Marcus Thornton, #45

NBA.com wrote:Prospect Analysis
Strengths
Scoring machine
Great 3-point shooter
Great free-throw shooter
Good passer
Good in transition
Can play the pick-and-roll game

Weaknesses

Has to get stronger
Doesn’t have ideal NBA two-guard height
Can he play the point in the NBA?

NBA projection: A good showing at the Portsmouth Invitational led to an invitation to the NBA Chicago pre-draft combine. So who knows? He’ll have an opportunity to show what he can do and why Florida coach Billy Donovan called him “probably the best guard we’ll face all year.” Can he convert to the point? That could be a big key to whether he gets drafted or signs a free-agent deal and manages to stick on a roster.

2014-15 Season
Thornton’s goal was to lead William & Mary to its first NCAA tournament bid ever, and he came close; a loss to Northeastern in the Colonial Athletic Association tournament finals relegated the Tribe to the NIT. But he put together a great final season, earning the College Court Report Mid-Major Player of the Year Award, the CAA Player of the Year, first-team All-CAA and Associated Press honorable-mention All-American. He left with a slew of school records in his wake and helped transform the program into a perennial contender in its league.

Key statistics: 20.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.9 apg, 2.3 tpg, 36.7 mpg, .456 FG, .402 3PT, .830 FT

Cool statistic: Thornton finished his career as William & Mary’s all-time leading scorer (2,178 points).

Reminds me of: Jeff Teague

What Insiders Say
William & Mary coach Tony Shaver
“I think the best part of his legacy is that he's helped take our program to a new level. He's done it unselfishly. He's done it with a great work ethic. He's grown as much as a person and as a player as much as anyone I've coached in my career."

What Outsiders Say
Former Florida coach Billy Donovan
"He can really score the ball, he’s got really good size, he’s got deep range, he can play in pick n roll, he can play in transition. He’s a special player."

Editor’s Note: Sleeper Reports are detailed scouting reports done on players who are under the radar and who have pro potential (NBA, D-League, or overseas). This player usually plays for a DII or LM school and is a player that not a lot of people are talking about but should be. The players strengths, weaknesses, and pro projections are detailed out.

Prospect Reports are detailed scouting reports done on players who are considered at least Top 100 players and are listed on mock draft boards. They usually play for a MM or HM school (not always) and will be leaving school for the draft after this season or next season most likely. The players strengths, weaknesses, and pro projections are detailed out.

By James Blackburn

Game Scouted: William and Mary @ Wake Forest

Wake wins 63-57

Box Score

Marcus Thornton (G, 6’4”, SO)

Stats

35 min, 7-13 FG, 1-4 3pt FG, 2-2 FT, 1 reb, 1 PF, 1 assist, 4 TO, 17 TP

Strengths

Thornton showed good patience on the offensive end most of the game and did not shoot his first shot until about 4 minutes in. Thornton is one of the quickest players I have seen this year, possessing a lethal first step. Combining his superb athleticism and a very quick first step, he has the ability to get to the rime practically at will. Has a quick and low, left to right crossover dribble that he can use to get to rim. He showed numerous times tonight the ability to split the trap off the P/R and made it look easy. Marcus excels in Pick and Roll situations, which bodes well for him going forward. He can turn the corner on the P/R play and either finish inside or kick to open teammates (something he didn’\’t do a lot of, but has the ability to do). He handled Wake’s pressure fine and also showed that he could beat a press both off the bounce and with the pass. He is a solid ball handler and played shared time playing both on and off the ball. He gets so low to the ground when he dribbles and he almost lost balance several times, but somehow he kept his balance and still finished shot. He moves very well with out the ball with quick cuts and knows how to get open. He is also a better passer then his 1 assist today and his 11 assist for the year indicate. He uses his athleticism when attacking the rim and hangs in the air and finishes with contact. He also changes speeds and directions easily- very natural and fluid. He has the ability to change and adjust his shots in the air and finish. He does a great job of slithering by secondary defenders and avoiding the charge. Highlight reel with the ball. Can create his own shot and can make plays on busted plays or at end of shot clock.

Thornton’s shot is still a little shaky at this point, but he gets great elevation on pull up jump shot and is a good FT shooter (shooting over 70% for his career). Looked calm and comfortable at line- went 2-2, but didn’t go to FT line until 10 seconds remaining.

