A coup for Mark Fox: Mr. Basketball Marcus picks Georgia
Marcus Thornton sets his cap. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
Marcus Thornton was the No. 1 player in Georgia, but he’s not in the top 100 nationally. (Rivals has him No. 121.) He is, however, a major acquisition for Mark Fox and a Bulldog program that still has to prove it can recruit as well as it coaches.
Background: Thornton, of Westlake High, signed with Clemson last fall when most among us figured Fox’s Hounds would do well to go 10-20. He became the recruiting equivalent of a free agent when Oliver Purnell inexplicably bolted for DePaul, which is among the worst jobs in the country.
On his second go-round, Thornton considered Georgia Tech, Texas and Alabama before committing to Georgia on Wednesday. (Because he’d already signed one letter-of-intent, he technically cannot sign another. The rule: One signed letter per player, even if the recruit has been released from it.) And this is big news for Fox.
Georgia finished an honorable 14-17 in the season just completed, beating Tech, Illinois, Tennessee, Vanderbilt and Florida en route. But that was accomplished with the players Fox inherited from Dennis Felton, and two of them — Trey Thompkins and Travis Leslie — turned out to be quite good. It’s clear from one season that Fox can coach what talent he has. At issue was whether a guy who’d never before worked east of Manhattan, Kan., could attract talent.
Marcus Thornton was kind of an early acid test. Fox had no shot at him last fall because Fox hadn’t yet proved anything to us locals, but when the state’s Mr. Basketball becomes unaccountably available and you’re the state school … well, you pretty much have to get him, don’t you?
The playing field for Thornton, Take 2, wasn’t quite level. As tempting as it is to fault Paul Hewitt for not landing a power forward after losing two early to the NBA draft, the ACC has a funny rule about transfers within the conference. Thornton might well have to had to sit out next season had he enrolled at Tech. He told the ol’ AJC on Wednesday that possibility played no part in his choice, but how could it be ignored?
Besides, Hewitt has Kammeon Holsey, a freshman coming off an injury, to play power forward. And the biggest problem with Hewitt isn’t his recruiting, as we know. It’s what happens — or what doesn’t happen — when those recruits get to campus.
Put simply, Fox needed Thornton to prove that Fox could get a Thornton. And he did. And now you’d have to say Georgia has a chance to spike upward in a massively unsettled SEC East. Kentucky, Tennessee and Florida should be good. The Bulldogs could be, too.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
197 comments Add your comment
joe
May 19th, 2010
9:23 pm
FIRST!!!
Mark Bradley
May 19th, 2010
9:24 pm
Kudos, Joe.
btgt69
May 19th, 2010
9:24 pm
first ? THWG
btgt69
May 19th, 2010
9:25 pm
second still THWG
joe
May 19th, 2010
9:26 pm
Can we really expect to be mentioned among Kentucky, Florida and Tenn. just by signing this kid. Call me skeptical, but don’t we need another year of good recruiting to get to those guys level??? Just askin….
Biff Pocoroba
May 19th, 2010
9:28 pm
It looks like Tech is destined to finish last again next year but at least Paul Hewitt will get another year added to his contract and his wife will be happy getting the AMC all to herself at next year’s games.
Dawgs2010
May 19th, 2010
9:28 pm
Bring on the SEC. We are building a team.
Dawghook
May 19th, 2010
9:28 pm
Thornton could be the start of something really good in Athens. Fox reminds me of Bill Self , and I think the future is bright in Athens. No question about how good Georgia basketbal talent is. See Dwight and Kwame.We need them to stay home.
Big L
May 19th, 2010
9:30 pm
Hot damn!!!! Ol Fox is whippin this program into shape.
BDAWG
May 19th, 2010
9:31 pm
Great recruiting by coach Fox. He is a great coach and I do think he will be a great recruiter. Now, all we have to do is recruit a quality center, SF and some great SG. Instead of the kids leaving the state they should take a closer look at the new UGA basketball program. I think with a couple of great recruiting classes coach Fox can bring a NC to the state. He is a very talented coach. I have followed him since he was coaching Nevada and taking them to new heights. We need more support from the top kids in the state of Georgia.
