Former UNC star Deon Thompson joins Malone’s staff as grad assistant

Former North Carolina standout Deon Thompson is joining Michael Malone’s coaching staff as a graduate assistant, ending a 15-year professional career overseas and beginning his transition into coaching, according to Inside Carolina.

Thompson, a member of the Tar Heels’ 2009 national championship team, will pursue his master’s degree while serving on Malone’s staff. The 6-foot-9 forward’s role marks his first formal coaching position after playing professionally in 13 countries, including Greece, Slovenia, Germany, China, Israel, Turkey, Serbia, Spain, Lithuania, Japan, Puerto Rico, the Philippines and Libya.

Thompson played four seasons at North Carolina from 2006 to 2010, starting every game but one from his sophomore through senior years. He averaged 9.3 points and 4.9 rebounds for his career while shooting 49.4% from the field.

“Coach Malone gave us a feeling of respect and understood what Carolina basketball means to everyone who was standing in that room,” Thompson said in a statement released by the school, referring to Malone’s introductory address to former players last month. “He said he wants to honor the tradition and it is important to him that we are heard. He wants to bring us together even more than ever before.”

The Carolina connection on Malone’s staff will remain strong. Thompson will join a group that already includes former Tar Heels Pat Sullivan and Sean May.

“I know I’m not a guy that has been here before, but I want to do everything I can to make sure the former players are coming back, because they all said to me, ‘It’s not like it used to be,’” Malone said at his introductory news conference last month. “So one of my goals is not just on the court — wins or losses — but how can I strengthen that family atmosphere and get guys coming back and help pay it forward? Because you always want to pay it forward to the guys that are coming next after you, and I think we have a great chance to do that.”

During UNC’s 2009 national championship season, Thompson averaged 10.6 points and 5.7 rebounds, starting 37 of 38 games. In the Tar Heels’ 89-72 win over Michigan State in the title game, he played 23 minutes, finishing with nine points and three rebounds.