Flint Northern, 1989
2026 Greater Flint African American Sports Hall of Fame Inductee
Category: Basketball
Reba Thigpen comes from a family of great Flint athletes and, with her great achievements on the basketball court, she was able to continue that great legacy. Thigpen was inspired by her dad, Justus Thigpen, Sr., who was the first NBA player to come out of Flint. Thigpen was also an inspiration for her younger brother, Justus Thigpen, Jr., who was a star basketball player at Iowa State and in the CBA.
Known for her stellar play and unique style in the late 1980s, Thigpen was a dominant force on the court for Flint Northern. In her senior year for the Lady Vikings, she set the school’s record for most points scored in a career.
Thigpen was one of the most accomplished basketball players in the history of the Flint area. She was a four-time All-City player, four-time All-Valley and a three-time All-State honoree.
Thigpen continued her academic and athletic career at Lansing Community College where for two years she averaged over 30 points per game. After college, she continued to play basketball in various women’s pro-am leagues and participated in skating with her Flint Simply Unique Skaters group. Her great contributions on and off the court continue to be felt and continue to inspire Flint-area athletes across many generations.
Reba Thigpen, you are the true definition of being “Flint Strong”! You have made Flint proud, welcome to the GFAASHOF!
