<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>NEW YORK (Ticker) - Jason Thompson stood tall above lesser competition. The Sacramento Kings are convinced he can do the same in the NBA. The Kings pulled off one of the bigger surprises at the top of the first round, selecting Thompson with the No. 12 overall pick in Thursday's NBA draft. Thompson put up gaudy numbers in his junior and senior seasons, averaging 20.0 points and 10.0 rebounds. But that was for Rider, which plays in the mid-major Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. Despite playing against inferior competition, Thompson finished second in the nation to Michael Beasley - the No. 2 overall pick - with 12.1 rebounds per game last campaign. The MAAC Defensive Player of the Year, the 6-10, 245-pound Thompson showed a good post presence and can hit an open mid-range jumper. Thompson scored in double figures in every game and had a double-double in 24 of 34 contests last season, going over 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds for his career - which bodes well for a team that needs help inside.</div> <div align="center">Link</div> Thoughts?
