Nice work Mark Fox. This commitment really takes the sting out of losing Dwayne Poole. In case you didn't hear what happened, Thornton of Westlake committed in the early signing period to Clemson to play for Oliver Purnell. Then all of a sudden, Thornton went crazy his senior season, leading his team to a 30-3 record and the state finals, where he didn't play because of a freak injury. I watched this guy play in the semis....he dominated. Way better than Jalen Kendrick, in my opinion.
Then Oliver Purnell left Klimpsen for DePaul (Not the Body's new nickname) and Thornton wanted out of Klimpsen (who wouldn't?) and the Tigers said OK
He became the biggest prize on the scene and UK, Memphis (and Kendrick), Bama, Texas, GT, the Dawgs, UNC, EVERYBODY was after him. He went on a big campus tour and decided yesterday on Georgia and Mark Fox. He told the AJC that he wanted to be a part of something big. Now he has a shot as Mark Fox really cleaned up in the late signing period, especially in-state to make me feel better about his ability to get the local talent. Because I am really all that matters right?
Seriously, I am PUMPED about this signing class of PF/C 6'8 Cady Lalanne (Florida), G Sherrard Brantley (Dublin, GA through Florida juco), PF 6'9 Donte Williams (Miller Grove) and now ComboForward 6'7 Thornton (Westlake). I also count Gerald Robinson Jr in this class, despite the fact that he was coutned last season. But he didn't play! I think Brantley is thrown into the starting lineup over Robinson as he has the most experience of all of the newcomers and Fox compares him to McPhee in terms of shooting, but "a bit" more athletic. Though one could argue that Robinson has more experience, but his position is the one that Leslie is currently occupying, so Brantley plays the McPhee wing. Lalanne, Williams and Thornton will be nice forwards/Posts off of the bench that Georgia can attempt to outathlete teams. Throw in Anyaorah and Robinson with Williams and this team is deep. In terms of this recruiting class, I also don't think any of these guys are one-and-dones, which means that the 2011-12 team should look pretty talented too with Ware, Brantley, Thornton, Lalanne, Thornton going out there and Williams and Robinson and Anyaorah off the bench. (And maybe Daijon Parker and Julian Royal too as freshmen? Too much to ask for?)
Here is how I see this season's lineup....
starters:
PG Danny Ware jr
SG Travis Leslie (He wants to play SG this season to get ready for the NBA) jr
SF/Wing/SG Sherrard Brantley sop first year with ga
PF Trey Thompkins jr
C Jeremy Price sr
Bench
PG Vincent Williams sop
SG Ebuka Anyaorah redshirt sop
G/W/SF Gerald Robinson Jr sop? first year with Ga
PF Marcus Thornton freshman
PF/Donte Williams freshman
PF/C Cady Lalanne freshman
C Chris Barnes sr
This team should be READY for SEC play. I will honestly say that an NIT berth is a LOCK, and an NCAA berth looking pretty good. Hopefully Fox gets his Hounds ready to rock this season. In the SEC East, UK will reload with freshmen talent and Florida is pretty good (though we split with them last year). Tennessee I would say loses some talent, but they lost talent last season DURING THE YEAR and still nearly made the Final Four.
Let's be honest, I spent a pretty good portion of my trip to Cabo daydreaming about this team. They certainly have the potential and if Thompkins gets even a little bit better from last season, he could be player of the year. Same with Leslie. If he grows like he did last year, watch out.
Fox showed last year he can coach with minimal groceries. Now he is stocking the shelves with in-state talent. Jump on the train now. The bandwagon is growing.
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