J.J. Thompson signed a letter to play his college baseball at Wright State University on Wednesday.
Coaches, teammates, and friends gathered in the school library to watch Thompson make official a decision that was made two years ago.
What set this ceremony apart from others was the time spent speaking more on the character of the Hopkinsville High School senior than his accomplishments on the field.
Hopkinsville coach Malcolm Tipler was an assistant coach at Hoptown last year – Thompson’s first at Hoptown – and will get a chance to lead him as his head coach in the spring.
“I’m proud of this young man. This is a big accomplishment. I got here two years ago and was impressed with how mature he was. You’re a leader on the field and off the field,” Tipler told his senior outfielder.
Another coach who has spent a little more time around Thompson is Tremayne Donald, who began coaching him on the Kentucky Prospects summer travel team as a young teen.
“I couldn’t be more proud to see him from 13 years old to now. To see how much he improved not only as a player but also as a young man.”
Donald also had a message for his Hoptown teammates who were at Wednesday’s ceremony.
“For you young guys that have the opportunity to be around him, take every minute and enjoy every minute that you get to be around him because he does things the right way.”
That sentiment was backed up by Darrell Crawford who got a chance to know Thompson as his coach at Heritage Christian Academy and as his pastor at Living Hope Baptist Church.
Thompson helped lead HCA to a pair of Kentucky Christian Athletic Association state baseball titles in 2021 and 2022, throwing a one-hitter to clinch the 2022 title.
His drive on and off the field left the biggest impression on his former coach.
“He doesn’t waste his life. He doesn’t waste a minute of his day. He told me a week or so ago that he gets up early and he works hard. He works hard in school. He works hard in his faith. And he works hard in baseball,” Crawford said. “That comes from his character, how he treats probably the last guy on the bench on the team. He probably treats them with the same kind of respect and love as he does his closest friend on the team. I think all of that comes from his faith and his pride.
Thompson hit .290 in his first season with Hopkinsville, earning All-District and All-Region honors. He smacked a pair of home runs and drove in 13 runs while stealing nine bases.
As a pitcher, he struck out 79 batters in 45 innings but will primarily play the outfield in college.
Thompson said several things stood out about the Dayton, Ohio school when deciding on where to play baseball in college.
“I think overall, the coaching staff, the culture there, they have built something really special. They’re all a big family,” he said.
Thompson plans to study mass communications at Wright State but has a senior season on the diamond to play first.