Meanwhile...you know the guy Mark, tell us.
May 19th, 2010
9:31 pm
I’m sure it didn’t escape your notice Mark, that your former colleague all but guaranteed LeBron would end up in Chicago with Doc Rivers in tow to coach him.
Is he onto something…or on something LOL?
Dawg Fan
May 19th, 2010
9:32 pm
Fox is building something in Athens. We might not win the East this year, but we can definitely find a way into the NCAA tourney and maybe make some noise. This could be an exciting year for UGA basketball.
SDK
May 19th, 2010
9:32 pm
Mark, how do you see Georgia doing next season? I think they have a great shot to make the NCAA tournament at the least…
Not Don Waddell
May 19th, 2010
9:34 pm
Duke proved this year that a team need not be great to win in NCAA basketball anymore. The ideal college team is an 8-9 deep team with 3-4 marginal NBA guys who play hard and have a high basketball IQ.
Certainly, looking at Thornton’s vids, he has the talent to eventually play pro-ball, but I don’t think anyone expects him to be a one-and-done. Good get by Fox. He is building things the right way. He will coach up whoever he gets, and he just needs a few pieces to work with.
ATLFANSTUCKINTEXAS
May 19th, 2010
9:35 pm
Coach Fox is building his foundation and UGA must NOT let another school come in and pluck him away like Tubby Smith. Unless of course it’s one of the dream jobs… Has anyone ever asked Coach Fox what his dream job is??????? Hmmmmmm
Catfish
May 19th, 2010
9:36 pm
Huge pick up for UGA basketball. Mark Fox is the real deal. Everybody says he’s too good and will bolt for a better job like Tubby when the time is right. Why is that a foregone conclusion? UGA should be able to build a competitive, long term baskbetball power? I think they can and Damon Evans will make it happen.
UGABasketball
May 19th, 2010
9:37 pm
We own GT and that stupid Hewitt…we just added more to your pain PH. Congrad. to Coach Fox, great job.
harold
May 19th, 2010
9:38 pm
HE IS PLAYING FOR A TEAM THAT IS NOT COMMITTED TO BASKETBALL. TENNESSEE GOT TWO PLAYERS FROM GEORGIA THAT ARE RATED MUCH HIGHER. FOX LOOKS LIKE A COMPUTER SCIENTIST. HE’LL BE GONE WITHIN THREE YEARS…..
Tweets that mention A coup for Mark Fox: Mr. Basketball Marcus picks Georgia | Mark Bradley -- Topsy.com
May 19th, 2010
9:39 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Mark Bradley, Shannon Moore. Shannon Moore said: RT @MarkBradleyAJC: Getting Georgia's Mr. Basketball Marcus Thornton is a major coup for UGA coach Mark Fox. http://bit.ly/9irA4Y [...]
BubbaDawg
May 19th, 2010
9:39 pm
I don’t no nuthin or care nuthin fer BASKITBALL BuT It sire is fuN to git on here an predick ANOTHER nashnul chMPUNSHIP LIKE WE ALWAYS DO IN fOOTBALL
Mudcatjoe
May 19th, 2010
9:40 pm
Obviously, he didn’t want to compete against ACC talent 18 games a season! He can blend in in the weak SEC, but hurts his chances to get into the NBA.
Old Fashioned
May 19th, 2010
9:41 pm
I wished earlier that this “one-and-doner” would go anywhere but GT. I am very happy with his choice of a school. We need a different kind of player—and a different coach—at GT.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
May 19th, 2010
9:43 pm
The big thing is its seems to be nothing but positive news coming from the program. Thompkins electing to stay, Leslie electing to stay and now Thornton committing. This is in direct relation to the job Fox has done in one calender year. The program just needs to keep moving forward. Great job by CMF!
