMHS and Northern Arizona as well.

As a former student-athlete, Amy is thankful for the role athletics has played in her life, both personally and professionally. For the last 13 years, Amy has worked at Valor Christian Academy, a K-8 school in Redondo Beach where she is the Vice Principal. She often finds herself drawing on her own experiences on the volleyball court in her role at work and as a mother. “I’ve learned perseverance, how to be a leader, and when to let others lead,” she explains. “I’ve learned empathy, compassion, goal setting…I could go on and on.” In the end, Amy draws on all of her experiences (and those of her husband) to point Stephen, Jr. and Ethan on the right path. “Bishop Montgomery prepared me for life after high school by setting a high standard of expectation in the classroom and on the court,” recalls Amy. “This standard of excellence mirrored the standards my parents expected of me at home and are the same expectations I have for my own children.”

On the court this year, Stephen, Jr. was outstanding for the Knights. He led the team in scoring, averaging 22.0 points per game, as the Knights won the Del Rey League title and the Division IV state championship. In the Knights’ game against Oaks Christian in the first round of the state playoffs, he scored a career-high 33 points in the team’s win. His 31-point effort in a win at Serra was perhaps his most impressive performance of the season. He not only helped the Knights clinch the league title, but he did so by scoring in a variety of ways and displaying the basketball IQ that has made him one of the top recruits on the west coast. To top things off, his 748 points scored on the season are a new school, single-season record. Following the season, the accolades came pouring in. He was named 1st Team All-Del Rey League, 1st Team Daily Breeze All-Area, 2nd Team All-CIF (Open Division), 1st Team All-Junior All-State, 1st Team All-State Division IV, and 2nd Team All-State Elite.

Few freshmen in the boys’ basketball program’s impressive history had a year like Ethan had in 2013-14. He averaged a modest 7.5 points per game, but his presence was especially felt in the intangibles he provided the team, something that did not go unnoticed by his brother. “Ethan is a great player,” explains Stephen, Jr. “He has a great feel for the game and we have a special connection on the court.” In the state championship game, Ethan scored a season-high 14 points as the Knights rolled to a 41-point win, the largest margin of victory in a California state title game. Ethan joined his brother on the All-Del Rey League 1st Team and also was named 2nd Team Daily Breeze All-Area and 1st Team All-Freshman All-State. He is also quick to point out how much it means to play on the same team as his brother: “High school was a little overwhelming at first,” explains Ethan, “but [Stephen] helped me fit into my role on the team and in the school pretty easily.”  

The remarkable numbers Stephen, Jr. and Ethan put up on the court in 2013-14 are all points of pride in the Thompson household. Through all the basketball success, however, the soft-spoken brothers are both very clear about which numbers are most important to their mom and dad – their GPA’s. “Our parents always put academics first,” explains Stephen, Jr., who carries a 4.3 GPA. “Before we went to any games or practices, we had to have our homework done.” When asked if they ever missed a practice or game because their homework was not finished, Ethan, who has a 4.0 GPA, smiled and simply responded: “Nope. We always got it done because we wanted to play and make our parents proud.”

For Amy, seeing her sons compete in the same gym where she played not only brings back great memories, but reinforces her decision to have Stephen, Jr. and Ethan attend her alma mater. “[My husband and I] wanted them to enroll in a high school that would continue to inculcate Christian values, challenge them academically, and provide excellent coaching in basketball,” she explains. When she takes her spot in the top row of the bleachers at every home basketball game, Amy fondly recalls the special feelings of “school spirit, unity, and Knight Pride” that she experienced as a student-athlete and knows her family made the right decision. Since the boys began attending Bishop, Amy has seen them grow as athletes, students, and as young men. “They seem to be more confident and outgoing as they mature,” explains Amy, “all while maintaining a humble heart.”

When Stephen, Jr. and Ethan Thompson walk out on the basketball court at Bishop for a game, they do so carrying a little bit of each of their parents with them. They are well aware of their dad’s accomplishments on the court and play much like he did – with a quiet, controlled confidence. Their calm demeanor, however, should not be confused for a lack of competitiveness. According to the basketball coaching staff, you will not find two more fierce competitors than the Thompson brothers. What separates Stephen, Jr. and Ethan from others, though, is that they compete without arrogance and without grandstanding. They are the same qualities Amy learned playing volleyball for the Lady Knights. Stephen, Jr. and Ethan have no other choice but to play this way. After all, their mom ruled the court at Bishop Montgomery long before they did.