He was W&M go-to player when team needed points and needed a score- they put him in a P/R situation.

Not a great defender at this point, but he is quick laterally and he covers ground and recovers quickly. He contested most shots and was in solid position as the help defender.

Weaknesses

Thornton’s inefficiencies start on the defensive end. He is vulnerable to getting posted up against bigger guards because of a lack of strength. He also had a tough time fighting through screens both on and off the ball. He attempted to his credit to fight around the screens, but he gets bumped/muscled too much defensively. He could stand to add about 10 more pounds of muscle in the next 2 years, which would help in these areas. Does a good job of knowing where to be defensively- as far as being in good position as the secondary help defender, but he is often out of stance. Needs to work on closing out better defensively- has a tendency to jump instead of staying down and contesting.

Jump shot is inconsistent at this point and his form could improve. He holds the ball for too long and doesn’t release it at top of jump- doesn’t release until he starts coming down. Shot is different each time- needs to get consistent stroke when shooting.

Rarely heard him open his mouth on either end- doesn’t communicate on defensive end and is not a vocal leader. Complained to the officials a couple times when he thought he had gotten pushed or fouled going up for a shot and showed frustration when a shot/lay-up wouldn’t fall. Has a tendency to get out of control at times when handling the ball caused mostly by over dribbling- TO prone. He is a good ball handler, but is noticeably more explosive and comfortable going and finishing with his right, rather then left hand.

Overview

Solid scoring game for Thornton, who came into the contest ranking second in the CAA with just over 17 ppg. He was named to the Preseason Second-Team All CAA and was named CAA Player of the Week after scoring 24 points against Hampton.

Here are some quick notes on Thornton and this game. He came out and defended Wake Forests’ best player in CJ Harris (they are guarded each other most of the game). William and Mary is running a form of the flex offensively. Looked engaged and focused on coach in the first time out. Has a low key demeanor on the court- almost looks like he is coasting- but he is not-quite personality. Had a couple of big time buckets at end of game, when team needed a score.

Although Thornton has a quite personality, he needs to become more of a vocal leader. He uses his quickness/athleticism mostly on defense, but doesn’t get low or wide in defensive stance- should be pressuring ball more w/ speed. He will not be able to resort to his speed at next level when he is going to be matched up against quick guards night in and night out. Didn’t pick up first foul until 1:25 remaining in game, which speaks on his aggressiveness on defense, or lack there of.

Has more TO (14) then assist (11) up to this point- not a good sign for an undersized combo guard that will have to make move to the PG for next level. Has the quickness/speed, athleticism, and size to play PG at pro level- but not good enough playmaker at this stage. I saw some playmaking ability-but not enough of it this game. This is something I believe he can and will develop in his time at W & M. Has decent enough size (listed at 6’4”- more like 6’2”) to play the PG at the pro level, but not the shooting guard position.

Thornton as sophomore reminds me of Jeff Teague when he was at Wake as a sophomore. Both are/were combo guards who had a knack for scoring the basketball. Thornton is actually an inch or so taller then Teague and is just as quick and athletic. Teague was able to make the transition to the PG position in the pro’s after playing both guard positions in college. I believe Thornton can and will improve his PG and playmaking skills while also continuing to score the basketball. If he can develop some shooting consistency, he has a shot to play in the NBA after his senior year has completed. He is a player that scouts should at least monitor as he is mostly under the radar at this point, but will be ready for the D-League, if not the NBA in 2 years.

By Adam Himmelsbach
GLOBE STAFF JULY 07, 2015
SALT LAKE CITY — On the night of the NBA draft, Marcus Thornton was at his parents’ house in Upper Marlboro, Md., watching the television series “Lie to Me” on Netflix.

The former William & Mary point guard was used to being counted out and overlooked, so he had little interest in watching it happen again. But his parents took a different approach.

Wayne and Debra Thornton were offered tickets to the draft from a friend with a connection to Brooklyn Nets general manager Billy King. Marcus declined to join his parents, but they went anyway, watching the event from King’s private suite at the Barclays Center.

“My son might actually get drafted tonight,” Wayne Thornton told some new acquaintances in the suite. “We’ll see.”

There was little indication that Thornton would actually get drafted, though. That’s why his parents mostly just enjoyed the night, and that’s why Marcus was home watching Netflix by himself.

