SAN FRANCISCO – With the return to campus just over a month away and with the Pacific West Conference season on the horizon, Academy of Art men's soccer is continuing to add pieces to the roster by announcing the addition of forward Nixon Thompson (Fair Oaks, Calif./Inspire Charter) to the Fall 2022 recruiting class. 

Now the second true freshman of the class, Thompson most recently graduated from Inspire Charter School and brings with him extensive experience from a number of years in club soccer. Beginning in 2012, the Fair Oaks, Calif. native appeared with the American River FC, a club team established in the Sacramento region in 2009 that features teams playing leagues such as in the NorCal Premier Playing League, the California Regional League, and the California Competitive Soccer League. Over the course of his four years with the club, Thompson would be a piece of the squad that brought home a NorCal State Cup before his final appearance in 2015. 

From 2015-2022, Thompson jumped homes to Placer United Soccer Club based in Rocklin, Calif. where the forward experienced some of his highest successes. In addition to appearing at the U.S. Soccer Development Academy before it's untimely closing due to COVID-19 in 2020, Thompson won a trio of championships in his time with PUSC including the NorCal State Cup, and was twice a winner of Davis Legacy Premier Cup. Additionally, Thompson's squad would appear in the semifinals of the Surf Cup, a club soccer tournament presented by Nike. 

Coming from athletic genes, Thompson's relative Destiny Everett is also a collegiate student-athlete in the sport of Women's Track & Field, and is currently enrolled at BYU after having also run for Chico State. Though he lists both Chelsea F.C. and S.S.C. Napoli, his favorite sports moments are when Chelsea won UEFA Champions League titles in 2012 and again in 2021. Fittingly as a forward, Thompson lists his life hero as Pelé, the three-time World Cup winner with Brazil. 

Upon his arrival at Academy of Art, Thompson will enroll in the School of Advertising. He is the fourth member of the 2022 recruiting class, joining Ismaël Elmi, Mark Figueroa, and Chris Stokes.