DENVER – University of Hawai`i point guard Hiram Thompson has been named the Verizon Western Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Week for the week of Nov. 8-14. The honor marks the first career WAC Player of the Week award for Thompson.

 

Thompson, a senior guard from Sacramento, Calif. (Oak Ridge HS), helped lead Hawai`i to a strong start in the opening weekend of 2010-11 with a pair of wins against Montana State and Cal State Fullerton in the Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic. Thompson scored a career-high 21 points and added six rebounds with four assists in 24 minutes of action in a 77-59 win over Montana State on Friday. He connected on 8-of-9 field goals, including all three of his three-point attempts. Thompson tallied 18 points and seven assists against Cal State Fullerton the next night. He scored 17 of his 18 points in the second half, including nine during the decisive 14-0 game-ending run that gave UH the 84-70 victory.

 

On the week, Thompson averaged a team-high 19.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game. He also shot 66.7 percent (12-of-18) from the field, including a 5-of-7 clip from three-point range.

 

Thompson and the Rainbow Warriors take aim for the Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic championship tonight in a nationally-televised contest against Central Michigan. The ESPN broadcast contest tips off tonight at 11:00 p.m. and it will be a “Blackout” as fans are encouraged to wear black. Tickets are just $10 and all seats are general admission. UH Manoa students get in free with a validated ID.