Chick-fil-A ‘Triple A’ – Hopkinsville’s J.J. Thompson

A standout baseball player, great student, community involved, and just an all-around great guy, those are all of the things that make a special student-athlete. Those are also the reasons that Hopkinsville High School’s J.J. Thompson is the latest Chick-fil-A ‘Triple A’

Starting with the athletic side, J.J. is among the best pitchers in western Kentucky. He has signed to play collegiate baseball at Wright State University. He has been a standout player, first at Heritage Christian Academy and now at Hopkinsville High School. While at HCA, he helped lead the Warriors to a KCAA state championship.

Last season, at Hopkinsville High School, J.J. had a 3.11 ERA and 79 strikeouts in just 45 innings on the mound. At the plate, he hit .290 with 2 home runs, 3 triples, 4 doubles, and drove in 13 runs. J.J. also had nine stolen bases.

J.J. has played for five seasons with the Kentucky Prospects, a nationally-ranked travel team out of Paducah. He spends his summer training and traveling, playing high-level baseball. He is slated to play next summer with the PRP Mambas, a travel team coached by Greg Vogt, a coach in the Toronto Blue Jays organization.

He is also a standout in the classroom. J.J. has been on the Principal’s List at Hopkinsville High School. In preparation for his academic future, he takes dual credit college classes through both Hopkinsville Community College and Madisonville Community College. J.J. has a GPA of 3.87 and is in the top 10% of his class. So this guy can rock it in the classroom as well as on the pitching mound.

During his time at Heritage Christian Academy, J.J. was a member of the Spanish National Honor Society. The Spanish National Honor Society is an honor society for high school students enrolled in Spanish and/or Portuguese, sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese. The SHH was formally organized as the Spanish National Honor Society in 1953. To be inducted as a member of the Spanish National Honor Society a student must have a minimum cumulative average of 3.0, As, and Bs in Spanish classes.

While in the SNHS, J.J. helped the club raise $1700 for Starfish Orphan Ministry, a nonprofit located in Paducah Kentucky that serves orphans in El Salvador as well as provides beds for underprivileged children in the Paducah area.

He was also a member of the National Honor Society. As a member, J.J. served as the 10th grade representative for the NHS and was responsible for disseminating class information, helping plan school events and more.

While he was at HCA, J.J. was involved in the Interact club. Overseen by Rotary International, Interact clubs bring together young people ages 12-18 to develop leadership skills while discovering the power of Service Above Self. Interact clubs organize at least two projects every year, one that helps their school or community and one that promotes international understanding.

J.J. also founded a student-led Bible study on Saturday mornings.

He transferred to Hopkinsville ahead of his junior year. His involvement in the school community has continued there, including being a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Since 1954, members of FCA have been using the platform of sports to reach every coach and every athlete with the gospel. FCA focuses on serving local communities by engaging, equipping, and empowering coaches and athletes to unite, inspire, and change the world.

Speaking of his faith, it is obvious by his actions, that it is an important part of J.J.’s life. He is very involved at his church, Living Hope Baptist. J.J. is in the youth group and volunteers for things like Vacation Bible School and children’s programs.

J.J. notes “Driven by my Christian beliefs, I am inspired to seek opportunities for service, motivated by the example set by Christ. Colossians 3:23-24 guides my approach: “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” My goal is not personal recognition but to glorify God’s name through my actions and serve those around me, reflecting the love of Jesus in all that I do.”

J.J. has also held others by serving lunches in soup kitchens and volunteering with Alpha Pregnancy Care Center.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, his church organized a food drive, and J.J. says his involvement in this initiative was one of the most rewarding experiences. “Engaging in meaningful conversations, sharing the love of Jesus, and serving the community left a lasting impact. This event highlighted my commitment to making a positive difference and demonstrated the joy I find in helping others.”

As for his ‘immediate’ future, J.J. plans to attend Wright State and major in Mass Media Communications. He goes on to say that he has aspirations of playing professional baseball, and adds “While I’m uncertain about my exact path after my baseball career, I am confident that it will involve some form of business. My Christian faith is a significant aspect of my life, influencing my values and motivations. Currently, my focus is on serving others and making a positive impact in my community.”

Just a great deal of good things that make him a great kid with a great future ahead of him. And the things that make him the latest Chick-fil-A ‘Triple A.’