Former North Carolina Tar Heels forward Deon Thompson is heading back to Chapel Hill for the next stage of his basketball journey. According to a source confirmed to the N&O, Thompson is expected to join head coach Michael Malone’s staff as a graduate assistant while also pursuing studies at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School.
Thompson previously spent four seasons with the Tar Heels under legendary coach Roy Williams from 2006 through 2010. During his college career, the 6-foot-9 forward appeared in 152 games with 113 starts, averaging 9.3 points and 4.9 rebounds while shooting 49.4 percent from the floor.
He was a major contributor to UNC’s 2009 national championship squad, averaging 10.6 points and 5.7 rebounds while starting 37 of the team’s 38 games that season. In the Tar Heels’ 89-72 victory over Michigan State Spartans in the national championship game, Thompson delivered nine points in the opening half.
Following the departure of college basketball icon Tyler Hansbrough, Thompson embraced an expanded leadership role during his senior season. In 2009-10, he produced career-best numbers with 13.7 points and 6.7 rebounds per contest, while also recording five double-doubles.
After wrapping up his UNC career, Thompson went on to spend 15 seasons playing professionally across 13 different countries, including stops in Greece, Germany, Israel, and Slovenia.
Now, he returns to Chapel Hill as Malone continues shaping a coaching staff built around strong Carolina connections. Malone already added Chuck Martin from Arkansas Razorbacks as associate head coach while retaining Sean May and Pat Sullivan during the transition.
“I’m not a guy that has been here before,” Malone said during his introductory press conference, “but I want to do everything I can to make sure the former players are coming back, because they all said to me, ‘It’s not like it used to be.’”
“One of my goals is not just on the court, wins or losses,” Malone added, “but how can I strengthen that family atmosphere and get guys to keep coming back and help pay it forward.”