Cat Thompson
Inducted:
1962
Stats
5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Born
February 10, 1906
St. George, Utah, U.S.
Died
October 7, 1990
Idaho Falls, Idaho, U.S.
Position
Forward
College
Dixie (St. George, Utah)
Cat Thompson was a standout basketball player during the sport's early professional era. His playing career took place at Montana State University from 1926 to 1930, long before the establishment of the BAA or NBA. Standing 5'10", Thompson was a prolific forward and scoring phenomenon who led Montana State's famous "Golden Bobcats" to national dominance, culminating in the 1929 Helms Foundation National Championship.
Known for his uncanny leaping ability, quick defensive hands, and deadly long-range shooting, he scored 1,539 points in college during an era of low-scoring, slow-paced play. He averaged 15.4 points per game when the average team scored 40 points per game. For his collegiate scoring dominance and national impact, he was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a player in 1962.
Thompson's Awards and Honor
- Helms National Player of the Year (1929)
- Helms National Champion (1929)
- 4× All-American (1927–1930)
- One of the five greatest college hoops players of the first half of the 20th century
NBA Position
Montana State (1926–1930)
NBA Stats
Career:
1926–1930
Seasons Played:
3
Games Played:
100
Points:
1,539
Points per Game:
15.4
Helms National Championships:
1 (1929)