The ‘Marcus Thornton Effect?’ Top prospect has UGA, Georgia Tech and Wake Forest as favorites, says coach
When the AJC’s Mr. Georgia Basketball (Westlake’s Marcus Thornton) picked UGA last week, Thornton said he hoped it would encourage Georgia’s other elite basketball prospects to consider playing for the Bulldogs.
Loading ...Shall we call it the “Marcus Thornton Effect?”
If anything, Thornton’s selection of UGA over perennial powerhouses such as Kentucky, Florida, Memphis and North Carolina caught the attention of a few of the state’s elite basketball players for 2011. Milton coach David Boyd said one of his three prized juniors, 6-foot-9 power forward Julian Royal, has UGA, Georgia Tech and Wake Forest as his favorites. Milton shooting guard Dai-Jon Parker is considering offers from UGA and Georgia Tech, among others, while point guard Shannon Scott has committed to Ohio State.
“Julian Royal’s recruiting has been very intense,” Boyd told the AJC. “I think his three favorites, and I’m not going to put them in any order, are Georgia, Wake Forest, and Georgia Tech.”
Royal has around 40 major-college offers. Why those three?
“With Georgia, I just think [Mark Fox] has done outstanding work there,” Boyd said. “They got Marcus Thornton, which really turned a lot of heads. That was very impressive. Georgia is an up-and-coming program and a state school.
“Georgia Tech is close to home, in the ACC, and they have sent a lot of guys to the NBA.
“Wake has always been a school highly interested in Julian, even with the coaching change.”
UGA, Wake Forest and Georgia Tech lead 40 schools for Royal (AJC)
Boyd said that Royal is also taking looks at Alabama, Virginia Tech, Clemson and Virginia. “He has not really made any decision [narrowing down schools yet]. He hasn’t given me a list. But those three — Georgia, Wake and Tech — are the three schools I keep hearing about the most during our conversations.”
When will Royal make his college decision? Before his senior season begins? “That’s a good question … I don’t know,” Boyd said. “I think it would take a lot of stress off Julian if he decided during the summer or fall. But that’s up to him.”
What about Parker? Parker will at least wait until after the summer to announce his college decision, according to his coach. Parker gave up a promising football career (11 major-college offers in football) to focus on basketball only as a senior. The 6-3 Parker will travel the country over the summer while playing for two AAU basketball teams. His offer sheet includes Georgia Tech, UGA, Ohio State, Auburn and Virginia.
Milton is a top contender for a mythical national championship in high school basketball for next year. The Eagles won the 2010 state championship in Georgia’s largest classification, defeating Thornton’s Westlake High.
Royal was the team’s leading scorer, averaging 18 points and 8 rebounds. He saved Milton’s season by making two free throws with no time on the clock in the controversial 52-51 win over Norcross in the playoff’s quarterfinals.
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87 comments Add your comment
e.lo
May 27th, 2010
5:29 am
Enter your comments here First !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
VA DAWG
May 27th, 2010
6:41 am
Royal, Parker and Caldwell should be UGA’s priority and would be a great recruiting class…along with Marshall signing a football scholly. Hope Fox can reel in some of these “Big Fish.” GO DAWGS!
JB
May 27th, 2010
7:50 am
Here we come Tech……but take heart, it might get rid of your coach quicker. We pound you guys by 20 points, some folks on the flats won’t be happy……GATA
GooseDawg
May 27th, 2010
9:02 am
Get these young men to Athens Coach Fox!
UGA Basketball, a program on the rise!
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater
May 27th, 2010
9:54 am
Good recruits equal great press. People are starting to take notice of what Coach Fox is trying to accomplish up in Athens. Agreed GooseDawg- program is on the rise.
Boydist
May 27th, 2010
10:23 am
Coach Boyd is the man. You have no idea how much he electrifies a team and it’s student body.
-Berkmar Class of 2001.
Back To Back Baby!!
“We Too Deep”
Boydist
May 27th, 2010
10:26 am
Oh….
And Tech is just screwed.
Go Dawgs!!!!!!
