KAEO Keon Thompson

[inthescoop]

Now in the portal as of yesterday....

And committed to ODU rather quickly

Robert Davis Jr did, not Keon Thompson.

[Floyd]

I wish Keon would change his mind and come back.

[Juice Stand]

Don't worry about me Floyd, I'm never transferring. UMass maroon (RGB 136, 28, 28, Hex# 881c1c) through and through.

[Floyd]

Never doubted you for a second Juice. Ride or die

[InnervisionsUMASS]

Never doubted you for a second Juice. Ride or die

LOL I read that and all I can think of is the nerd in the Wendy's commercial saying it.

[Juice Stand]

For reference, I'd probably be the "nerd" in that bag boys commercial. Ride or die, Floyd.

[skizz]

I'm assuming Thompson and Martin had an end of season conversation and Thompson didn't like what he was told.

[minutefanjsf]

I'm assuming Thompson and Martin had an end of season conversation and Thompson didn't like what he was told.

I’m sure Frank doesn’t want to see him go. Frank also likely told him the other guards produce more. Jayden, Jaylen, and Rahsool all ahead of Keon and incoming freshmen....Keon would need to improve his shooting. Wish he would take the challenge. Frank seems, for the most part, to play guys who do what he asks as long as they are producing.

[Floyd]

Curious, is it public knowledge who got what NIL money?

[MakeMullinsGreatAgain]

I'm assuming Thompson and Martin had an end of season conversation and Thompson didn't like what he was told.

my guess is Keon was told Curry is the starter next year and he'd be the backup - not sure why that would make him leave as it seems Frank plays 4-5 guards pretty good minutes - at least the top 3-4 anyway and Keon would certainly have been in the top 3-4. No chance Keon moves up to a P5 - he just can't shoot good enough to play enough at that level. As others have said, maybe he'll change his mind once he see's whats out there.

[Floyd]

Seems odd to me that Frank would say something like that. He seems more like an "earn it" type coach, rather than just giving it to someone so early. Keon made a big jump from yr 1 to yr 2, what's to say he doesn't work on his outside shooting all off-season? In fairness, if you want to compare all the guards, Keon was probably the better rebounder, better defensively, and had the better assist/turnover ratio, and was a very good ball handler. Unless one of the freshman seems like a sure thing to take his minutes, there's gotta be more to his leaving.

[UMass'96]

Seems odd to me that Frank would say something like that. He seems more like an "earn it" type coach, rather than just giving it to someone so early. Keon made a big jump from yr 1 to yr 2, what's to say he doesn't work on his outside shooting all off-season? In fairness, if you want to compare all the guards, Keon was probably the better rebounder, better defensively, and had the better assist/turnover ratio, and was a very good ball handler. Unless one of the freshman seems like a sure thing to take his minutes, there's gotta be more to his leaving.

Absolutely agree with this

[MakeMullinsGreatAgain]

Seems odd to me that Frank would say something like that. He seems more like an "earn it" type coach, rather than just giving it to someone so early. Keon made a big jump from yr 1 to yr 2, what's to say he doesn't work on his outside shooting all off-season? In fairness, if you want to compare all the guards, Keon was probably the better rebounder, better defensively, and had the better assist/turnover ratio, and was a very good ball handler. Unless one of the freshman seems like a sure thing to take his minutes, there's gotta be more to his leaving.

no doubt Keon was better than Curry this year but you could tell as the season went on Curry could be an elite scorer - Keon is very limited offensively - that shot will never be good. I love Keon - I love his toughness, love the way he takes it to the hoop but he just doesn't do it consistently enough. We need guys that can create offense - Curry can do that - RJ was like that too. Keon really can't beat his guy off the dribble and get himself an open look like Curry can. Two years ago I would agree with you that Frank would never promise a player something - now with the NIL I absolutely think he will tell someone they will be the starter if they stick around. Didn't he tell Cohen the offense would run through him and thats why he came here?

[UMass'96]

Frank seems, for the most part, to play guys who do what he asks as long as they are producing.

Isn't this true always? Can you give an example of a coach that continues to play athletes that go out and do what they want, regardless of the coaches instructions, and don't produce?

[UMass'96]

Seems odd to me that Frank would say something like that. He seems more like an "earn it" type coach, rather than just giving it to someone so early. Keon made a big jump from yr 1 to yr 2, what's to say he doesn't work on his outside shooting all off-season? In fairness, if you want to compare all the guards, Keon was probably the better rebounder, better defensively, and had the better assist/turnover ratio, and was a very good ball handler. Unless one of the freshman seems like a sure thing to take his minutes, there's gotta be more to his leaving.

no doubt Keon was better than Curry this year but you could tell as the season went on Curry could be an elite scorer - Keon is very limited offensively - that shot will never be good. I love Keon - I love his toughness, love the way he takes it to the hoop but he just doesn't do it consistently enough. We need guys that can create offense - Curry can do that - RJ was like that too. Keon really can't beat his guy off the dribble and get himself an open look like Curry can. Two years ago I would agree with you that Frank would never promise a player something - now with the NIL I absolutely think he will tell someone they will be the starter if they stick around. Didn't he tell Cohen the offense would run through him and thats why he came here?

I would agree that Keon's outside shooting was average however, he seemed to be able to drive and get to the rim when he was determined to do so. He has an incredibly strong drive to the hoop and improved his left over the past year. Also, he's quick off the dribble to his right, and his lateral defense was solid.

I don't doubt that Curry was/is going to eat into his minutes. But I don't see him buried at the end of the bench. It's not who starts the game that is important, it's who is on the floor at the end of the game, especially close games, that matters.

Either way, his leaving is a loss for sure. And given the nature of Keon's high school conditioning, I wonder if there isn't more to this story. Out of all of the players, Keon should be the most mentally prepared to deal with Coach Martin.