Barkin'Dog
May 19th, 2010
9:44 pm
This coach is a beaut! I love ‘em – and I guess HE CAN RECRUIT THE SOUTH.” Go Dawgs!
GT3O
May 19th, 2010
9:53 pm
If it was not for the ACC rule for transfers he’d be a Jacket. Mark Fox can thank his lucky stars for that rule and that rule alone. Marcus was very, very pleased with GT and even asked GT if there was a way around the rule, alas there was not.
Furthermore, while these players are great to have, I don’t think GT needs them next year. No more one and done types, so Hewitt has no excuse. Period.
.
May 19th, 2010
9:53 pm
KUDOS JOE YO dA MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pi$$onaDAWG
May 19th, 2010
9:53 pm
Don’t care didn’t care if he went to Clemson. If the kid cared about and EDUCATION he would never have started with Clemson or ended at UGA. UGA is getting the 1 and Doners now too.
1980 Dawg
May 19th, 2010
9:54 pm
Great job Coach Mark Fox! Thank you for coming to The University of Georgia!
Volman
May 19th, 2010
9:55 pm
I’m sorry, but Georgia was very lucky that he had to sit out or else this kid would be a Jacket.
Go on ahead though, be excited to bring in a top 150 player….. Not even ranked high enough nationally to be relevant.
GT Fan
May 19th, 2010
9:57 pm
Marcus, I would have loved to watched you play at Tech but you made a good decision going to play for Coach Fox. I love GT but I wouldn’t let my kid play for Coach Hewitt. I look forward to the day Hewitt is gone and the program again will be respected. Can’t blame any kid for not coming to GT to play BB. Football and everything else is GREAT!
Beast from the East
May 19th, 2010
9:59 pm
Congrats, Dawgs! Good pick-up. Looks like Fox is really turning the program around. As a huge Gator fan, I was impressed with the effort and results he produced with less than stellar talent last year. I think he’ll prove to be a force to be reckoned with in the SEC East in the coming years.
Frank
May 19th, 2010
10:00 pm
gtu comes in second in basketball to uga again, what else is new?
THWGT!!!!!!
BG
May 19th, 2010
10:01 pm
GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Craig
May 19th, 2010
10:01 pm
Volman, you can’t prove what you are stating and why would he have chosen a team whose coaching is in question going into this year? Fox is proving to be a solid coach and on the upscale.
GT65
May 19th, 2010
10:04 pm
Thanks Rads for keeping Paul Hewitt. We just lost another good player..how many other kids will go somewhere else before you get off your a@@ and FIRE Coach Hewitt. The fans demand better!
LizDawg
May 19th, 2010
10:05 pm
GT is complacent with being the second-tier program in the state.
30-24
73-66
Beast from the East
May 19th, 2010
10:06 pm
Doesn’t really matter why the kid chose UGA. All that matters is he DID. Talent attracts more talent. Once again, congrats, Dawgs!
Pi$$onaDAWG
May 19th, 2010
10:07 pm
What did Fox do in 09? Were the Dawgs better than .500? HAHHAHAH FOX the new Mike Bobo of Basketball.
GT65
May 19th, 2010
10:09 pm
Agree Beast, UGA got a very good Coach in Fox. Maybe one day we will.
Beast from the East
May 19th, 2010
10:09 pm
I’d say he did almost as much as Hewitt with FAR LESS talent in his first year. Shows a lot of promise. Hewitt needs to be shown the door.
Hey Pi$$onYourself
May 19th, 2010
10:09 pm
Maybe you should have cared more about “and education.”
not in the top 100 for a reason
May 19th, 2010
10:13 pm
ryan harrow jelan kendrick shannon scott dai-jon parker and julian royal are all better players than thornton…he’s ranked 121 while the other 5 are top 30 and top 15 players for a reason….so much hype for this signing when hes at best #6 in the state…doesnt matter that the milton kids are juniors, they are all better players….settle down dawg fans, this aint turning your program around
Bill
May 19th, 2010
10:13 pm
Do you believe Hewitt cares about Education? All his one and none BS.