Favors Went to the Wrong School
May 27th, 2010
10:28 am
Unfortunately, the Tech basketball fans actually hate Hewitt already…a big part of that is that we have beaten him 6 out of 10 times in his tenure, and no way have we had better teams. Perception of a program changes very quickly in basketball (it takes about 3-5 years in football for a program to be perceived as changed), and the perception after this last season really is showing that UGA is a school on the rise and the Tech is what it is, good players, no coaching, and no telling if that coach will be there because Tech has to fire him before the NCAAs, and unless Tech isn’t going to the NCAAs, how do you fire a coach who can get you there, only to lose quickly, but still pay him $6+MM to go away? That’s what frustrates Tech fans.
But for my Dawgs, I’m happy we are getting something going in Basketball. Our history is sad, but with the talent in the state, it shouldn’t be as bad as it has been.
Dawg 3/20
May 27th, 2010
10:38 am
Just like UGA football will never again consistenly compete with The Florida Gators the UGA basketball team will never consistently compete with the Kentucky Wildcats.
Hoopster
May 27th, 2010
10:55 am
What a joke. The Marcus Thornton effect. Anybody that followed the saga knows the kid wanted to go to Tech and not UGa. However the antiquated policies of the ACC would force the kid to sit a year and pretty much pushed him over to UGa.
Badpuppy
May 27th, 2010
10:58 am
Dawg 3/20, Not only can we compete with Florida, all signs point to our domination of Florida. We’ve got the best freshman quarterback in the country a great O line, 5 star backs and a new built defense which will easily be one of the top 10 in the country next year. You need to brush up on your facts.
And KY is clearly one and done!
Justahfan
May 27th, 2010
11:01 am
Georgia fans are soooooo loyal.The bb team had a terrible season and all they blog about is the fact that they beat Tech and how Tech sucks etc.etc.It’s like THAT one game defined your whole season.That speaks volumes about your program that you would brag about beating a team that that you say is garbage,that played in it’s conference championship against the eventual NCAA National Champs,(Duke)went to the second round of the NCAA tournament,and still has two players projected as high picks in this years NBA draft.
You are indeed a proud and loyal family….WOW
HugoStiglitz
May 27th, 2010
11:12 am
Yes, im sure all of the 4 and 5 star recruits who are committed to Kentucky, UNC, Kansas, and Duke are all going to start rushing to get to UGA now that a 3 star recruit committed there.
shane
May 27th, 2010
11:14 am
The bb team had a terrible season
No they didnt. By all accounts they overachieved. Most didnt expect them to win 10 games. Well they won more than that and beat Tenn and Tech and Florida.
By all accounts keep on trolling but if you think UGA’s program isnt on the rise you are a fool and just fooling yourself. Even Tech fans ( the rational ones ) will admit that fact.
shane
May 27th, 2010
11:15 am
UGA now that a 3 star recruit committed there.
That was also Mr Basketball in the state of Georgia. UK offered him a scholarship. If he sucks so bad why did UK want him?
shane
May 27th, 2010
11:16 am
Oh and Florida and Memphis and North Carolina offered Mr Thornton a scholarship.
Yeah. He must really suck.
UK THOROUGHBRED
May 27th, 2010
11:18 am
Badpuppy even if UK is one and done we still OWN the SEC in basketball! Plus I agree with others UGA is on the rise but eventually Fox will leave to go coach at a basketball school. UGA fans only primarily care about football but wait oh thats right UK even beat you boys in football last season.
Luke M
May 27th, 2010
11:23 am
The real Marcus Thornton Effect already won an SEC title in 08-09 and made a very strong showing as a rookie with the Hornets in 09-10.
HugoStiglitz
May 27th, 2010
11:25 am
I never said he sucked, I said that he isnt good enough to convince other recruits to look at UGA just because he committed there. UK, and UNC recruited this guy to add depth to their bench. He probably would have never started a game at either school. There is a reason he was at Clemson first, and then UGA. He actually wants to play.
buzz
May 27th, 2010
11:31 am
Tell you guys what, you puppies sign them all, beat us by 20, we get to fire hewitt, renovate our building and then laugh our heads off when Fox bolts just like Tubby. It’s going to happen, you know it, UGA basketball is a stepping stone not a destination.
