Feb. 9, 2012

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky women’s basketball signee Janee Thompson, a 5-foot-7 point guard from Whitney Young High School in Chicago has been selected to play in the prestigious 2012 McDonald’s All-American High School Basketball Game on March 28, 2012 in the United Center in Chicago. The game, which features the top 24 high school players around the country representing teams from the East and West, will be aired on ESPNU at 7 p.m. ET. Thompson will play for the East.

It is the third straight year Kentucky has had a signee play in the McDonald’s All-America game. Thompson will be Kentucky’s fifth player to earn McDonald’s All-America honors. She will join four former McDonald All-Americans at UK next season in sophomores Jennifer O’Neill (Bronx, N.Y.), Samarie Walker (West Carrollton, Ohio) and DeNesha Stallworth (Richmond, Calif), along with freshman Bria Goss (Indianapolis).

Thompson is rated as the No. 6 point guard in the class of 2012 by ESPN’s HoopGurlz, and the No. 35 player overall.

After returning to action last January from a torn ACL, Thompson averaged 7.4 points and 2.3 assists in the final 14 games for the Whitney Young Dolphins. She is a quick point guard who should fit into Mitchell’s up-tempo style of game very well. She has great ball-handling skills and is known as a lock-down defender, as well.

Thompson was named an Honorable Mention All-American by Sporting
News, along with earning Most Valuable Player honors at the 2011 Fila Deep South Classic, as well as All-Tournament team honors at the 2011 Nike Battle in the Boro.

Thompson chose Kentucky over Auburn, Miami (Fla.), Northwestern, South Carolina and Virginia Tech, among others.