Shane
May 19th, 2010
10:13 pm
This just in. Jason Heyward is pretty good.
Bill
May 19th, 2010
10:16 pm
You can Pi$$onadawg but CPH pi$$ on GT at a tune of 7 million a flush.
HugoStiglitz
May 19th, 2010
10:17 pm
Did almost as much as Hewitt? 23-13 vs 14-17. 2nd round of the NCAA tournament vs 2nd worst team in the SEC. Thats not exactly equal. I think Hewitt could have done alot better then he did last season but the constant Hewitt bashing is getting a little old.
Bill
May 19th, 2010
10:17 pm
J-Hey is damn good. Triple to win!
dawgfan
May 19th, 2010
10:20 pm
((((((((((((((((((((((((((((30-24)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))0
((((((((((((((((((((((((((((73-66)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((top ten football recruiting class, number one by years end)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((top 25 basketball class, still better then techs)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
put simply, IF I WAS A NERD I WOULD BE SCARED: UGA IS ABOUT TO LAND THE TOP FOOTBALL CLASS IN THE COUNTRY AND THIS SINGLE COMMITMENT MARKS UGA TURNING POINT IN COLLEGE BASKETBALL. we RUN THIS STATE. we beat yall with no talent last year in basketabll when yall had 2 nbaers. This should be fun this year when we have 3 nbaers!!! hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahah ID BE SCARED IF I WAS A NERD
Mark Bradley
May 19th, 2010
10:22 pm
SDK, I would think Georgia has a very good shot to be in the Big Dance next season.
Mark Bradley
May 19th, 2010
10:23 pm
And maybe I’m wrong, but I don’t see Thornton as a one-and-done guy at all. Remember, Thompkins and Leslie will be the big scorers on that team in 2010-2011.
Beast from the East
May 19th, 2010
10:26 pm
Bradley, there’s a good topic for you tommorrow. Who did the better coaching job last year…..Hewitt or Fox? That would generate some hits betweens the pups and the bees.
AJC’s Mr. Basketball signs with UGA over Georgia Tech, others – Atlanta Journal Constitution | College in georgia
May 19th, 2010
10:26 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
Bravesfan79
May 19th, 2010
10:27 pm
Gt is so above UGA in hoops that real basketball fans like myself dont even have to acknowledge the fools that talk trash. Congrats to UGA for landing this kid, UGA is my favorite team in the SEC and i hope they do well. But lets face it, he would of been a undersized power forward in the ACC and that is not what GT needs for the next 3 years (since thats all he would of been able to play had he gone to GT, which is probably why he chose UGA).
Note to Hewitt…. do all us real GT hoops fans a favor and hire a EXPERIENCED ex head coach as your new assistant!! When your outcoached by the likes of Oliver Purnell… theres a serious problem!
GT Bball Fan
May 19th, 2010
10:29 pm
He didn’t want to sit out a year while playing for the only legitimate DIV I college BBall program in the state. Pretty easy choice to not sit out a year (per ACC rules), when only gonna play 1 or 2 years anyway. I’m glad he stayed in state. He will help UGA get to .500 in conference, that’s it. Fox will upgrade to a real BBall school by the time Thorton declares for the NBA. Enjoy your 1 season at .500 and have another decade of uselessness.
Greg
May 19th, 2010
10:29 pm
not in the top 100 for a reason, at least some of those guys you’re bringing up are not in the same recruiting class. I know Julian Royal is a Class of 2011 kid. This guy is 2010.
Thornton was under the radar before this year and signed with Clemson. This is definitely reflected by his ranking. However, he outperformed people’s expectations of him this year by scoring 24 pts per game and being Mr. Basketball over some people who may have more talent than him.
