Dennis Semrau covers prep sports for 100.5 ESPN and ESPNWisconsin.com
Damontae Thompson, Madison East High School
Year: Senior.
Sports: Basketball.
Sports highlights: Damontae is a returning letterwinner and two-year starter as a guard for the Purgolders, who take an 11-0 record, including a 7-0 mark in the Big Eight Conference, into 2019. A two-time team captain, he is averaging 14.6 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. He averaged 6.6 points, 2 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game as a junior for East, which advanced to the WIAA Division 1 sectional finals. He was a varsity reserve as a sophomore, averaging 2.3 points per game as the Purgolders advanced to the Division 1 sectional finals.
Pre-game ritual or superstition: Listening to music, meditating or visualizing about what I’m going to do.
Cumulative GPA: 2.53.
Favorite subject/class: Mathematics.
Favorite teacher: Ms. Bell (Social studies in elementary school).
Quick quote: “Competing in sports has taught me sportsmanship.”
Three words to describe me are: Competitive, self-motivated, ambitious.
I got my start in sports: Playing basketball in fifth grade.
I wish I could play: Football and volleyball.
My most memorable moments in sports: Hitting two back-to-back buzzer beaters ninth grade.
I like about high school sports: Their intensity,
I enjoy playing basketball because: It keeps me out of trouble
Advice: Listen, and don’t take things for granted.
My role models are: My brother, Datril, and coach Chris Davis.
Most inspirational teammate: Keonte Jones, Anthony Washington, Marcus Justice.
My family also includes: My mom, Selthea, and brother, Damon.
Nickname: Montae.
Words to live by: “Nobody is gonna stop you from being you, but yourself.”
Favorite athlete: Kyrie Irving.
Favorite opponent: Madison La Follette and Donneil Gray.
Favorite facility/site to compete in: Las Vegas where we played in an AAU tournament.
Favorite movie: ‘Glory Road’
Favorite TV show: ‘Criminal Minds’.
Favorite food: Chicken Alfredo.
Favorite fast food place and/or restaurant: Kingdom Restaurant.
Favorite sport on TV: College basketball and college football.
Favorite place to visit: My Grandma’s house.
I want to visit: Spain.
Top three favorite songs: ‘Future: Wifi Lit; ‘G-herbo: Outro’; ‘Never Recover’.
Primary news source: Radio and TV.
I drive: A Lexus.
Dream car: An Audi Truck
I can’t live without: My Mom.
I like Madison East High School because: We are diverse.
If I could change anything: Everyone would come together.
I wish we could play: Anybody, we feel we can compete with anybody.
I wish I could meet: Kyrie Irving; Denzel Washington
Dream date: Lauren London.
Dream gift: Going college to earn a degree.
Preferred brand of shoe: Nike.
My perfect day: Spending time with my family.
I like to read: ‘The Pact’.
This and that: Member of The Brotherhood mentorship and vice-president of the Black Students Union … attended Minority Student Achievement Network conference in Boston … volunteer work through the Brotherhood and BSU includes Toys For Tots and Fit Youth Initiative assistant basketball coach … played AAU basketball for three years with Wisconsin Starz program.
Hobbies: Hanging with family, making music.
Post-high school plans: Attend college to study Business.
Did you know? My cousin, Will Redmond, is a reserve cornerback for the Green Bay Packers.
Career goal: Own a gym facility.