Buzz
May 27th, 2010
11:33 am
Thorton would of come to TECH if he wouldn’t of had to sit out a year!!! Don’t get too excited bball DOGGIE fans!!! Ya’ll still suck and your arena is even worse!!!
Justahfan
May 27th, 2010
11:35 am
shane,one question for you.Have you ever seen M.Thornton play? And don’t lie. HAVE YOU?
Farve Dollar Footlong
May 27th, 2010
11:40 am
Justahfan, speaking of a win defining a season..All any Tech fan still talks about is the win over UGA in 08. I guess that win defined an entire decade, seeing as how that was the only win in 10 years ….
TROTTINGHOME
May 27th, 2010
11:42 am
Hoopster, I got to say….weep alll you want about why he signed with “Da Dawgs”…fact is Georgia ain’y that bad or he would have sat the year at FUZZY COLLEGE.
ANd the same goes for you Buzz
Kirk Frentz
May 27th, 2010
11:45 am
I love that Wake Forest school, hell of a football team we played in the Orange Bowl.
gdawginkalamazoo
May 27th, 2010
11:48 am
Coach Fox got two NBA talents to come back for next year. Good things happening with Mr. Basketball coming in and possibly some of these other top recruits. They want to get to the next level looks like Fox is one that can get them there.
TROTTINGHOME
May 27th, 2010
11:48 am
LOL at Hugo…a D1 team giving scholarships to come off the bench. Who says he was going to start at Clemson? Besides all players are groomed to be starters or they play for an institution that is faking and lying…just not all ever good enough to start.
True Baller
May 27th, 2010
11:51 am
Justahfan and Shane: Yes, I’ve seen Marcus Thornton play the last three years at Westlake. Attended several games. He is a good player, but not on the scale as some of the more notable Mr. Basketball. This was a very lean senior basketball class. The junior class is the one with overall talent. This senior class is average that goes about five deep. Thornton was chosen Mr. Basketball because of the lean class. The two better players team were both eliminated early from the playoffs.
How go was Westlake? Even with Mr. Basketball not playing in the championship game, they only lost to a deep junior-laden Milton by 10 point with Mr. Basketball nursing a sore ankle sustained during player introductions.
People need to remember he signed with Clemson, not exactly a national or ACC powerhouse for that matter.
What about Kentucky? After losing so many players, Kentucky had scholarships to give. Thornton was one of the better of the unsigned players left, so why not offer. If he signed good, if not Kentucky wasn’t sweating it, because next year, they are bringing in a Top 5 class and Thornton will become a role and bench player.
UGA and Tech need players. Kentucky just need warm bodies until they sign a highly rated class in 2011.
NOT HATE, JUST FACTS from someone who has followed high school basketball in this state for over 35 years.
Thornton will be a solid player for UGA the next four years. He will probably top out at third team all-conference. He needs to develop some post moves and a 10-12 foot jumper. He will not be able to just use his athleticism and strength to overpower players in the SEC. He also needs more toughness. The toughness showed when he only played about a minute in the Class AAAAA championship game because of a chest bump during player introductions sent him to the floor with a twisted ankle.
Jack
May 27th, 2010
11:52 am
AJC – please take Tebow’s picture off the homepage. Thankyou
DawginLex
May 27th, 2010
12:05 pm
Bruce Pearl has proven that you can compete in the SEC East and compete nationally.
UK isn’t going anywhere but neither is UT, UF and now UGA since UGA now has a real coach who can teach the game and is not a crook.
Vandy and SC are the ones who should be worried.
HugoStiglitz
May 27th, 2010
12:05 pm
LOL at TROTTINGHOME. Every NCAA D1 program gets 13 scholarships per year for their players and recruits. Do you really think they dont offer scholarships to players they know will come off the bench? Kentucky has already recruited two 5 star forwards and a 4 star forward along with some more 5 and 4 star recruits. Marcus Thornton had basically no chance to ever start there.
Hoops Dawg
May 27th, 2010
12:05 pm
This is good news because power forward is perhaps our biggest need for next year (After Trey is no longer with us) and Mr. Royal would be a huge pick-up. If CMF can land him and convince one of the two 5-star shooting guards to come to UGA, interest in BB among the long frustrated Georgia basketball fans will be sky high. In the meantime, I expect the dawgs to put a fine product on the court in this upcoming season, even if it takes Marcus Thornton a half-season to get acclimated to the point where he can become a regular contributor.
