Wheeler hires new boys basketball coach to succeed Doug Lipscomb

Larry Thompson, Wheeler High School basketball

Not long after legendary Wheeler High School boys basketball coach Doug Lipscomb announced he was stepping away from his duties, the Wildcats found the man to succeed him.

He’s Larry Thompson, who has guided Greenforest-McCalep Christian Academy of Decatur to the 2013, 2016 and 2017 state championships in the Georgia High School Association’s Class A private school division.

Wheeler principal Peter Giles tweeted the news Thursday evening.

Lipscomb won more than 600 games and six state titles, the latest in 2015, in a 25-year career at Wheeler. He has coached several players who went on to the top levels of college basketball, as well as the NBA. Lipscomb’s first star, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, is currently an executive with the NBA.

Most recently, former Wheeler standout Jaylen Brown finished his rookie season with the Boston Celtics.