Ganin Thompson, one of the best baseball players in South Dakota, wants that to mean more than it does
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (BVM) — For Ganin Thompson, being from South Dakota means something. He takes pride in it. However, he does know the struggles that go with being from South Dakota when it comes to making a name for yourself in the sports world.
“I know some of the players around here that are extremely solid that should be getting looks but aren’t because we’re just a small state,” Thompson said. “I’m just trying to represent what South Dakota has to offer.”
The Sioux Falls Washington High School graduate will have quite the stage to showcase what homegrown South Dakota talent looks like as he will be attending Michigan State University this fall on a full baseball scholarship.
Even his recruitment to the Spartans proves his point that to get noticed outside of the Mount Rushmore state, you need a little luck.
“I was playing out in a tournament in South Bend over at Notre Dame’s field and the [Michigan State] head coach, Jake Boss, was in the area. He was supposed to watch a different player,” Boss said. “Their game got canceled because it just down poured and they were on natural [grass], we were on all turf so he came over to our field.”
All it took was that one game for Michigan State to know that they needed to get Thompson before someone else noticed him.
“I’ve never recruited a guy quite like Ganin,” Michigan State baseball assistant coach/recruiting director Graham Sikes said when the Spartans announced their 2020 signing class. “He is an enormous athlete at 6-7, 220, he’s a 6.8-6.9 runner and has played centerfield, and looks very natural out there. You don’t see that every day.
“When I went to see Ganin he showed tremendous power with the bat. I think he has a load of talent and tools and when he can refine that talent and polish up those tools, he could be a very unique player. He’s also another kid that is a 4.0 student and comes from a good family. He’s going to have the opportunity to pitch as well and what is now a fastball that’s 88-89 could turn into 92-94. It’s going to be fun to see how he develops! I look forward to getting him on campus.”
“It was very quick,” Thompson said of the recruiting process.
The Spartans aggressively pursued Thompson from the beginning. It was luck that they found him, but they weren’t going to leave the rest up to luck. What Michigan State realized is something that South Dakotans already knew. Thompson was the real deal.
Thompson is a two-time all-region selection and received first team all-state honors last year as a junior when he had an ERA of 2.05 with 56 strikeouts in 41 innings pitched. He also batted .365 with a slugging percentage of .622. Had the season not been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he would have more than likely earned first team all-state and all-region honors again.
Thompson also played center/forward for the Washington basketball team, helping the Warriors to a state tournament berth this past season as well as receiving second team all-state honors. Washington boys basketball was poised for an exciting tournament run before it too was canceled due COVID-19.
The multi-sport athlete has his work cut out for him. Michigan State’s 2020 recruiting class is pitcher-heavy, but he’s ready for the challenge.
“We really got some arms coming in,” Thompson said, “guys that can throw hard and I know I’ll have to work hard to be able to catch up with them especially since I’ll be splitting my time between the mound and defense.”
The Spartans will work him as a corner outfielder first and a pitcher second. Either way, Thompson is ready and willing to play wherever he is needed.
“I just want to make sure the team is the best that it can be,” Thompson said.
Right now Thompson is in the midst of a summer season with the South Dakota Bulls, but he’s still looking at the bigger picture and remembering what he represents.
“Even from these small states like South Dakota where you think that not that many people are going to be going DI,” Thompson said, “it’s surprising how many guys we got coming out of the state that have gotten Division I looks and have committed to some pretty solid programs. I’m just one of the bunch and I can’t be thankful enough for what I’ve been given.”
