Transfer from Houston has Southeast excited

The Southeast Missouri State men's basketball team has added what looks like a nice piece to its roster for the 2014-15 season.

It was announced Wednesday that Jevante "J.J." Thompson, a point guard who started the past two years at the University of Houston, is transferring to Southeast.

Thompson will have to sit out the 2013-14 season under NCAA transfer rules but he will be able to practice with the Redhawks. He will then have two years of eligibility at Southeast.

"We're very excited to add a player of J.J.'s caliber to our program, with his level of maturity and experience," Southeast coach Dickey Nutt said. "I think he's going to be a big addition for us."

The 6-foot, 185-pound Thompson was a key two-year contributor for Houston, which went 20-13 last season and tied for seventh in the 12-team Conference USA with a 7-9 record. The Cougars were 15-15 overall and 7-9 in league play in 2011-12.

Thompson, who is left-handed, made 21 starts for the Cougars last year, including the first 15 games of the season. He averaged 6.0 points while shooting 42.3 percent from the field overall and 32.5 percent from 3-point range (13 of 40). He compiled 83 assists against 59 turnovers and also recorded 25 steals.

As a freshman in 2011-12, Thompson was one of only six Houston players to see action in all 30 games and made 19 starts. He tied for the team lead with an average of 2.5 assists per contest while averaging 5.8 points on 36.1-percent shooting, including 30.4 percent on 3-pointers (17 of 56). He had 75 assists against 64 turnovers and recorded 21 steals.

"J.J. is a scoring guard who can play several positions," Nutt said. "He has played in a lot of big games and is a first-class person. We feel like he's the total package and that he will be an excellent fit here at Southeast."

Thompson was rated a 3-star recruit as a senior at Irving High School in the Dallas area. Rivals.com ranked him No. 18 in the Texas player rankings.

According to internet reports, Thompson chose Houston over UTEP, Colorado, Nebraska, UNLV, Wichita State, Texas Tech and Iowa.

"He was a highly recruited player out of high school," Nutt said. "We think he can be a very good player for us."

Nutt said it will benefit Thompson to spend a year at Southeast practicing and learning the system, which has also been the case with several other transfers the Redhawks have gotten under Nutt.

"I think it's an advantage to be able to practice and get adjusted to things. I feel like it's going to help him," Nutt said.