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Photos: Celtics Summer League opener vs. Jazz

And then the 45th pick arrived, and then the Celtics selected Thornton, and then everything changed. It was surely one of the few times in NBA history that a draftee missed the magical moment, but his parents did not.

“We just erupted,” Wayne Thornton said by telephone on Monday, as Marcus prepared to make his Celtics debut in the Utah Jazz Summer League. “It was crazy.”

The pick surprised some close to Thornton, not because he was undeserving, but because they weren’t sure if NBA teams knew what they knew. They weren’t sure if teams had seen what they’d seen.

This was a player who shattered William & Mary’s career scoring record. This was a player former Florida coach Billy Donovan said was as good as any guard his team would face last season — and the Gators played mighty Kentucky three times. This was a player who guided the Tribe to consecutive 20-win seasons after the program had finished with a winning record just twice in the previous 15 years.

No, this selection was not an accident.

“I’ve been coaching for 38 years at different levels, and he’s the hardest-working kid I’ve ever been around,” William & Mary coach Tony Shaver said. “And I’m not sure there’s a close second.”

Thornton didn’t start playing basketball until he was about 9 years old, and even then many of his moves were crafted from watching And1 highlight tapes. He did not make the varsity team at Bishop McNamara High in Forestville, Md., until his junior year.

“But he was just a workout hound,” Bishop McNamara coach Marty Keithline said. “He’d come in every morning before school by himself. We had a shooting machine that tracked shots, and he put up more than 10,000 over about 30 days.”

Wayne Thornton said he sometimes returned home from work to find a group of Marcus’s friends there. Marcus had left them behind to go workout alone.

By the summer before his senior year, Thornton had emerged as a dangerous scorer. But elite colleges were mostly unconvinced. Thornton ultimately committed to William & Mary over schools such as Drexel, Mount St. Mary’s, and Holy Cross.

“Everybody’s route is different, so you just control what you can control,” Thornton said. “You just keep working on your craft and be as prepared as possible. I tried to be a better basketball player for my teammates each year, and when you work, things fall into place.”

Thornton maintained his usual work ethic with the Tribe, going to the gym in the mornings, between classes, and at night. As a senior this season, he averaged 20 points per game, made 40.2 percent of his 3-pointers, and was named the Colonial Athletic Association’s player of the year.

During the pre-draft process, Thornton said, several teams inquired about his willingness to develop his game overseas. Thornton said he was not against the idea, but he wanted teams to know he wished to first compete for a spot.

After the Celtics drafted Thornton, president of basketball operations Danny Ainge emphasized that the team most likely intended to stash him overseas or in the D-League.

The reality is that Boston is overflowing with guards, and barring something unforeseen, there simply will not be room on the roster for Thornton. He was thrilled to be drafted, but there is also a part of him that feels he again has something to prove.

“No matter what they decide to do or ask me to do,” Thornton said, “I think it’s my job to show them why they picked me.”

Wayne Thornton, for one, has seen his son exceed expectations time and again. Now, he hopes it can happen once more.

“His performance on the court has been known to change some people’s minds,” the father said.

. . .

The Celtics lost to the Jazz, 100-82, in the opener of the Utah Jazz Summer League on Monday night in Salt Lake City.

Marcus Smart led Boston with 26 points, 8 assists, and 5 rebounds but shot just 6 of 20 from the field. Jordan Mickey, a second-round draft pick from Louisiana State, was Boston’s bright spot, making 7 of 8 shots for 16 points. The Celtics were 6 of 25 on 3-pointers and they were outrebounded by the Jazz, 51-31.

“I told the guys, this was the first real NBA experience for eight guys,” Celtics assistant coach Jay Larranaga said. “Hopefully they learned a lot from it.”

First-round pick Terry Rozier had 7 points and 5 rebounds. Boston’s other first-round pick, R.J. Hunter, missed all five of his shots and did not score. Thornton played 5:04, missing his only shot.

Third-year guard Phil Pressey, a late addition to the summer league roster, did not play. Celtics coaches had previously said Pressey would likely play in selected games. Center Colton Iverson has left the team to sign a contract with a professional team overseas, according to a team source.

Iverson was selected by the Pacers in the second round of the 2013 draft and then traded to the Celtics. He played for the Celtics’ summer league teams in each of the past two seasons before ultimately playing in Turkey and Spain.

Iverson was replaced on the roster by former Minnesota center Ralph Sampson III. The Celtics will face the 76ers on Tuesday night.