If Samantha Thompson were only a great basketball player, she would still be remembered forever at St. Basil Academy. After all, no basketball player in the history of the school had ever scored 1,000 career points — a milestone that Thompson reached in February during a game against Nazareth Academy.
But because of the perspective she has maintained on her accomplishment, Thompson demonstrates why she will be remembered for being more than just an outstanding athlete.
Already an all-state, all-area and all-league player, as well as a consistent high-honors student — Thompson also has a 1300 SAT score — she can accept her 1,000- point feat as another addition to her long list of achievements.
And as important as that feat is to her, she’s been motivated to excell by more than wanting mere personal acclaim.
“I felt like the school deserved a thousand-point scorer,” she said.
“When I was in grade school, I wasn’t sure what [high] school I would go to, but I’m so glad that I made St. Basil’s my choice,” Thompson said. “It’s a small school, but the teachers are great and so are all the people who work there, as well as the students. Everyone is so supportive.”
One of her biggest supporters from the beginning was her head coach, John DiLetto, who recognized her talent early on. DiLetto believed in Thompson enough to make her a starter during her freshman year, allowing her to reach the 1,000-point mark as a junior. DiLetto’s faith in Thompson and her other freshman teammates has made them more confident as players now.
“He had confidence in all of us, even though we were so young,” Thompson recalled. “And that gave us the confidence we have now to go out and play. Sometimes we would do things wrong and have tough games, but he would always be optimistic. He always knew that we were going to be great players someday.”
Thompson was not able to share her memorable performance with the coach who trusted her talent from the start — DiLetto passed away last summer, succumbing to a two-year struggle with cancer.
But she decided that if DiLetto could not be on the sideline to share in her glory, she would make sure everyone watching the game knew that he was a part of her historic night. Instead of sporting her usual number 11 jersey, Thompson wore number 22 — DiLetto’s high school basketball jersey number.
“My dad and I had talked about that, because I knew that I was going to reach [1,000 points] this year,” Thompson said. “And I knew that I wanted to do something in memory of [Coach DiLetto] because he meant so much to all of us on the team and all the past graduates. He basically built a program. He was the reason why I was able to reach a thousand points, so I knew that I had to think of a way to remember him.”
But Thompson said she was not just honoring a great coach that evening. While DiLetto was instrumental in her development as a basketball player, Thompson explains that he was equally influential in shaping her character.
“One of the main things he taught was just about being a really good person,” she said. “He’s one of the nicest people I’ve ever met in my entire life. He was tough on the court, but he never came to practice without a smile. He was so funny, and he had a great sense of humor. He’d always be joking around. And he was patient with everyone — supportive of everyone.
“He was not only a great coach, but an even better person.”
That Thompson heeded DiLetto’s guidance was evident in the moments after her record-setting basket. She warmed an unsuspecting heart on that cold winter night, when she proceeded into the stands and presented DiLetto’s widow, Linda, with the ball with which she scored her 1,000th career point.
“It was the least that I could do, because she came to all of our games this year,” Thompson said. “Just having her in the stands reminded all of us why we’re out there playing. We dedicated our season to [Coach DiLetto] and it was just a reminder of that.”
Thompson said the lessons DiLetto instilled in her are indicative of her overall experience at St. Basil. She said that she has learned “just to really care about others around you. Whether the person next to you is a great musician or whether they’re doing well in school, just care about every aspect of that person, and be proud of the people you go to school with every day. Even though everyone excels at different things, we still all support each other.”
And as delighted as St. Basil’s is to have a 1,000-point scorer, Thompson is equally happy to have had the opportunity to play for the Panthers.
“I’m grateful that I was able to play for [St. Basil’s] and with such great teammates,” she said. “If I went to another school, [scoring 1,000 points] might not have been possible. But with all the people surrounding me, and all the support I get, it’s just amazing.
“People should know just how lucky I am to be playing for St. Basil’s.”
Because St. Basil’s, no doubt, already knows it is lucky to have Thompson.
CS&T Editorial Assistant Bob Steiner can be reached at rsteiner@adphila.org or (215) 587-3698