Shaq Thompson isn’t shy on aspirations — or the talent to achieve them
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By jim mccue | Contributor
fter the Grant High football team recently concluded an afternoon practice under a blazing Sacramento sun, most of the Pacers were shuttled into the locker room to conclude another day of conditioning and preparation for the 2011 season. However, a small group of players remained at midfield. They were huddled around senior standout Shaq Thompson. After a brief discussion, a handful of receivers line up wide to run routes and catch passes from quarterback Terry Shine. Thompson, who sees most of his action at running back and safety for the Pacers, quietly ran routes with the receivers and provided encouragement to the group. “That’s desire,” Grant athletic director and defensive coordinator Reginald Lewis said of the Pacers’ star player working after practice with his teammates. “You can’t teach that. It is great to have an athlete such as him who works so hard, because it helps us coaches instill the instruction we are trying to provide. They see him staying late and working hard and they fall into place with him. “Because he works hard in the system, the kids all believe in the system.” The irony of Thompson’s after-practice work is not that he is a defensive back/ running back working on passing routes with his quarterback and receivers, but that the region’s best individual talent has the natural ability to excel on the football field without the extra work. 14
SportStars™
August 25, 2011
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