This guy isn’t a one-and-done guy who will make Georgia a top team immediately by any stretch on his own, but he’s the type of guy they need to help build a program around. It’s a good pickup for the dawgs. We’ll all know more in the long run. Fox will ultimately be judged just as much on talent evaluation as he will be in recruiting as more time elapses.
Dawg 1
May 19th, 2010
10:32 pm
You got to love it… The same people who were confidently predicting that this kid was a ‘lock’ at Tech are now trashing the same kid.
It’s a nice pick up. He’s a good fit. Academics are important to the young man and his family. UGA will continue to improve.
We all need to remember that this isn’t a sprint; but it looks like it isn’t going to be a Marathon either.
Early returns on CMF – a very good hire..
Pete
May 19th, 2010
10:32 pm
Bravesfan79, Hewitt needs to worry about beating UGA, something he cannot do on a regular basis. Kinda sucks when the football school is just as good as Tech in basketball.
Shane
May 19th, 2010
10:33 pm
Bradley, there’s a good topic for you tommorrow. Who did the better coaching job last year…..Hewitt or Fox? That would generate some hits betweens the pups and the bees.
I think Fox would win that debate. With Leslie and Thompkins plus this kid coming in one thing has changed at UGA.
Expectations.
E.Lo
May 19th, 2010
10:33 pm
Hey Vol Man we were goof enough to whup your azz one time last year!
Shane
May 19th, 2010
10:34 pm
Are we really gonna have to put up with a Celtics Lakers Finals?
ESPN\ABC must be having an orgasm right now.
KJ
May 19th, 2010
10:36 pm
“If the kid cared about and EDUCATION”
And if you cared about “and” education, you’d go back to Chattahoochee Tech and get a degree that qualified you to do something in your middle age other than drunkenly troll UGA blogs.
Beast from the East
May 19th, 2010
10:37 pm
The SEC East is going to be a lot tougher than the previous 4-6 years. With Pearl @ UT, Calipari @ Uk, Fox now @ UGA the level of competition has really increased. Vandy’s always pretty tough and so are my Gators. It’ll be a tough task to win the East in the next few years!
really?
May 19th, 2010
10:37 pm
Acid test? Don’t you mean litmus test?
not in the top 100 for a reason
May 19th, 2010
10:39 pm
Greg- i’m fully aware that the milton trip is class of 2011, but the column opening sentence is that thornton is the #1 player in georgia, and i’m just stating at least 5 players that are more talented than him, whether its 2010 or 2011…using a 24 pt avg in high school is hardly an indicator of how good someone is…..westlake is not in a strong basketball region and there are plenty of players in high school that have averaged over 20 plus pts a game and do not have the talent that reflects that avg….thornton is a solid guy with some size but to expect him to be a savior or cornerstone just isnt realistic in my opinion…i’ve watched a lot of GA high school basketball over the past 5 years or so…hes nowhere near the level that favors or hickson or lawal or aminu were at…and this is not a slight at his character or grades, i know from these blogs before he is a good student, this is simply about on the court
HugoStiglitz
May 19th, 2010
10:40 pm
If there is a topic with Hewitts name in it, regardless of what the topic is, then I can already tell you how it will go. 5 to 10 supposed GT fans will post 200 times a piece about how much they hate Hewitt and how terrible of a coach he is. UGA fans might get a word in here and there but their enthusiasm is no match for the rabbid Hewitt haters.
.
May 19th, 2010
10:40 pm
HUGO-YOU GO, When hewitts gone it will stop, not until. hewitts a joke and if he is so good why does he need super asst coaches to get him by?
Shane
May 19th, 2010
10:41 pm
All that maybe true but the bottom line is this.
Its alot better UGA got him than if they hadnt.
wiley
May 19th, 2010
10:41 pm
Wow I dont ever remember seeing this much excitement for a 3 star player. He’s a good player and congrats to UGA on getting him.
