Photo by Todd ShurtleffShaq Thompson is one of the most sought-after players in Sacramento area history.
safety/running back
Shaq Thompson of
Grant (Sacramento, Calif.) met his friends, family and throngs of local media face to face this morning.
He told them Wednesday at a ceremony at school he'll be attending Washington. He made it official by signing his letter of intent.
Photo by Todd ShurtleffShaq Thompson is headed to Washington
On Monday night, he announced via
text and Twitter that he would accept the scholarship from the Huskies, thus ending a whirlwind recruitment that included twists,
turns and a Tosh factor.
Lupoi is the former Cal defensive line coach and highly regarded national recruiter who had been hot on Thompson's heels for two years. The two had formed a bond, not uncommon for the popular Lupoi, a former Cal player from the Bay Area.
Thompson, the
nation's No. 5 recruit overall, was set for Cal with a verbal commitment to the Bears in early January at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, though he admitted later that Washington was a close second and it still wildly intrigued him since his close friend and ex-Grant teammate James Sample was there and for myriad other reasons: tradition, academics, football upside, etc.
He explained all those reasons at a joyous ceremony at school Wednesday.
Thompson's addition helps Washington move up the national recruiting ranks.
Grant lineman Charles Faraimo also signed a letter of intent to Nevada.
See more on this story later.
Visit the MaxPreps 2012 National Signing Day page
Photo by Todd ShurtleffThompson gets warm exchange from teammate Charles Faraimo, who signed to Nevada.