Alexandria senior Chase Thompson, one of the state’s top two-sport athletes, made it clear he’ll play college basketball next season with his commitment Sunday to Clemson.
Alexandria star recruit Chase Thompson commits to Clemson basketball
Thompson, the younger brother of former Gophers player Treyton Thompson, ranks as a four-star prospect and the 94th player nationally in the 2025 class by Rivals.com and the No. 2 senior in Minnesota by 247Sports.com.
The Minnesota Star Tribune
September 30, 2024 at 2:08PM
The 6-8, 215-pound forward said he picked the Tigers over Iowa. He took official visits to both programs this month, but his trip last weekend to upstate South Carolina sealed the decision.
“As I was leaving Clemson, I said I’ve got to be back here,” Thompson told the Minnesota Star Tribune on Sunday. “I took a couple days to think about it and let the excitement of the visit wear off a little bit. But I knew it was Clemson.”
Thompson enjoyed the atmosphere at Clemson’s home football game against North Carolina State. He expects the men’s basketball team to pack the arena, too. Tigers coach Brad Brownell led them to the NCAA Elite Eight last season.
“It honestly reminds me a lot of Alexandria,” Thompson said. “Everyone here is about our high school and our activities. When I was at Clemson, there were 85,000 people at the football game and it was a sellout. They already sold out for [student] season ticket holders for basketball. All the little things with academics as well added up.”
Thompson, the younger brother of former Gophers player Treyton Thompson, ranks as a four-star prospect and the 94th player nationally in the 2025 Class by Rivals.com and a three-star prospect and No. 2 senior in Minnesota by 247Sports.com.
Last season, Thompson teamed up with Gophers recruit Grayson Grove to lead Alexandria to a fourth-place finish in the Class 3A state tournament. He led the Cardinals with 19.4 points and 8.6 rebounds per game as a junior in 2023-24.
As a senior quarterback so far this fall, Thompson has thrown for 1,285 yards with 16 touchdown passes with no interceptions for 5-0 Alexandria. Thompson threw five touchdown passes — four to junior split end Mason Witt — and ran for a sixth score as the Class 5A, No. 1-ranked Cardinals overwhelmed Brainerd, 55-17, on Friday.
Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney let him to tour their facilities, Thompson said.
“He actually watched my film before I met with him,” Thompson said. “He definitely joked about me [playing football] a little bit.”
St. Cloud school district will hold a special election April 8 asking for $65M in upgrades at Apollo High School and for a year-round recreation complex. Two neighboring districts will hold special elections in February.
