Nov 3, 2006

Forward Thornton commits to LSU

By RANDY ROSETTA
Advocate sportswriter
Published: Oct 30, 2006

LSU RECRUITING CLASS OF 2007 F Anthony Randolph 6-10, 220 F Garrett Green 6-9, 210 F D.J. Wright 6-7, 220 F Quintin Thornton 6-9, 230 Advertisements

The LSU men’s basketball program made a change in their 2007 recruiting class this week and wasted no time filling the unexpected hole.

Odessa (Texas) College forward Quintin Thornton committed Sunday to LSU after a whirlwind visit to Baton Rouge this weekend.

The 6-foot-9, 230-pound Orlando, Fla., native said Sunday he will sign a national letter of intent with LSU on Nov. 8, the first day of the fall early signing period.

As a freshman at Odessa last season, Thornton averaged 7.1 points and 8.9 rebounds a game. Before that, he starred at Edgewater High School, a national powerhouse in Orlando. Thornton teamed with former University of Memphis star Darius Washington to help lead the Eagles to the 2004 Class 6A Florida state championship.

“LSU was the first school to come and see me during summer workouts and that was real important to me,” said Thornton, who also fielded scholarship offers from Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Marquette, Missouri and Nevada-Las Vegas among others. “It’s one of best programs in the nation, and I didn’t want to pass up the opportunity to join their program. Being down there (this weekend), they made me feel right at home, like I could be around those guys and the coaches 24/7.”

A scholarship spot opened up for Thornton when LSU decided to withdraw an earlier offer to Wabash Valley (Ill.) College sophomore Desmond Hendrix, a 6-10, 260-pound center. Hendrix was projected to take over for Glen Davis whenever his college career ends.

Thornton could also be asked to fill Davis’ shoes, but his skills make him more similar to current LSU forward Magnum Rolle and recently departed Tyrus Thomas.

Mike Mitchell of the Midwest Scouting Service said Thornton ranks as one of the top 15 JUCO sophomores in the country and one of the 10 best sophomore big men.

“He’s athletic, he’s a runner, he’s very long and he can step away like a (power forward),” Mitchell said. “He’s really good at flashing post and is a very versatile big man. He’ll be a very effective player in LSU’s system.”

Thornton has never been a big scorer, although Odessa College assistant coach Mike Scutero said Thornton has produced double-doubles in each of the Wranglers’ three preseason scrimmages. Thornton averaged 10 points and 13 rebounds a game as a senior at Edgewater.

Instead of demanding the ball, Scutero said Thornton’s focus is usually on rebounding, shot blocking and playing solid defense.

“He’s like most big guys in that he’s taken some time to develop,” Scutero said. “In high school he wasn’t asked to do a whole lot inside because he played on guard-oriented teams. Once he got here last year, he started realizing things he could do better and he’s really worked hard at getting better playing with his back to the basket and becoming more offensive-minded. Defensively, he’s ready for the SEC right now. He can guard any position on the floor.”

Thornton also proved to be patient.

LSU assistant Nikita Johnson established a relationship with Thornton over the summer, but the two hadn’t spoken much lately — especially after Hendrix and Dallas prep star Anthony Randolph (6-10, 220) committed to the Tigers in earlier this fall.

But when the relationship with Hendrix changed, Johnson made a quick trip out to West Texas to reopen the pursuit of Thornton .

“I was starting to worry a little bit, but then when coach Johnson came out here, I knew everything would work out,” Thornton said.

Thornton joins Randolph (rated as a five-star recruit by Rivals and Scout), Garrett Green (6-9, 210) and D.J. Wright (6-7, 220) in LSU’s Class of 2007. The Tigers also have commitments from center James Tyler (7-1, 325) of North Carolina from the Class of 2008 and point guard Tommy Mason-Griffin (5-10, 180) of Houston from the Class of 2009.