Davion Thompson is only 17, but Arkansas is already leaning on him like a seasoned point guard.
On Wednesday, the reclassified Class of 2026 guard scored 15 points on 5-of-8 shooting in Arkansas’ 76-53 win over Robert Morris, and he helped wake up an offense that had been sluggish early before finding its rhythm late. Thompson also added five rebounds and seven assists, and the passing was the clearest sign of what he’s becoming for the Razorbacks: the guy who runs the show.
“Man, he’s special,” said Thompson’s teammate and fellow freshman JJ Andrews. “17 years old, going against grown men. 24 year olds, 25, however old they are, being a floor general. That’s very mature of him.
You know, since the time that he’s got here with us, he’s definitely matured so much in his decision making, his IQ, and just looking for ways to impact the game. And he can put the ball in the basket, or he can put players in the right position.
He’s definitely been a great player.”
Thompson’s night also included two steals in 26 minutes, and one of them turned into a dunk that flashed the 6-foot-2 guard’s bounce. It was the kind of all-around showing that keeps making him look like Arkansas’ best pure point guard.
“He’s got a good feel,” Arkansas head coach John Calipari said of Thompson. “What I’m trying to get him to do is, I need you to run the team.
Don’t act like this is eighth grade and you’re trying to score. We need a guy that’s delivering balls and getting us into offense.
So when you go in at point, you make sure you’re that guy. And then, if you’re pressing, you’re up running and you’re doing it., I’m going to leave you in until you tell me you got to come out.”
That role seems to fit Thompson better when Jordan Smith Jr. is off the ball. Smith has defended well, but he has struggled to make shots, and Arkansas’ offense has looked cleaner with Thompson handling the directing duties. The test, of course, will get much tougher once SEC play arrives, but for now there isn’t much to dislike about the young guard’s game.
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