Warrensburg, Mo. (Feb. 12, 2000) -- Blair Thompson has been named the recipient of two scholarships awarded annually to a member of the Mules' basketball team at Central Missouri State University. Thompson is this year's recipient of both the Richard Raker Memorial Scholarship Award and the Larry Bates Scholarship Award.

Established in honor of the late Richard Raker, a longtime Mules' booster, the Richard Raker Memorial Scholarship Award goes to a Mules' reserve coming off the bench, while the Larry Bates Scholarship Award, founded in 1991 by former CMSU player Larry Bates of Overland Park, Kan., goes annually to a Mules' player possessing good moral character, as well as promise of leadership and academic ability.

Thompson, a red-shirt freshman from Jefferson City, Mo. (J.C.H.S.), has played in nine games this season, all of them off the bench. He is averaging 2.6 points per game, while shooting 63.6% from the field and 100% from the free throw line. He has a scoring high of eight points, which came in the Mules' 112-67 win over Monmouth College. He is majoring in physical education and is the son of John and Sue Thompson of Jefferson City.