Publish date: 2024-05-26

"I want five Championships, MVPs and defensive Players of the Years," Ausar Thompson tells BBC Sport, emphasising his ambitions for multiple awards and achievements.

Standing at 6ft 7in tall, Thompson has never been one to aim low.

The high-flying wing player and his brother Amen - a point guard - were born and raised in Oakland, California. At just 13, hungry to gain national attention, the twins relocated more than 3,000 miles across the country to Fort Lauderdale in Florida to play at Pine Crest High School - a small private institution that was worlds away from the public system they were used to.

The move paid off, as the Thompsons led Pine Crest to a state championship title in 2021, and received scholarship offers from more than a dozen universities. However, while most American high-school players go to college at 18, the brothers chose a riskier path.

At 17, they skipped their final year of high school and signed up to the upstart Overtime Elite League, external (OTE) - an Atlanta-based program aimed at 16 to 20-year-olds.

"What made us decide to join OTE was the resources," says Ausar. "They pitched what the gym was going to look like, because at the time the gym wasn't even fully built."

Amen adds: "The availability from your trainers, too - they're always there when you need them. They've definitely helped us develop pro habits."

The brothers enjoyed a storybook ending at OTE, winning the league title together with their City Reapers team. They depart with an unshakeable confidence that they'll have a big impact in the NBA.

"I'd be looking forward to playing against Giannis Antetokounmpo," said Ausar. "If I had to guard him, you know I'll give him a hard time.

"I'm looking forward to playing more guys in my position - Shae Alexander Walker, 'D-Book' [Devin Booker], Donovan Mitchell, Jimmy Butler, people like that."

"I'd probably say like LeBron James, Steph Curry, 'KD' [Kevin Durant]," Amen adds.

Amen and Ausar will be one step closer to that goal on Thursday, when their names are read by NBA commissioner Adam Silver. And then the real game begins.

Listen to the full interview on BBC World Service's Sportsworld.

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