For all the progress made by Mark Fox in his first year-plus on the job, Wednesday's announcement by Westlake forward Marcus Thornton might have been one of the biggest steps forward.
Thornton, one of the state's premier prospects, announced his commitment to Georgia at his high school Wednesday, snubbing Georgia Tech, Alabama and Texas.
"In the end, I liked the opportunity I had at Georgia, how I could be a big piece of something," Thornton said. "I felt in my heart that's what I wanted to do."
Thornton was originally committed to Clemson, but changed his mind after coach Oliver Purnell left for DePaul.
At Westlake, Thornton averaged 24 points and 12 rebounds per game as a senior, and he expects to play small forward at Georgia.
"They're looking for me to play a combo forward," Thornton said, "but I'll probably primarily be playing small forward."
Thornton is easily the most high-profile prospect signed by Fox since his arrival last April, and Fox's ability to snag the in-state standout so late in the game was indicative of the immense groundwork the coach has laid in the past season.
Thornton was rated as a three-star prospect by Scout and the No. 34 forward nationally. He will fit in the lineup alongside forward Trey Thompkins, an All-SEC performer last season in the frontcourt, and help complement an increasingly impressive backcourt that features Travis Leslie, Dustin Ware and Gerald Robinson.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
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6 comments:
So, *about* that whole Georgia-should-have-gotten-Anthony-Grant thing...
No doubt, anon 3:12. I feel like a bullet was dodged there much like hiring Mark Richt over Chan Gailey after the 2000 season.
This team could be pretty darn good
Irrespective of whether Thornton turns out to be a player, the fact that we landed a prospect that was offered by the other schools is a victory unto itself. In the past, the Thorntons of the world inevitably landed elsewhere.
The best part is Georgia tek, who thought they had Mr. Georgia Basketball, did not get him.
We did.
Pretty heady stuff.
Not like we don't beat Paul Hewitt in men's basketball every year anyway.
We also graduate a hell of lot more than Georgia tek does in men's basketball.
Georgia tek is on PROBATION in men's basketball, as we speak, limited to only 11 scholarships for graduating but 38 percent. This is an APR lowest in the nation for Georgia tek.
Way to go Mark Fox.
It is going to be a good year.
He maybe won't turn out ?
B.S. He starts in game 1.
I'm a little late to this party but WOW! Mark Fox is turning this program around fast .
It supports my argument against the old "he's never recruited in the south" schpeel that if you can coach up your players, then kids in this area will take notice and want to be a part of it. People made the same argument regarding Lakatos.
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