Jason Thompson and Jared Jordan Try To Make a Name For The MAAC in The NBA

Luis Flores, who played his college basketball at Manhattan College, was the last Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference player to play a regular season NBA game.

On March 1, 2005, Flores scored three points in four minutes of action in his final NBA game. The former Jasper played 15 games with the Golden State Warriors, but his last game was his first and final with the Denver Nuggets. 

After struggling to make it back into the NBA, Flores went overseas. Word had it that the guard, who led Manhattan past David Lee's Florida Gators and nearly past Chris Paul's Wake Forest Demon Deacons in the 2004 NCAA tournament, returned to the states to tryout for the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Unfortunately, the Timberwolves did not have space for Flores on their preseason roster.

Had Flores chosen to try out for the New Orleans Hornets, he would have gone up against Jared Jordan for one of the final preseason spots. 

Jordan graduated from Marist College after leading the nation with 8.8 assists per game in the 2006-07 season, and was the 45th pick of the 2007 draft by the Los Angeles Clippers. Jordan wound up on the New York Knicks preseason roster, but got cut before the season started. 

After a year in Europe, Jordan is back in America. This time, he is playing for the Hornets preseason team. Unlike last year's Knicks, the Hornets only have one backup point guard on contract. Jordan is the only unsigned point guard on the Hornets preseason team.

Jordan's college numbers and style are most comparable to Jason Kidd's when he played for the New Jersey Nets in their glory days. He is very quick with the ball, and has great court vision. In his senior year, Jordan averaged 17.2 points and 5.9 boards per game to go along with his nation-leading assist average.

Obviously, he is not Kidd—otherwise, he would have been signed last year. However, the point guard, who led his Red Foxes to a regular-season MAAC title in his senior year, can certainly play at the NBA level. 

All Jordan has to do in the preseason is what he did best in college, sharing the ball with his teammates, and he will be signed by the Hornets. 

If the Hornets like what they see from Jordan, he will meet up with his Facebook friend, Jason Thompson, when the Hornets play the Sacramento Kings on November 19. 

Jordan and Thompson first opposed each other on December 3, 2004. Thompson, then a 6'8" freshman, hit a game-clinching free throw as his Rider University Broncs upended Jordan and the Red Foxes 76-75.

Not surprisingly, Jordan had a double-double with 10 points and 10 dimes.

Thompson scored nine and pulled down six boards. 

Thompson grew to a menacing 6'11" after his freshman year, and averaged 16.6 points and 8.4 rebounds per game in his sophomore year. 

Despite growing, Thompson continued to run the floor well as a big man, and kept his mid-range and occasional three-point shooting ability. 

In his junior year, Thompson averaged 20.1 points and 10.1 rebounds per contest. Nevada star Nick Fazekas and 2007-08 Rookie of the Year Kevin Durant were the only other collegiate players to average at least 20 points and 10 rebounds per game. 

Thompson averaged 20.4 points and the nation's second best 12 rebounds per game last year, as he led his Broncs to a regular season MAAC title. Unfortunately for Thompson, Siena ousted the Broncs in the MAAC championship game. 

Although Thompson was disappointed about not reaching the NCAA tournament, he only had to wait three-and-a half months until he became the first lottery pick to come out of the MAAC since Rik Smits went second in the 1988 draft. 

Unlike Flores or Jordan, Thompson had the prerogative as a lottery pick to sign a contract after being drafted. Thompson is guaranteed to make $1,893,840 this season.

Brad Miller and Spencer Hawes are ahead of Thompson on the Kings depth chart, but the former Bronc should be able to surpass Hawes over time. 

It is unlikely that Thompson and Jordan will both start on November 19, let alone be in the game at the same time, but it will be the first time two MAAC players oppose one another in the NBA in a very long time. 

MAAC success at the professional level is extremely rare, so Thompson and Jordan will try to show America the talent that can come out of their collegiate conference.