Like many top high school athletes, Raven Thompson spent a lot of time this spring weighing her college choices and scholarship offers — until one came along that made the rest pale in comparison.

The Warren Central track and field star jumped on it and made it official Wednesday, accepting a full scholarship offer from and signing with Mississippi State.

“It’s big. At first I didn’t think they were going to offer me a full (scholarship) because they’re an SEC school and they have so many athletes. But they came in full, so it was a no-brainer,” Thompson said with a smile.

Thompson has reached the MHSAA Class 6A state meet in the high jump each of the past three years, and can make it 4-for-4 by finishing in the top four at the North State meet Saturday at Madison Central.

She vaulted into the ranks of the elite, however, with an outstanding high school season this spring. She cleared 5 feet, 10 inches — the best mark in Mississippi this year — at Clinton High School’s Arrow Invitational in March, and after that her phone started ringing non-stop.

“It was very unexpected. It caught me off guard. I hit two PRs on that day, 5-8 and then 5-10. That’s when everything changed,” Thompson said. “I started getting calls saying, ‘We want you, we want you, we want you. Come visit.’ It changed fast.”

Thompson wound up with offers from William Carey, Alcorn State, Jackson State, Alabama State and Hinds Community College. All of those quickly faded when Mississippi State entered the picture.

“Once they came into play, it was a no-brainer,” Thompson said. “My mom talked to them and told me they wanted me to come up there for a visit and were offering a full (scholarship). Everybody else was offering partials except William Carey. That’s where I was going at first. Then State came into play, and it changed real fast.”

Now that she’s signed, Thompson will turn her attention toward the rest of the high school season and some unfinished business. She has never finished better than third at the state meet and wants to go out with a gold medal.

“I’m still going for the state meet and working hard,” Thompson said.