Former OSU basketball star Stephen Thompson Jr. headed to Summer Olympics

CORVALLIS, Ore. — Oregon State University will have several Beavers representing their home countries when the Paris Olympics begin on July 26.

One of those alums clinched their ticket to France on Sunday night.

Stephen Thompson Jr. and the Puerto Rican men’s basketball team qualified for the Olympics with a win over Lithuania in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

Stevie played four seasons at Oregon State from 2015 to 2019.

Thompson Jr., the son of OSU assistant coach Stephen Thompson, was born in California but has Puerto Rican heritage on his mother’s side of the family.

Puerto Rico will face South Sudan in their Olympic opener on Sunday, July 28th. Puerto Rico is making an Olympic appearance for the first time since 2004.

Other Oregon State athletes that will be appearing in the Olympics include gymnast Jade Carey, who was named to her second Team USA Olympic squad on June 30th; wrestler Amar Dhesi who finished 13th for Canada at the Tokyo Olympics in the 125kg freestyle event and Ali Gibson for the Puerto Rican women’s basketball team. Alina Hagstrom is an alternate for Team USA women’s rowing.