One of the top high school football prospects in the Northern California area is starting to give teams an idea as to his inclinations, and none of them are all too surprising. Shaquille 'Shaq' Thompson from Grant High has been pondering the possibilities for his collegiate career, and the California Golden Bears have been featured prominently. His current wish-list could be a strong step in that direction. Miller Safrit of ESPN recruiting reports.
Shaq Thompson, a member of the ESPNU 150 and the No. 3 safety in the class of 2012, said that playing in the heat of Dallas reinforced his wish to play closer to home for college. Hoping to stay at most eight hours away from home, a number that does include the Los Angeles schools. Thompson said his top five are Washington, Cal, USC, UCLA, and Notre Dame. Though all five are talking to him about safety, he does hope to play some wide receiver in college.
Thompson has always been high on Cal. His brother Syd'Quan was an All-Pac-10 cornerback for four years with the Golden Bears, and Thompson already has committed to Cal once before reopening his recruitment. And it seems like the closest prominent Division I destination for Shaq, which would satisfy his need for proximity to his hometown of Sacramento. The LA schools also would fulfill the eight hour limit.
Additionally, the desire to play offense could fit in with many places. The Cal receiving corps could use a boost next year, and Shaq might be just another piece of the puzzle, regardless of which side on the field he plays on.