DawginLex
May 27th, 2010
12:09 pm
Haters need to realize, UGA basketball is preseason top 25 for next year. How long since that happened?
The SEC East next year is going to be loaded.
UK-#1 Recruiting class in the country
Florida-Returns a ton of talent along with a great incoming class
UT-Will slip a bit but has talent and a good class coming in
UGA-Leslie and Thompkins staying was huge along with the incoming class and Coach Fox’s teaching ability, there is reason for optimism.
Vandy and SC-TROUBLE Brad Tinsley is Vandy’s point guard for next year?
SC-loses downey
4 top 25 teams-not bad for a football league
Justahfan
May 27th, 2010
12:11 pm
Farve dollar foot Iam talkin’ about this blog,this,year and talkin basketball…Pull yourself together “Pal”
burr
May 27th, 2010
12:14 pm
umm im pretty sure because of his relesae from his l.o.i. he would have to sit out year bc he was gonna still be in the acc, had he chosen unc or gt. unc and uk only offered bc of transfers and ppl going to the draft and it was a late scramble to get a post player. unc “offered” a player going to prep school for a year, and they got a transfer from alabama who averaged about 5pts a game. uk ended up getting a juco player so dont make it sound like thorton was their number prized target.
TROTTINGHOME
May 27th, 2010
12:15 pm
Like I alluded to in first post “Hugo hug my nuts”. No coach tells a player “I’m recruiting you to come off the bench”.
True Baller…you wouldn’t have time to post here if you knew as much as you say you do.
DawginLex
May 27th, 2010
12:16 pm
Thornton dissed UK because he knew he was being recruited over.
He is still a good pickup for UGA-a solid 4 year player who can improve each year. Get several of those and you win a lot of games.
Dacula Jacket
May 27th, 2010
12:23 pm
UGA needs a lot more than a three-star left over to fix that mess of a program. How many halves are there in a game again?
HugoStiglitz
May 27th, 2010
12:25 pm
Nice TROTTINGHOME, you look like an idiot so you try to backtrack and throw in some immature insults also. That always works well. Bravo!
TROTTINGHOME
May 27th, 2010
12:31 pm
No back tracking …You misunderstood and stuck ur foot in your mouth…got called on it and now you got called a name for it.
finally
May 27th, 2010
12:32 pm
i have been saying for a long time that phew is not all that. we all know he is a $hitty coach. yet many say he is a great recruiter.
i dont agree.
well it looks to me like that statement is about to be disproved. i contend that any good coach with a good personality could recruit well if not better than phew at gt. any good coach could certainly get more out of the players we have had. certainly more than phew has gotten. phew= richt
over the last 6 years phew has been relying heavily on 5 things to help his recruiting.
-he is black so black players always give him a fair shot. its a shame that phew will not recruit white blue chippers with the same zeal that he recruits black blue chippers. it is painfully obvious to many fans that phew is a closet racist. yes black people can be bigots too.
- gt plays in the acc
-gt is in atlanta an nba city
-gt had a great rep when phew hired on as our coach *sic* due to the hard work of bobby cremins. dont look now but phew is tearing down our program brick by brick.
-gt’s final 4 appearance of 04. even a pig in a silk suit can fine an acorn now n than.
i find it telling that the comments from thornton’s coach does not call phew a great coach. nor does he point out the great direction that phew has gt going. imo this is a repeating scenerio with all the coaches of the recruits that phew is going after. when is the last time anybody has (other than our AD) called phew a great coach?
it has taken 6 years of terrible coaching…. poor performance on the court…. and a lack of discipline (last in academics and players acting like thugs ) for high school coaches and players to finally realize that gt is not a good situation to be in if you want to win acc championships…. if you want to graduate … if you want to perform well in the ncaa’s … if you want to learn how to play bb …if you want to be a well rounded human being.
look no further than we have ONE recruit this year. look no further than instate players looking to play for uga rather than gt. look no further then our egotistical coach acting like a crazy man,.
a crazy man who so believes in his system that he will not try something different. last time i looked the definition of crazy is expecting different results while continuing with the same actions. that is phew to a T.
it is looking like gt will have to take even more steps backwards before we can once again get back on the path of being a creditable bb program,
Jason
May 27th, 2010
12:32 pm
LMAO UGA is not on the rise. Royal will go to GT…he wouldn’t have to sit out a year like Thornton did.
