Brooks Thompson had faith in ex-Desert Mountain PG Gino Littles as a walk-on-turned-starter at UTSA

As a walk-on, athletes can feel pressure, lost in a sea of scholarship players, wondering if they'll last.

It took only a few weeks at the University of Texas-San Antonio in 2014 for former Scottsdale Desert Mountain point guard Gino Littles to build a close bond with his coach, Brooks Thompson, who died on Thursday at age 45 after falling ill in recent months.

Thompson inserted the walk-on freshman into the starting line for 22 games in the 2014-15 season, after which he was awarded a full basketball scholarship.

"Coach Thompson was a huge influence in my life," Littles said. "Being a walk-on and coming into a Division I school, he gave me an opportunity to play at the highest level and that is something most coaches wouldn't do.

"Coach and I created a close bond in the first few weeks of practice both on and off the court. Coach Thompson was an amazing man to not only the UTSA basketball team but to his family, friends and loved ones."

Littles said Thompson, who had a stint as an assistant coach at Arizona State in the early 2000s, told him and his teammates to make family first over basketball.

"He preached that we must become uncommon men, and that common men go nowhere."

Littles said the players weren't aware of how sick the former Oklahoma State player was during last season. Thompson had double-organ failure in April.

Steve Henson was hired to replace Thompson in April.

"He was at every game and every practice and was focused on taking our team back to the conference championship," Littles said. "This team and community of San Antonio will truly miss him.

"We did not only lose a great coach, but a great father, mentor, and a great family man. Coach Thompson will forever hold a special spot in not only my heart but many people across the country."

Littles said the team is looking forward to making a run in Conference USA under Henson but with Thompson's spirit in their hearts.

"I know Coach Thompson would not want us to sulk around," Littles said. "He would want us to be on the court getting better every day. This only motivates us to work harder to win. Like he said, 'Uncommon men make the sacrifices to win.' ''

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