The road from prospect to pro has been a bumpy one for the 20-year-old midfielder, who hopes to turn 2016 into a breakthrough season.
Tommy Thompson realized early on things were going to be different in MLS.
Like so many potential professionals, Thompson had dominated his competition as a youngster. He racked up 52 goals and 21 assists over 54 games as a forward at Granite Bay High School outside of Sacramento, California.
He went on to the University of Indiana, where he scored five goals and notched three assists in an injury-shortened campaign and was named the Big Ten Conference’s Freshman of the Year.