Alex Thompson is back on the Plains and back on the hardwood for Auburn.
Thompson, a walk-on who was awarded a scholarship by former head coach Tony Barbee, took a semester off in the fall for personal reasons, but has seen significant playing time since returning to school in December 2014.
"We're glad that he's back," said basketball head coach Bruce Pearl when Thompson's return was announced. "I'm looking forward to getting to know him."
Thompson's return not only meant the return of a familiar face, but an extra body for a thin Auburn team.
"Now, with 11 scholarship players, we're not as far behind the eight ball," Pearl said.
Coming off the bench last year, Thompson averaged 7.8 minutes per game, one point per game and 1.5 rebounds per game.
So far this season, Thompson has seen time in seven games, with his best performance coming in a win against Winthrop when he scored eight points and added six rebounds. As of the Tigers' last game, a home win against Missouri, Thompson's average has moved up to three points per game.
Senior guard and leading scorer KT Harrell said the team is happy to have Thompson back.
"Alex being here, it's going to help us a lot," Harrell said. "Alex can stretch the floor a little bit so that's going to help us out a lot."
Pearl has stressed before how appreciative he is of athletic director Jay Jacobs for giving him his second chance, and Pearl said he hopes Thompson will appreciate it.
"Whether or not Alex takes advantage of this, it's what we do," Pearl said. "As long as you're in this business, as long as you're in this profession, you get to a situation where nothing surprises you, but you still get disappointed, and the time ever comes when you stop getting disappointed when you've given someone a second or third chance and they don't take advantage of it, you need to do something else."
Pearl said he would be disappointed if Thompson and freshman Trayvon Reed, who joined the team in December after being unable to enroll at Maryland, his first college choice, don't take advantage of their second chances.
"So I will be disappointed if these guys [Thompson and freshman center Trayvon Reed] don't take full advantage of this opportunity, but nothing surprises you when you're dealing with young people."
Senior guard Malcolm Canada said Thompson's return has also boosted the team's chemistry.
"With Antoine (Mason) back, it is not like we have missed a beat because we had him through the offseason," Canada said. "Same thing with Alex (Thompson). We knew him already. We knew what he could bring to the table. The only new person to the family is Trayvon (Reed). It has been working out easier than what we had thought, because he fits in."
Thompson and the Tigers currently boast a 9-6 record, with a 1-1 mark in SEC play. Next up for Auburn is a road trip to Gainesville, Florida, on Thursday, Jan. 15, to take on Billy Donovan and Florida.
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