True Baller
May 27th, 2010
12:33 pm
TROTTINGHOME: What does that mean? Just check the facts. As said before not hating on Thornton, UGA or Tech. Several player in the state was rated higher, but team failed and the top player Jelan Kendricks was the state’s only national all-American, but team failed and bad attitude. Thornton wasn’t recruited by all the major powerhouses at first, but this late in the recruiting game and a good player available, you offer. If he accepts good, if not, you know you are bringing in a standout class the next year.
Forgot to add, Thornton will probably be an academic All-SEC. He has a lot of potential to become a solid SEC performer in three to four years.
All I’m saying is don’t look for Thornton to be this one-and-done or two-and-done. He will be a four-year player that will develop into solid player.
As Justahfan said, have any of you all seen Thornton player? Most of caught up on the Mr. Basketball title.
In 2002, Georgia signed Mr. Basketball, Wayne Arnold. That was another lean class and Arnold won by default. By the way, Arnold ended his career at Tennessee State. Thornton will graduate from UGA because he is better prepared academically.
Justahfan
May 27th, 2010
12:37 pm
TRUE BALLER
Ahhhhhhh,finally the voice of reason.I’m feeling every bit of what U R sayin.Have seen Thornton play 5 or 6 times and I would say that your assessment is ON POINT !!!! You see what I see.I’m somewhat of a basketball junkie so I’m always @ BB games,be it middle school,high school, or college. Thanks “TRUE BALLER”
HugoStiglitz
May 27th, 2010
12:39 pm
You said “LOL at Hugo…a D1 team giving scholarships to come off the bench”. Thats pretty straight forward and you never mentioned anything about what coaches tell the players. You obviously know nothing about college recruiting or the scholarship process and tried to backtrack when you got called out on it. If you have to resort to name calling then you are probably losing the argument. So go ahead, call me some more names, show us all how mature you are.
Reality
May 27th, 2010
12:56 pm
Commit to a place that knows how to get you to the NBA – and it isn’t that place in rural farmland, ugag. Athens only knows how to get their athletes arrested and possibly get you some lame recreational degree. No one needs either of those!
nickj0321
May 27th, 2010
1:15 pm
LOL At UGA fans who think anyone even gives a second of thought to their basketball program….irrelevant would be the best word to describe it…
KevinM
May 27th, 2010
1:26 pm
Not exactly the Marcus Thornton effect….it should be called the Derrick Favors or Gani Lawal effect because those 2 highly ranked big men decided to stay home prior to Thornton.
Coaches have continued to let local kids go elsewhere because they don’t put any effort in. Fox grabs one guy locally…..don’t annoint him the chosen one yet.
tenn.DAWG
May 27th, 2010
1:27 pm
Sounds like alot of UGA’s rivals are really getting nervous.With good reason no doubt,just like football,if they can keep the talent home, the sky is the limit.
KevinM
May 27th, 2010
1:38 pm
Michael, please tell me where Georgia or Tech ranks in their recruiting classes for the upcoming season. I didn’t see that mentioned anywhere.
Time will tell to show if kids believe in the state schools and how much these schools recruit the top players.
TROTTINGHOME
May 27th, 2010
1:50 pm
Hugo check the 11:48 post and this part of the post… Besides all players are groomed to be starters or they play for an institution that is faking and lying…this is what I alluded to. Sorry i didn’t say “NO CoaCH RECRUITS A PLAYER TO COME OFF THE BENCH”
HugoStiglitz
May 27th, 2010
1:52 pm
KevinM, neither UGA or GT are in the top 25 and I would guess they arent anywhere close either. UGA has three 3 star recruits coming in so far. GT has one 4 star recruit coming in and thats it. They may both pick up another player or two. Kentucky is probably going to have the best recruiting class for a second year in a row.
