VITALS: 6-8, 220, Florida State OVERVIEW: Led the Atlantic Coast Conference in scoring with a 19.7 average during his senior season and was named to the All-ACC first team. Also averaged a career-high 7.2 rebounds while shooting 53 percent from the field. Finished career shooting 45 percent from 3-point range. Tallied a career-high 45 points in a victory at Miami on March 3. Named to the All-ACC second team during his junior season, when he led Florida State in scoring with 16.1 points. Had a 37-point, 15-rebound effort in an overtime loss at Duke on February 4, 2006. LIKELY DRAFT POSITION: 6-15. COMPARATIVE UPSIDE: Quentin Richardson COMPARATIVE DOWNSIDE: Jumaine Jones ROLE PROJECTION: Scoring combo forward. POSITIVES: Thornton knows what it is to be the team leader, the go-to offensive player, the one teammates expect to score when the basket has a lid on it. He led the Seminoles in scoring each of the past two seasons and did it by scoring inside and outside. Thornton has a complete arsenal: he can be a catch-and-shoot player, he can pull up off the dribble, he can drive to the basket and he can post up. Thornton has enough athletic ability and foot speed to be a good defender in time. SHORTCOMINGS: Thornton lacks the bulk to be a significant rebounder in the NBA, although he should be able to get a few here and there because of his activity. He has had little experience passing or making plays for others because his college team relied on him to score whenever he got the ball. He should be athletic enough to shake off the dreaded "tweener" label, but that will have to be proven over time.
It pains me to say this with him being a Nole and all, but this kid is going to make whatever team drafts him extremely happy. He will find a way to make an impact in the NBA. He's so explosive and he has so much experience seeing so many different defensive sets since he was really the only legit option the Noles had this season.
<div class="quote_poster">GatorsowntheNCAA Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">It pains me to say this with him being a Nole and all, but this kid is going to make whatever team drafts him extremely happy. He will find a way to make an impact in the NBA. He's so explosive and he has so much experience seeing so many different defensive sets since he was really the only legit option the Noles had this season.</div> I agree completely, and it was a shame the 'Noles got snubbed on selection day and ended up competing in the NIT instead of the Big Dance. A lot more people would have had a chance to see Al Thornton's talents on display.