UK
May 19th, 2010
10:43 pm
you dawg fans are morons! One player does not make a great program. Your little basketball team is irrelevant and always will be.
Innocent Bystander
May 19th, 2010
10:43 pm
Not sure if it’s been said yet, but to say that he was the “recruiting equivalent of a free agent” is incorrect. Any ACC team (Tech included) that he wanted to attend would require him to sit out a year as if transferring. I believe it’s an ACC rule.
Shane
May 19th, 2010
10:44 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQFISuAyyck
Shane
May 19th, 2010
10:45 pm
you dawg fans are morons! One player does not make a great program. Your little basketball team is irrelevant and always will be.
Actually Leslie and Thompkins are pretty good too. Ask Cousins if Leslie is any good. Congrats on choking in the big dance. Again.
God it feels so good to be a Dawg
May 19th, 2010
10:47 pm
Pi$$onaDawg – We were below .500 and beat Tech. What does that say about Tech and the ACC? Not much other than UGA IS BETTER AT BASKETBALL THAN TECH!!!
BravesFan79 – If Tech is so much better than UGA, why did UGA win last year?
What the hell is wrong with Tech fans? I guess you lose so much to UGA you have to ignore reality.
Jackets!
May 19th, 2010
10:47 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6ojLiCFFn4…Shane that’s a SG. I haven’t seen anything on Thornton that shows incredible talent. Got anything that remotely resembles this kind of domination….http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xO4hLIP6-ic
Shane
May 19th, 2010
10:48 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9I0sO0rXG5Q&feature=related
Shane
May 19th, 2010
10:50 pm
Got anything that remotely resembles this kind of domination….http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xO4hLIP6-ic
Yup LOL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBKyoSBEAnQ
Shane
May 19th, 2010
10:52 pm
Tech cant beat UGA when they dont have any talent
What are they gonna do when UGA does have some?
Bulldog
May 19th, 2010
10:52 pm
Sweet! Welcome, Marcus! And well, done…The Fantastic Coach Fox!
That’s right. You heard it here, first! THE FANTASTIC COACH FOX!!!
Bring it.
Roald Dahl would be most proud!
Go effin’ Dawgs!!!!
HugoStiglitz
May 19th, 2010
10:53 pm
UGA fans really need to drop this fantasy they have that winning one game means the team who won is a better team. Bad teams beat good teams all the time. Especially in basketball where one or two guys can have a hot day and win the game by themselves. When GT beat Duke the next game I didnt see GT fans talking about how much better then Duke we were.
IL Jacket
May 19th, 2010
10:53 pm
Sorry it didn’t work out with Tech, Marcus, but best
wishes for a successful career at Georgia.
Jackets!
May 19th, 2010
10:56 pm
How many five star players has UGA landed in the last 4 years? UGA is still recruiting 3 star players….and they really dont have that much talent. You have no McDonald’s All Americans…find one college team that has been great with out at least one. You have two good players…not great. Fox’s offense doesnt really need incredible talent though…and honestly recruiting not one and dones is something I wish Hewitt would try.
Shane
May 19th, 2010
10:57 pm
How many five star players has UGA landed in the last 4 years? UGA is still recruiting 3 star players….and they really dont have that much talent.
And yet we still wear Tech out. Why is that?
T_height
May 19th, 2010
11:00 pm
Who cares about where he ranked nationally. he must be pretty good if Kentucky, Texas, GT, and now even clemson. If kentucky wanted him, thats should say enough. i heard Florida wanted him also.
Jackets!
May 19th, 2010
11:01 pm
Actually you win every other year. Tech has never won at Stegman and UGA has only won at AMC once since the teams stopped playing at the OMNI. In 2004 you won but you honestly cant argue that UGA had a better team that year? We played for the National Championship. Tech may lose to UGA but we are a program that frequently appears as an at large bid in the NCAA tourney…Georgia only wishes they could do that.
