Thompson makes a stop at Timberview High School
while she is in town for a Globetrotters event.
HARLEM GLOBETROTTER RETURNS TO
FORMER HIGH SCHOOL
L
ili Thompson went from being a Lady Wolf
to being on the world-famous Globetrotters,
and she returned to where it started to
encourage students to follow their dreams.
district and a great place to be in Texas. I’m
really, really proud of them for how they’re
doing, and it’s just great to be back.”
The rookie Globetrotter noted that her time
at Timberview High School shaped a lot of
habits that propelled her to success, such
as working hard, being disciplined, having
time management skills and utilizing good
communication skills.
Thompson graduated from Timberview High
School in 2013. During her tenure, she was the
leading point guard on a winning team, member
of the debate team and member of the student
council. She went on to have a standout college
basketball career at Notre Dame and Stanford
University.
Head girls basketball coach Kit Martin was in
attendance at the assembly. She said she wanted
students to take Thompson’s story and apply it
in their lives.
All the while, her eyes were set on something
bigger—going pro. She accomplished that when
she was drafted by the Harlem Globetrotters in
November as one of only two female players to
be selected.
“Lili is a perfect example of having a limitless
future,” said Martin. “Her coming back gives
them that tangible goal that they can look at
and say, ‘Hey, if she can come from here and do
that, then I can do whatever it is that I set out to
do.’”
“I always wanted to be a professional basketball
player, and I always wanted to use basketball
as a vehicle to take me places in life, both
physically and in terms of opportunities, and it’s
done that,” said Thompson. “The Globetrotters
have an amazing legacy, and I’m really proud to
step in and be part of it.”
Thompson, known as Champ, made her way
back to her former high school while she was in
town to motivate them to aspire for something
greater and never give up. She said she also
wanted to show her support of the Timberview
girls basketball team for being top-ranked and
undefeated in its district.
“I had so much fun at Timberview,” she
explained. “It’s a great place, it’s a great school
Martin (left) remembers Thompson as being
a student who had skills on and off the court.
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M A NSFIELD ISD.O RG