Thompson Has Been A Life-long Michigan State Fan

Bennett Thompson C / SS / Detroit Catholic Central, MI / 2026

BRIGHTON - Bennett Thompson has been a Michigan State fan since he was young.

“I grew up a Michigan State fan and always went to football and basketball games there,” reflected the Detroit Catholic Central junior, who remembers as an eight-year-old being in the stands when the Spartans beat Michigan on a fumbled punt return for a touchdown as time expired in 2015.

The top-rated 2026 catcher in the state is now hoping to make memories of his own at MSU after a commitment to the Big 10 university in East Lansing where his mother is a graduate.

“It’s always been a dream,” noted Thompson, who has a Spartan flag flying outside his home in Brighton. “Since I started playing travel baseball at six I’ve wanted to play at the next level. Baseball runs in the family on my mom’s side and I’ve wanted to follow the footsteps of three cousins that played D-I, two (Mitch and Zach Ghelfi) that were drafted and played pro ball.”

By the age of 11 the possibilities were becoming real.

“I was playing on a national team and all the coaches were saying you really have a chance, and if you keep working hard you will be playing Division I baseball soon,” Thompson related.

The ability to play many positions as well as hit from both sides of the plate did not go unnoticed, especially by Michigan State.

“They love my versatility and that I can play multiple positions and can switch hit,” Thompson said of what attracted MSU coaches to him. “Since I picked up the bat I’ve been a switch hitter. I wouldn’t pick a specific side and my dad just let it happen.”

Numerous colleges had an interest in the 12th-ranked junior in Michigan, who had offers from Ohio University and Western Michigan while also visiting Xavier and Indiana before deciding on MSU as his college choice.

“I made varsity as a freshman which helped get my name out there and Michigan State first saw me play at Okomos my sophomore year,” Thompson noted. “I went to camp there in the fall and they reached back out and offered. I waited two weeks, weighing other schools, and then I made my commitment to Michigan State.”

It was a “pretty busy” Aug. 1 according to the 17-year-old.

“A bunch of schools reached out from the start, but Michigan State didn’t reach out on Aug. 1,” Thompson explained. “They contacted me about coming to camps and after I played well there they wanted me to come on a visit.”

The trip to East Lansing took place in early October.

“I really liked the culture there and how teammates push each other to work harder for the team,” Thompson noted. “I also loved how the coaches interacted with the team.”

It was an enjoyable recruiting process according to the 5-11 165-pounder.

“It was a little stressful with a lot of reaching out and trying to get everywhere for a visit, but it was good overall," explained Thompson, who relied on camps and showcases for much of his exposure. “Prep Baseball really helped with my profile and making sure to have it updated as well as getting seen at showcases. The Future Games was the biggest part of my recruitment. All the coaches there made my recruitment easier with all the games and so many of them there to watch.”

An improved player is what Thompson was able to show off to those in attendance.

“I’ve become a lot faster,” Thompson said. “I’m a little bigger and stronger so now I'm a gap-to-gap hitter. I’ve also improved my defense a lot.”

That takes a lot of work with the number of positions he is asked to fill.

“I’m able to play anywhere which helps get me in the lineup,” explained Thompson, who gave an example of what he sees in the future - playing left field in the early week, third base later in the week, second base the first game of a weekend doubleheader and catching in the nightcap. “Playing multiple positions can only help in the long run. It’s a way to get in the lineup more.”

His parents and youth travel ball coach Nick DiPonio are credited with playing the biggest roles in a baseball journey that has him thrilled to be putting on the green-and-white Michigan State jersey in the near future.

“I’m so excited, I’ve been a Spartan fan since I was a little kid,” concluded Thompson, who has a 4.1 GPA in high school and plans to major in finance at the university in East Lansing, located 50 minutes from home. “I can’t wait to start building relationships with my teammates and creating a brotherhood. I’m excited to play on all of these college fields and travel around the country.”