Mark Thompson Class: Senior Hometown: Santa Rosa, CA High School: Piner Last College: Mesa College Height / Weight: 6-4 / 215 Position: Forward Birthdate: 01/31/1981 Experience: JC

Thompson, an honorable mention all-conference pick at Mesa College last year, joins the Bears as a walk-on this season ... provides help with the "Gold Team," Cal's scouting unit, in practice.

High School/JC: Thompson averaged 19 points and 10 rebounds per game as a senior at Piner HS ... twice scored 30 points in a game ... co-league and Sonoma County MVP ... named the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat Player of the Year from Piner HS ... led team to a county-record 29 straight wins and the league title ... following graduation, attended Santa Rosa JC for one year and Mesa College in San Diego, where he earned an A.A. in liberal studies and was a member of the Dean's Honors List ... led the basketball team to the third-highest number of wins in school history (19).

Personal: Mark Leo Thompson ... born Jan. 31, 1981 in Santa Rosa, CA ... parents are Bob and Nancy Thompson ... sister, Beth, played soccer at UCLA ... English major with the intent of becoming a high school English teacher.