By GEORGE THWAITES
Bluefield Daily Telegraph
BLUEFIELD — As a goalkeeper for the Bluefield boys soccer team, Jeremy Thompson's primary obsession was preventing balls from reaching the net.
During basketball season, his relationship with twine is a little more complicated.
The Beavers 6-foot-2 senior forward, who is the third Pocahontas Coal Association/Bluefield Daily Telegraph Player of the Week selection this season, stepped up last week for a career-high 30 points in a 73-63 win against Westside.
"It was a big night on the offensive side, but I didn't do everything myself," said Thompson, a fourth-year veteran under head coach Buster Large who shot 14-for-16 from the field that night. "My shot was on and my 3-ball was working pretty good. I didn't dribble the ball and do everything myself. My team facilitated the ball well. I got good screens. It was a team effort."
It was a busy night for Thompson, who had four rebounds, distributed four assists and had two steals and a block against Westside.
Setting the tone for Christmas Week, he scored 14 points in a 55-52 win over PikeView on Monday. In that game he had seven rebounds, three assists and two steals.
"Jeremy's a fine young man. He plays hard every night for us. He gives us 110 percent in practice," said Bluefield head boys basketball coach Buster Large. "He's a coaches kind of player. He's always going to be there and he always gives you his best. He's very deserving of this award."
His five-game totals through that week bode well for the Beavers' collective hopes for this season. He averaged 17.8 points per game with 11 trifectas, shooting 13-for-19 from the free throw line.
"He's one that we expect a lot out of every day," said Large. "He's one we're going to look for big things from for the rest of the year."
This is Thompson's first career Player of the Week nod in the last season he could possibly attain it. He's understandably proud of the recognition that comes with it but intends to keep it all in proper perspective.
“I’m very grateful, because there are a lot of great athletes I play against. For me to get this means a lot," said Thompson, who was a sophomore player on the Beavers' last Class AAA state championship squad.
"We play for state championships. That's Beaver Basketball. It's a team sport here," he said.
Thompson, who was an all-state honorable mention selection in basketball as a junior, worked hard on all aspects of his game during the off-season. The two areas that received most of the attention were his defense and his shot off the dribble.
Thompson, a three-sport athlete at Bluefield, is a fast guy. He obviously has to run the floor a lot playing for the Beavers during basketball season. During baseball season, he has a lot of ground to cover as a center fielder.
In soccer, his hands, lightning reflexes and stationary explosiveness probably trump his leg work. But even the guy wearing the odd-colored jersey has some running to do.
"I'm kind of confined to the 18-yard box. But you'd be surprised, especially when you're playing a team with good strikers and midfielders, just how much you have to run out and get the ball," said Thompson, who was a second team all-state selection in soccer this year. "I definitely do some running, but not like the other players on the field."
Thompson is a college-track student at Bluefield High School and has looked into several colleges and universities. He is on the recruiting radar as both a soccer and a basketball prospect. His favorite academic subject is English. Potential careers that have attracted his interest include International Business Marketing and Civil Engineering.
Athletics and academics obviously keep him occupied. He enjoys engaging in the various workout and training regimens that keep him in shape for all three of his sports. Otherwise, his favorite leisure activity is being a normal teenager with a normal teenager's social life.
"You know, hanging out with friends. Relaxing ... going out to eat. Enjoying myself ... just still being a teenaged kid," Thompson said.
Thompson can't say if playing so many games inside the Brushfork Armory ultimately stimulated his interest in engineering, but he admits the structure's mesmerizing cathedral-like ceiling can be a distraction to shooters who aren't used to playing under it.
"When you look up, it always tries to catch your eye when you're out there on the court," Thompson said. "I love playing here. It's a great floor. One of the best that I've ever played on. I feel privileged to play in a place like this."
Large said he feels privileged to have a kid like Thompson on his team.
"He's a great leader, a great student and a great young man," Large said. "You couldn't ask for a better student-athlete."


Boys Player of Week Honorable Mention

Bland County: Jacob Watters scored 18 points and had eight rebounds in a 54-50 win over Tazewell. Jacob Cross scored 11 points and had eight boards.
Bluefield: Mookie Collier scored 21 points in a 55-52 win over PikeView on Monday and scored 13 points in a 73-63 win over Westside on Tuesday. Dyon Wright added 12 points against Westside.
Graham: Roman Workman scored 13 points in a 68-40 win over Giles on Monday. Cameron Allen and Chandler Cooper scored 12 points apiece and Darrin Martin scored 10 points.
Grundy: Ethan Dillow had 11 points for the Golden Wave in Monday’s loss to Twin Valley.
Honaker: Tanner Robinette scored 18 points and pulled down 15 rebounds while blocking three shots in a 76-45 win over Hurley in the BDD tournament semifinals. He fired up 29 points in a 63-52 win over Twin Valley in the BDD tournament title game on Wedneday. Hartley Hilton had 16 points and nine rebounds for the Tigers against Hurley.
Hurley: Zack Lester scored 17 points in Monday’s loss to Honaker. Brady Justice scored 12 points.
Mount View: Jaquane Imes and Kenneth Brown scored 14 points apiece in a 64-55 loss to Independence on Tuesday. Marquis Bonds scored 10.
PikeView: Seth Meadows scored 19 points in a 55-52 loss to Bluefield on Monday. Tyler Boyd scored 12 and Hunter Hill added 10.
Princeton: Logan Watkins scored 16 points in a 45-39 win over Oak Hill on Tuesday.
Richlands: Scottie Ball scored 18 points in a 72-41 win over Grayson County on Tuesday. Luke Phillips scored 15 points and Ethan Ratliff scored 12.
Tazewell: T.J. Kitts scored 19 for the Bulldogs in the loss to Bland County.
Twin Valley: Tanner Wagner scored 12 points in a 41-28 win over Grundy in the Black Diamond District tournament semifinals on Monday, and had 12 points in the title game loss to Honaker. Tayten Sykes scored 15 points in Tuesday’s loss to Ridgeview, and added 29 in a BDD tourney loss to Honaker. Austin Shortridge had 10 rebounds against Grundy.

2015-16 Player of the Week Winners
Week 1: Daniel Boothe, Mercer Christian
Week 2: Hunter Hill, PikeView
Week 3: Jeremy Thompson, Bluefield