TROTTINGHOME
May 27th, 2010
2:01 pm
tRUE bALLER yOU WROTE ABOUT 8 PARAGRAPHs. Only one good paragraph…IT starts with “Forgot to add…”
You basically questioned his ability and inability to play up to yours and others expectations. You questioned his toughness, which by the way is hating, even if it was slight. I’ve got to believe he honestly earned whatever oppurtunities he has…to bad you didn’t just stick to the one paragraph.
nickj0321
May 27th, 2010
2:24 pm
DawginLEx – SEC East and Loaded are oxymorons
spider
May 27th, 2010
2:31 pm
the only kid of the three that was smart was the SCOTT kid who chose ohio state
UGA is an easy sell using these goals
May 27th, 2010
3:00 pm
Fox can easily land now some of the state’s best three or four kids, year in and year out using this realistic approach.
Coach Fox will say:
2009-2010 was my first year to build a system where our kids could shine and enjoy major recognition, like Travis Leslie and in his You Tube slam dunk. We won some big games and two of our kids are going to be top draft picks next year. Step one has been achieved.
For 2010-2011 ……….we expect to win about 19-20 games and win maybe two deep in the SEC tourney and get our first NCAA bid on my watch. All of this will continue to add exciting exposure to our program, our system and to our star kids. Next year two of our kids will go high in the NBA draft. Step two will be achieved.
For 2011-2012 ………….we expect to compete for the SEC East, go very deep into the SEC tourney and end up around 22-9 and again go to the Big Dance and win two or three and possibly make the Sweet 16.
By your SECOND or THIRD year here at UGA, we will expect to compete for and win the SEC EAST and possibly the SEC, go very deep into the Big Dance. Now, if we achieve all of this, your NBA status will be assured. You will also earn a fine education if you graduate in Business, pre Law, pre Med, The Arts, Education, Vet Science, Biology or Botany, Environmental Science, and Agri business in order to FEED THE WORLD. The UGA education is unlimited.
This is CMF’s message and it will resonate with 3-4 kids every year that want to be close to home and all of the major USA TV networks will follow a resurgent UGA program and the local all star kids and the H Coach involved.
All CMF needs to do is get two or three great Georgia kids ever year and the rest will fall into place and he will be forever remembered by legions of $$$ UGA faithful. This is what every big time coach seeks ……………..immortality and of course, NCAA frequent visits.
Turnt_UP!
May 27th, 2010
3:14 pm
GT is still the better program if these kids are looking at staying in state. Let’s be real, Thornton would NOT have chosen UGA if the ACC transfer rule didn’t deem he would have to sit out a year if he went to GT. Wake me when UGA’s program is actually a factor. Or how about at least ranked?
Tech Man
May 27th, 2010
3:26 pm
Although I’m a Tech grad and fan I must admit the Dawgs are beginning to make strides in their basketball program. If they recruit all these kids from the Atlanta area they will be tough to beat. The thing they have going for them that Tech doesn’t is they have is a coach.
Let us be real
May 27th, 2010
3:29 pm
UGA grads ( the ones that really count ) desire to see UGA within another year or two to be in the Big Dance every year or two and end up around 22-10 every year. That is realistically where UGA fans hope to be. We have the money, the AD to make it happen, the COACH and the fabulous HS all star base to draw from.
We are not trying to by KY ( y’all own it and I saw The Baron often while at UGA ) nor are we trying to be a UT or Florida of four years ago. WE ARE simply trying to vastly elevate the overall BBall program and we can easily do that with the recruiting prescription posted above.
Give CMF one or two more years and UGA will be very respectable, capable of winning most of their games. All the rest will flow in that direction.
Time will tell and CMF is getting there and the experts all acknowledge that he can do it. Why bad mouth UGA? If we have yet another major college in state playing great BBall what is not to like?
Go Dogs.
AceDawg
May 27th, 2010
3:38 pm
Boyd was a strong coach in his days at Berkmar. I imagine these prospects are really solid the way he praises them. UGA should be able to excite recruits on the court this year, and I get the feeling that UGA fans will be turning up in bigger numbers and showing the recruits that they’d not only get coached well but also have a school excited to cheer them on. It is definitely a golden opportunity for the Dawgs, and regardless, yes Tech fans, there are certainly enough in state players to go around for both of us. Luckily, UGA seems capable of doing more with less.
