LOS ANGELES – Cal State L.A.'s men's basketball coach Stephen Thompson received quite an honor Saturday night at the Los Angeles high school where his playing career really blossomed.

 

Thompson had his No. 32 jersey retired at Crenshaw High School in ceremonies that also involved former Crenshaw High School stars John Williams and Stanley Brundy.

 

“It is a great honor having my jersey retired from this program considering all the great alumni and what this program represents to the basketball community in the city of Los Angeles,” Thompson said.

 

Thompson helped lead Crenshaw to back-to-back 4-A division crowns and the team also won a pair of state championships while he was with the program. Thompson was a two-time 4-A City Player of the Year and he was the California State Player of the Year as a senior.

 

Thompson averaged 28.0 points per game as a junior while leading Crenshaw to a state title and he averaged 34.0 points per game while leading Crenshaw to a second straight state championship.

 

Thompson then went on to Syracuse, where he was a was a three-year starter and still holds the program record for most games played (144) and is second in career field goals and sixth in scoring. He earned All-America honors in 1989 and 1990.

 

Professionally, he had stints with the Orlando Magic, Sacramento Kings and Denver Nuggets of the NBA and also played in Europe, Japan, the CBA and the ABA.

 

Thompson is currently in his fifth season as the head coach of the Cal State L.A.'s men's program. He was an assistant coach for three years before assuming the head position in 2005. He led the Golden Eagles to a third-place finish in the California Collegiate Athletic Association and a 17-11 overall record in 2007-08, the most wins for the program since the 1999-2000 season.

 

Cal State L.A. is 1-0 so far this season and will begin CCAA play next Thursday, Dec. 3, at Humboldt State.