HugoStiglitz
May 19th, 2010
11:01 pm
UGA fans really need to drop this fantasy notion they have that winning one game means the team who won is a better team. Bad teams beat good teams all the time. Especially in basketball where one or two guys can have a hot day and win the game by themselves. When GT beat Duke the next game I didnt see GT fans talking about how much better then Duke we were.
KJ
May 19th, 2010
11:02 pm
“Your little basketball team is irrelevant and always will be.”
And your entire state is irrelevant and always will be. But at least you have basketball!
eddy
May 19th, 2010
11:05 pm
Uga fans crack me up. Get a player not even in the top 100 only because of the acc rule and now they are gonna be national champs? Good player yes, but hardly gonna make uga a national contender. I would concentrate on having a winning record first and making ANY tournament would be a good start for the uga program. You can’t even compare the two basketball programs because uga basketball is IRRELEVANT!!
Shane
May 19th, 2010
11:05 pm
Tech may lose to UGA but we are a program that frequently appears as an at large bid in the NCAA tourney
Exactly my point. When UGA gets some talent thats gonna flip around. Fox could outcoach Hewitt blindfolded
Greg
May 19th, 2010
11:08 pm
not in the top 100 for a reason, ok, i see what you’re saying. Overall talent level, regardless of class, you’re probably about right to say he’s the sixth best or so.
And you’re also right that getting this one guy doesn’t turn things around by itself. It does give Fox a little momentum, though, as he’s trying to go after these Milton guys and a 2011 class in the state of Georgia that appears to be a lot deeper than the 2010 class was.
Thornton could improve Georgia in the short term, but the other big concern Fox is Georgia in 2011 when he probably won’t have Thompkins and Leslie. If Fox has an impressive year while he has that talent on board, he could wow some of these rising high school seniors. He’s going to need to and hopefully pick up a couple more Thorntons and even higher rated guys for this next class.
I think Thornton is a big recruit because it could a point to look back to and say that is where Fox got the ball rolling. Because Fox can’t stop there if he wants Georgia to consistently compete with UF, Tenn., Vandy and Kentucky.
Tweets that mention A coup for Mark Fox: Mr. Basketball Marcus picks Georgia | Mark Bradley -- Topsy.com
May 19th, 2010
11:13 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Mark Bradley, Robert Matre. Robert Matre said: A coup for Mark Fox: Mr. Basketball Marcus picks Georgia http://bit.ly/adD79J (via @MarkBradleyAJC) [...]
jarvis
May 19th, 2010
11:15 pm
Jeez….what did DePaul ever do to you?
Jackets!
May 19th, 2010
11:16 pm
I dont know if it will ever flip. We are in the ACC….talent will always come our way. Both teams should expect to make the tourney most years. Heck there’s enough talent in Georgia for several D1 schools to have successful programs. We lose to many kids to Duke, UNC, and other big time programs.
Brian F.
May 19th, 2010
11:32 pm
Niceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee !!
Hoops Dawg
May 19th, 2010
11:33 pm
To those who say that Fox isn’t in the run for the top players, Scout.com reports CMF has offered two 5-star and four 4-star players in the class of 2011. Two of them are off the the Milton High state champs and only one of the 6 players seems to be taking Georgia’s interest lightly. Land one of the shooting guards and another power forward and the cupboard will be well stocked should Trey and Travis leave after their junior year.
Wreckmaniac
May 19th, 2010
11:34 pm
Maybe this kid wants a degree which is not allowed at Tech. Hewitt signs his kids to one and done contracts. Graduate in one year or forget it. Either way you’re out.
.
