Legendary Georgetown coach John Thompson Jr. dies at age 78 | #RIPJohnThompson #blm

Jonjo Monday, August 31, 2020

Georgetown legends: Coach John Thompson & Patrick Ewing.

Rest In Peace Coach Thompson

Back when I knew everything about basketball (high school of course), Coach Thompson and his Georgetown Hoyas were all over ESPN.

In the beginning of the 1981 NCAA Basketball season, James Worthy became my favorite player. His jump hook became my go-to move throughout my playing days. Coach Dean Smith became my favorite coach and the North Carolina Tar Heels became my team. When a freshman Michael Jordan hit the game winning basket in the NCAA Championship Game at the end of that season's March Madness, I bled Tar Heel blue.

North Carolina

National Championship 1982. Michael Jordan hits the game winning shot against Georgetown.
pic.twitter.com/S7WBzzRejR
— ACC Content (@ACContent__) May 17, 2020

I celebrated Coach Dean Smith along with Tar Heel Nation. But I remember feeling for Coach John Thompson. I would "hate" on his Georgetown Hoyas simply because the Tar Heels were my team. But you always had to respect the coach and the man John Thomspon.

John Robert Thompson Jr. (September 2, 1941 – August 31, 2020) was an American men's college basketball coach for the Georgetown Hoyas. In 1984, he became the first African-American head coach to win a major collegiate championship when Patrick Ewing led the Hoyas to an NCAA Division I national championship over the Houston Cougars. Thompson was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. After retiring from coaching, he became a radio and TV sports commentator.

Thompson played college basketball for the Providence Friars and earned honorable mention All-American honors in 1964. He was selected in the third round of the 1964 NBA draft by the Boston Celtics. He played two seasons for the Celtics, who won an NBA championship in both seasons. Thompson became a high school coach in Washington D.C. before coaching Georgetown for 27 seasons.

North Carolina vs. Georgetown: 1982 National Championship | FULL GAME

Future NBA legends Michael Jordan and Patrick Ewing matched up in this classic national championship game, where the Tar Heels edged out the Hoyas 63-62. Jordan had the game-winning shot with 15 seconds left. Watch the full game here.