TROTTINGHOME
May 27th, 2010
3:39 pm
TURNT_UP!, CAN YOU FIND ME THE QUOTE STATING …”IF I (THORTON) COULD ONLY PLAY MY FIRST YEAR AT TECH OR WAKE OR ANY ACC SCHOOL”…YOU KNOW HOW RUMORS ARE…THEY CAN’T BE SUBSTANTIATED…I KNOW YOU AND A FEW OTHERS ONLY DEAL WITH FACTS..” I’M COUNTING ON YOU NOW “.
AceDawg
May 27th, 2010
3:47 pm
Turnt_UP! – Fair enough that UGA needs to prove it on the court, but there is likely to be one, probably two, new starters on the court that will improve UGA’s team significantly next year. Their shortfall last year was offense, and Gerald Robinson and their JUCO transfer Sherrard Brantley are bonafide scorers (at least Robinson for sure). As we know, one or two basketball players can make a team twice as good. Every basketball starter is as important to the team as a quarterback in football.
CrackDaddy
May 27th, 2010
3:55 pm
Well it better kick in pretty soon. According to Rivals 2011 basketball recruit rankings, UGa is nowhere to be found. There are 3 SEC teams in the top 25, but not UGa. You can’t win without players (And if you look at UGa football, you might not be able to win with them.)
NewnanDawg
May 27th, 2010
3:56 pm
I find it a little annoying to read from virtually every Tech poster that he would have gone to Tech if it weren’t for the one year sit. And if I were Marcus Thornton or his coach I would be down right ticked off about it since they have both been quoted numerous times stating that potentially sitting out was not in any way a factor in his decision. So, I guess since he didn’t go to Tech, he is now only an average player and a liar according to Tech fans. I certainly hope none of you ever have or know well a sought after recruit and have to experience hearing all of this pathetic, envy driven dribble about him. Good luck to all of next years recruits wherever they go.
Go Dawgs!
nickj0321
May 27th, 2010
5:16 pm
Crackdaddy – nice post…funny stuff
tootrue
May 27th, 2010
5:21 pm
I think Coach fox is creating a monster in Athens. He can coach, and those that will stay in state will want ot play for him. He’s a class guy who can get you to the NBA
tootrue
May 27th, 2010
5:23 pm
Bottom line He didn’t go to Tech.
fight truth decay
May 27th, 2010
5:40 pm
Newnan Daug, you surely cannot expect the young man to tell dog fans that he really wanted to play at Tech but did not want to sit so he chose to be a dog.
BartBuzz
May 27th, 2010
6:30 pm
I have nothing against Marcus Thornton but the ACC is to basketball as the SEC is to football.
KevinM
May 27th, 2010
6:33 pm
I’m still wondering where all the excitement is when you’ve got UK, UT, Florida and South Carolina all in the Top 25 in recruiting for 2010.
Tell me what I am missing about the excitement in Athens.
Keeping kids to play in their home state should be part of the daily job. Apparently, this is considered a major feat.
Uga Who??????
May 27th, 2010
6:49 pm
Hahahahaha you guys crack me up. Your telling me that uga is a program on the rise? You have poor facilities, your surrounded by rednecks, and u are in a weak sec basketball league. Ohhhh yeah, was it not another acc championship again this year in hoops?
doo doo
May 27th, 2010
7:01 pm
hahahahahaha how bout you dogpoopers…yes there are those GT fans who would like to see a coaching change with the GT basketball program but just let Mark Richt drop a couple of games and you wussies with a (P) will be ready to start a riot on these blogs to run him off.
mdawg
May 27th, 2010
7:46 pm
ACC = america’s crybaby conderence
Monticello Dawg
May 27th, 2010
7:50 pm
Seems every basketball thread about UGA has some people mentioning Fox will bolt UGA. It is possible but not likely based on history. Sure, if Kansas or Duke or one or two powerhouse programs call, Fox would likely consider it, but he has everything he needs at UGA to win big. Here is my question: in the last 50 years, name a coach at UGA who left of his own accord for another job? Ron Polk returned to Miss State where he was a legend. Tubby Smith thought UGA was a better job than Ohio State, but could not resist UK. No one could blame him for that, though on second thought, he might have been better off staying. Using logic, that tells me coaches like being in Athens, and it will take some extraordinary circumstances for them to leave.
