Dylan Rush is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Desert Vista High School for AZPreps365.com

“He was the reason I started playing basketball,” Desert Vista forward Tayan Thompson said painfully about his late idol, Kobe Bryant. 

Like many athletes around the world, the death of NBA legend Bryant hit Thompson hard. He was a sophomore in high school, in the midst of a breakout year, and suddenly his role model growing up had passed away. He wanted to go out and play basketball, but it reminded him of Kobe. He wanted to watch basketball, but it reminded him of Kobe. He didn’t know where to turn.

“Everything I did was because of what he did. I mimicked his jumpshot, his fadeways. I had all of his jerseys, watched all of his games. When he died I seriously doubted my future playing ball,” Thompson said.

Fortunately for Thompson and the Desert Vista Thunder, he was able to alter his perspective, and realized that he needed to use his death as added motivation, rather than let it be the reason he quit basketball.

“I watched a couple of Kobe’s motivational videos. I saw how he is always putting up extra shots at the gym. Preaching to do the things that nobody else wants to do. I just wanted, in honor of [Kobe], to work as hard as I can to become the best player that I can be. To be like him, to follow the mindset that he had. I try to follow that every day,” Thompson said.

Thompson’s hard work certainly seemed to pay off for him, maybe earlier than even he had anticipated. The Thunder went on to win the 6A State Championship, a goal that Desert Vista had been working toward all year long. 

“We went through a lot as a team. A lot of early practices, a lot of arguments between teammates - our coach got fired during the season. Once we heard that buzzer sound and we won the title, it was like all of our hard work paid off. It felt good,” Thompson said.

Coming off a successful season, a historic one for the school, the Thunder were eager to defend their title and bring yet another 6A State trophy home. Then COVID-19 hit.

“It was really hard at first. It took some adjusting, and some thinking, but it was very hard for us,” said Thompson.

Despite a lot going on, and with the AIA season in jeopardy, Thompson managed to stay level-headed.

“When COVID-19 hit, there was a lot of uncertainty about whether or not we’d all play together as a group again,” junior teammate Andrew King said. “Tayan made it clear that he wanted to run it back at DV.”

Though many of his friends and teammates left to go play for prep schools, players like King and Thompson were focused on logging heavy hours in the gym in preparation for the upcoming season, if it were to be played.

“He’s a workhorse,” first-year head coach Jordan Ballard said. “He’s always in the gym, always trying to figure out new ways to improve. It’s been really cool to watch him grow throughout the season.”

Thompson shined in his season debut, putting up 23 points on 47% shooting from the field, to go along with five rebounds. Though his team lost, teammates commended him for his "leave it all on the court’' attitude.

“He is a great teammate to have out there,” King said. “He plays so hard. He makes the game easier for the rest of us.”

The team went on to finish just a game above .500 this season, and were not able to defend their championship title. Though the year didn’t end as he hoped, Thompson has his eyes set on a bigger goal: playing college basketball.

“Even though I don’t have offers right now, I’m not even worried about it,” Thompson said. I know my hard work will pay off, and I feel like I am going to get those offers one day.”