Nationality American College Iowa State (1954–1957) Weight 72 kg Name Gary Thompson Education Iowa State University | Listed weight 158 lb (72 kg) Role Basketball Player Positions Basketball positions Height 1.78 m | |
NBA draft 1957 / Round: 5 / Pick: 35th overall | ||
Listed height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) High school Roland (Roland, Iowa) | ||
Gary thompson and the roland fight song
Gary Thompson is a retired American basketball player and broadcaster. He was an All-American player at Iowa State. Following his collegiate career, Thompson played for the Phillips 66ers of the Amateur Athletic Union and had a successful career as a broadcaster.
Contents
Playing career
Known as the "Roland Rocket", Gary Thompson came to Iowa State University from the small town of Roland, Iowa to become one of the Cyclones' first cage stars. A 5'10 guard, Thompson was the first Iowa State player to score more than 1,000 points and the first player in school history to tally 40 points in a game. As a senior in 1956–57, Thompson earned consensus second team All-American honors, first team All-America status from the Associated Press, and was named Big Seven Conference player of the year, beating out Kansas star Wilt Chamberlain. Thompson excelled in a second sport as well, leading Iowa State to the 1957 College World Series as a star shortstop.
Following the close of his standout college career, Thompson chose to join the Bartlesville Phillips 66ers of the Amateur Athletic Union, though he was also drafted in the fifth round of the 1957 NBA draft by the Minneapolis Lakers. Thompson had a successful career with the 66ers, earning AAU All-America honors three times and leading Phillips to an AAU title in 1962. He later coached the 66ers as well.
Post-playing career
After his playing days were over, Thompson began the Gary Thompson Oil Company, a business venture made possible by his affiliation with the Phillips Petroleum Company. He also embarked on a 34-year television broadcasting career – serving as color commentator for college basketball games on NBC and CBS, primarily for Big Eight and later Big 12 games. He retired in 2006.