U-Prep: Tompkins High Trio Reunites at UTEP

EL PASO, Texas -- For three of the newest members of UTEP’s basketball team, Rodney Terry's locker room won't be the first they've shared.

Jamal Bieniemy, Kristian Sjolund, and Emmanuel White played for Bobby Sanders at Tompkins High in Katy, Texas where they were 6A State runners-up in 2018.

“Jamal was the leader of the team, handled the ball the most and directed everything," says Coach Sanders, still in charge at Tompkins.

"Kristian was an outside shooter, shot blocker and played defense for us on the inside."

"Emmanuel was the energy guy, slashing to the basket getting offensive rebounds,” he says of White.

Emmanuel White is newest addition to the Miners, and out of Coastal Bend Junior College, the most under the radar. 

But Sanders says his motor will be a welcome addition to the Miners.

"He does everything. Gets after after it, 100% all the time full-speed," says Sanders of White. "Plays really hard on defense, runs the break hard, really active player, and does a lot of good stuff that might not be in the stats."

Jamal Bieniemy was a consensus 4-star prospect out Tompkins and spent the last two years at Oklahoma, where he started 47 games in two seasons as the Sooners best defender.

"I think that's why Coach (Lon) Kruger couldn't take him off the floor because he guarded people so well and gets after it so hard on defense," says Sanders of Bieniemy's time at Oklahoma.

"Also his passing, he's got a great knack for getting guys the ball. His assist-turnover ratio is great."

As for Sjolund, he showed flashes of greatness in 21 games in the ACC at Georgia Tech.

And according to his old coach, he’s emblematic of what all three bring to the table.

"From the perimeter, he can get to the rim, he can shoot 3's, he can handle the ball. He's a really long defender with a good knack for shot-blocking."

"You've got three long players coming in," says Sanders of the newest Miners.

Those attributes will appeal to Rodney Terry's defense-first mentality.

"Long arms. Very active on defense."

Well no doubt, UTEP merchandise just skyrocketed in the Katy, Texas community.

And according to the most credible source, the chemistry of the Tompkins Trio could prove golden for the Miners.

"I think the comfort level of being with your friends and knowing guys is a huge benefit that a lot of colleges don't have."