By John Henson
Sports Writer
While his time as a student at Pineville High School is nearing an end with graduation later this month, Sawyer Thompson’s name won’t disappear any time soon from the school’s basketball record books.
Thompson made his college choice official last week by signing with Lincoln Memorial University, capping a memorable senior season that ranks among the best in school history. The Lions finished 22-10, winning the 13th Region All “A” Classic title and the 51st District championship followed by a win over Clay County in the 13th Region Tournament. Thompson, a four-year starter, led the Lions by averaging 22.5 points and 5.8 rebounds per game.
“When I met with the previous coach at LMU, he told me I needed to take my senior year and earn a scholarship. This year has been an awesome experience and along with my teammates we were able to accomplish a 13th Region All A Championship, a State All A final eight appearance, 51st District championship and a 13th region final four appearance I helped lead the single season most accomplished team in Pineville history,” Thompson said. “We set our goals and were able to accomplish many of those, and I appreciate LMU for recognizing what we have done. I will always be a proud Mountain Lion, and I can’t wait to put on the Railsplitter uniform.”
Thompson started playing varsity basketball as a seventh grader and moved into the starting lineup as a freshman, averaging 21.6 points as the Lions posted a 13-18 mark. He led a resurgence of the program over the past three years, averaging 21.6 points and 4.0 rebounds on an 18-11 team in 2023 and 23.8 points and 8.3 rebounds on a 20-11 squad in 2024. The Lions took it to another level in 2025, tying for the second deepest postseason run in school history behind only the 1973 squad that lost to Clay County in the regional finals. Thompson holds the school record in career points with 2,825, in assists with 677 and in free throws made with 688.
“Sawyer has been the heart and soul of our program for a long time, and he has left an incredible legacy,” Pineville coach Brad Levy said. “He has shown what can be done here with hard work and commitment to the process every day.”
Thompson joins an LMU program that posted a 25-6 record last season as a Division II school in the South Atlantic Conference. The Railsplitters fell in the first round of the Division II national tournament with a 90-88 loss to UNC-Pembroke.
“At LMU, I fully expect Sawyer to be the hardest working player they’ve had come through in some time. That’s just the type of person he is,” Levy said. “I think Sawyer can come in and challenge for time right away because he will do the little things that impact winning, and he will make his teammates around him better.”
Thompson’s father, Russell, who is a former coach and now the superintendent of the Pineville Independent School District, played at LMU from 1996 to 2000.
“There are several reasons as to why LMU. LMU has advanced academically and athletically in the last 20 years, more so than any of the other colleges I visited or any other college I am aware of for that matter,” Thompson said of his reason for choosing LMU. “The basketball facilities are top tier. Academically, you can work towards almost any profession you choose, and the campus is right here in our back yard. I feel that LMU gives me the best opportunity to reach my full-potential as a student-athlete. I am very appreciative of the administration and basketball staff for giving a local kid the opportunity to help win a national championship.”