Big Man on Campus: John Thompson and the Georgetown Hoyas

This is one of the better sports books that I have encountered. Shapiro was well positioned to write it, having covered the team extensively for many years as a newspaper reporter and editor and having known the coach personally, early in his career. What stands out is the extensive detail. The author did his homework and provides a lot of information about Thompson's high school and college days, brief pro career, high school coaching career and finally, about his first two decades at Georgetown as the head basketball coach where he took a non descript team and raised it from obscurity. Shapiro interviewed players, opposing coaches and others to really flesh this book out, and it reads very smoothly. He presents both sides of the issues and provides a lot of interesting information about the former coach and about the many different ways others reacted to, interacted with and perceived him.

Even though I am a huge John Thompson and Georgetown fan, this book looks at both the positive and negative sides of John Thompson. It goes into his childhood, his days at Providence, on to the Boston Celtics, with St. Anthony's High School, and ending with Georgetown. It covers the recruiting process, racial hurdles, and academic regulations John Thompson is know for. It talks about his days as the Olympic assistant and also the controversial head coach in 1988. Takes you on the ride through the early and mid-eighties with Patrick Ewing and ends with the signing of Alonzo Mourning and his first two seasons. This book provides you with information to let you decide if you like John Thompson or not.