CrackDaddy
May 27th, 2010
9:28 pm
M..Dawg, the only problem is, is that BB draws a more sophisticated lot, and sophistication is not what UGa is all about.
Professor
May 27th, 2010
9:59 pm
tenn.dawg…….learn how to spell. My guess is you have never set foot on a college campus. Much less open a text book. Stay home and polish the wheels on your trailer.
mdawg
May 27th, 2010
11:18 pm
hey crackdaddy……. did you know that in the 12 sec schools, the hardest school to get into is vandy and UGA is the 2nd hardest……. but lest you know what you speak……
mdawg
May 27th, 2010
11:18 pm
Enter your comments here
gary
May 28th, 2010
5:01 am
Let us all face it,Coach Fox have drawn attention from of the top in state recruits, and landing GA Mr Basketball didn’t hurt things,if you are a true basketball fan ,whis him well ,know matter who and where you are from.
atlvol55
May 28th, 2010
9:19 am
While I think Fox will do a good job, I have to reiterate, Trae Golden (Tennessee signee) was the player of the year in Georgia, Thorton was the AJC’s. Thorton was rated by every recruiting service as about the 5th or 6th best prosepct in Georgia.
The article also forgot to mention Kevin Ware (5 star junior recruit committed to TN from Georgia)…
UGA will do well, but the SEC east is loaded with KY, TN, and Florida; not saying it can’t be done, but all of those schools have much bigger basketball fan bases and better facilities
DJ
May 28th, 2010
9:56 am
Mark Fox will be in Athens for another couple years. You rednecks don’t know how to appreciate him, and it will show over time. Plus, for the fool that said he “talked a couple NBA talent guys into coming back”, give me a break. If they were 1st rounders they would be gone. And the Thornton kid, by all accounts, is a great kid and a solid basketball player. But don’t be fooled by all the “powerhouses” that were recruiting him. Think about it, as has been pointed out, he was one of the few remaining unsigned players that had skills, and it was after all the “major” programs had defections for the NBA. But it is nice to see you Pug fans talk about basketball. Enjoy it until your next Ron Jirsa replaces Fox when he moves on to a real program. It’s just the way it is.
BigTimeTECHFan
May 28th, 2010
9:57 am
Maybe Tech can get Nolte from Milton, but I think he’s only a junior next year. He’s the Milton player I hope Tech gets, the others are good and would be fine but Nolte will be very nice ACC player.
TECHBBAL4EVER
May 28th, 2010
10:13 am
The only reason Thornton picked UGA is because he didn’t have to sit a year and was closer to home. He wanted the ACC, but would’ve had to sit a year if he went to Tech. So UGA got him by Default.
Flo-Ri-Duh!
May 28th, 2010
11:41 am
The real Marcus Thornton effect is more about not wanting to play for a one year coach. Hewitt will be one more year and done. Royal isn’t going to sign with Hewitt and Tech recruiting is DOA as long as Hewitt is around.
highschool fb player
May 29th, 2010
10:54 pm
i had classes with Marcus n he loved georgia tech basketball he didnt like the school but he liked the basketball not the school ppl getting robbed lol and all the lil nerds and the grad rates thats why he went to UGA lol its a funnier school real talk
sandyspringsjacket
May 31st, 2010
11:35 am
Fox had a losing season in year 1, some nice wins, but same old results. He has no track record and no valid evidence that he will be any better then the last 5 failures at THUGA BB. He is about the same level as Felton. Sign a bunch of 2-3 stars, a few upsets but close to the bottom in the SEC east every year. The luster will disappear with another losing season. Everyone knows BB is a losing proposition in the Athens Cow palace, fixing up that dump is like putting lipstick on a pig. THUGA BB is irrelevant and always will be.
es.gamesfreehub.com
April 26th, 2012
4:02 pm
The ‘Marcus Thornton Effect?’ Top prospect has UGA, Georgia Tech and Wake Forest as favorites, says coach | Prep Zone: High School Sports is a good article. I enjoyed reading this article. If you want, check out my website.