By Carson Vercoe | Sports Writer
Through the process of visits, Baylor felt like the only right option for junior guard Tianna Thompson.
“I feel like on my visit, it was honestly like I had to say yes,” Thompson said. “You know you just have that feeling.”
She didn’t light up the stat sheet at Ole Miss, averaging six points per game. But her 42% shooting from beyond the arc made her a desirable addition while she was in the transfer portal.
Thompson has had to learn a new locker room, a new system and a new team.
Summer and fall have been that learning period. Figuring out the team’s strategy and building relationships with the players she will be with for the season. Thompson has shown an eagerness to join a successful program after the Rebels failed to reach the Sweet 16 last season.
Thompson’s visit with head coach Nicki Collen and the team helped prove it was the right decision. Thompson came to Waco looking for a place to grow as an athlete and a person, and she found it.
“I just knew that this was a place that I would be able to fit in on and off the court,” Thompson said.
The decision to mark a new chapter isn’t Thompson’s first. She spent her freshman year at hometown Georgia Tech as a top-100 recruit coming out of The Galloway School in Atlanta. She appeared in 21 games, recording 4 points per game on 53.4% shooting before heading to Oxford, Mississippi.
Thompson arrived in Waco to a different environment, ready to contribute for the Bears as a multi-level scorer.
“She is a versatile guard with elite shot-making ability,” Collen said. “Tianna is a high-level 3-point shooter who can also score off the bounce. Her length lets her play the passing lanes and create offense from defense.”
Collen is also excited to get another impact player who can be a shining light for the program.
“Tianna is a strong student and will be an excellent representative of Baylor University in the Waco community,” Collen said.
Thompson has been a part of a team that shows an impressive work ethic and competitiveness in every practice. The competitiveness comes from a roster that includes five Power Five transfers looking for a fresh start, and they’re eager to compete.
“I think we’ve got a lot of hungry players,” Collen said. “We have players that have been productive, whether it was in major minutes or limited minutes at other places.”
Thompson is one of four transfers for the Bears this offseason. Thompson joins another SEC guard junior, Trinity Turner. The duo gives the Baylor backcourt two steady producers.
Combined with veteran senior guard Taliah Scott, the duo could make the Bears’ backcourt dangerous.
“They bring a fight and a dog that I feel like we didn’t have as much of last year,” Scott said. “Everybody that’s coming in is competitive; they want to win.”
That eagerness has shown up in practice. Thompson feels the Bears have shown toughness throughout the summer as they build toward the season.
“I feel like we worked very hard this summer, and we’re all very like-minded,” Thompson said. “We’re putting in the work because we want to be really good.”
Thompson’s veteran teammates have helped her learn. She praised Scott for stepping up as a leader.
“She always makes sure that if I look a little confused about a drill or whatever, she always tells me the options,” Thompson said. “She helps me see things the way that they do it here.”
Scott’s leadership has helped Thompson ease into the team, but the next step is production on the court. Thompson will embrace whatever role with intensity.
“That’s what I’m really excited for, piecing the things together that we’ve been working on and seeing what my piece is,” Thompson said. “[It’s] just playing it with the best I can do, 100% effort, just giving it to the team.”
The Bears have embraced the acronym “DOG,” a mentality shared amongst the team. Thompson feels it reflects the Bears’ commitment to hard work and competition.
“Our acronym is DOG; we want to be dogs, and we have been working towards that,” Thompson said.
Thompson came to Waco to find a place to fit in. Thompson is now ready to discover exactly where she fits on this Baylor team.
“I think we’re going to have a really good year,” Thompson said. “I’m just really excited to be a part of that and contribute to this team.”