May 19th, 2010
11:41 pm
KUDOS EVERYONE YALL ARE REAL COOL
reddjonn68
May 19th, 2010
11:42 pm
You guys kill me with this GT vs UGA junk Ga is a hotbed recruiting state! Get over it. Fact of the matter is we ain’t won no trophy on either side since the late 80s & early 90s, so wake up. Neither team in GA gonna win anything until they get their own natural resources.
reddjonn68
May 19th, 2010
11:59 pm
Daniel Orton is a “lottery pick” according to the “experts” ! So after a year like Thompkins & decent coaching what is he? Calipari had “4″, count them 4, lottery picks but could not get a championship. He is the most overrated coach of all time, & Daniel Orton will be another “bust”
Milton dad
May 20th, 2010
12:05 am
If Fox wants to recruit GA ballers, he can simply show up at every Milton game and talk Scott out of Ohio State, dai jon and Royal out of everywhere and Nolte out of Duke. If he can do that he can really recruit – and save gas.
SD Dawg
May 20th, 2010
12:06 am
So what is it Tech fans. Is he not really that good or “one and done”? Seems to me that it would be hard to be both. I’ll settle for really good and two years. Just glad a decent player came our way for once. We should make at least one tournament next year.
Coon-Dawg
May 20th, 2010
12:31 am
College Athletics is the coach ! … Coach Fox is one of “those” guys ! Even the GT fans know it ! … Congrats coach … This is only the beginning ! Go Dawgs !!!
Bernie Matt
May 20th, 2010
12:47 am
So Paul can’t coach, but Mark Fox went 14-17 with 2 projected NBA first rounders, and he’s okay. You people are as sick!
cdog
May 20th, 2010
1:16 am
mark, who cares about marcus thornton being ranked in the top 100.as far as we bulldog fan are concern, he is ranked no 1.you should not have put that part in about.thornton will make the bulldogs into a possible final four team. you can’t buck him at all.
hunker down
May 20th, 2010
1:24 am
Glad to see you staying in state. welcome home Dawg!!!!!!!!!!!!
DawginIraq
May 20th, 2010
2:40 am
I can’t believe how may posts there are abount Georgia B-ball. Great to see the intrest picking up. To Harold: what does it matter what coach Fox looks like? And TN has momentum in recruiting right now, but picking up this kid is a great start for a Georgia program that has been down for so long. Great job mr. Fox. And by the way, the national rankings just befuddle me. I am of the opinion that their opinion is like armpits, everyone has a couple and most of the time they stink.
Michael Adams
May 20th, 2010
3:00 am
LMAO…the top “player” in Ga in ranked 121 overall in the US? Good luck UGA with that “coup”. The national power that is UGA will no doubt we boosted with this signing. UGA will still be regulated to their usual status as bottom feeders. I just hope he has the intelligence to pass the “high” academic standards set forth for the +1,000,000 student body!
Michael Adams
May 20th, 2010
3:13 am
UGA B’ball= No tradition, no titles, no fan base, no school support! Why don’t you fools just concentrate on football? Your basketball facility(rodeo?) is a cesspool where Athens’ homeless wouldn’t even be caught dead near. It’s even worse when your program is overshadowed by the ladies (I use that term very loosely) program! Good luck Marcus, this program needs it. Many a better player as tried and failed to turn this useless program around!
blackprix
May 20th, 2010
4:12 am
As a Tech fan, I like what I’ve seen from Coach Fox. I like what I’ve seen from him more than what I’ve seen from Hewitt.
This might be the final straw to get rid of Hewitt if Fox starts out recruiting Hewitt and continues to beat him!
If this is what it takes, I say good. Tech NEEDS a new basketball coach plain and simple!
hunker down
May 20th, 2010
5:41 am
I think this shows the reliability is not always correct in recruiting services. When Marcus is Mr. GA basketball player and not rraked in the the top 100 in the nation I have to say what gives? Ga has produced historcally its fair share of top high profile athletes and I find it hard to believe that the best in GA does not crack he top 100.
mike
May 20th, 2010
6:24 am
good luck coach and go get two more……go dawgs
Bulldog59
May 20th, 2010
6:59 am
Ignore all the comments from the Georgia haters. This is a great moment for Georgia basketball and a milestone in the Mark Fox era.
Joe, I have to agree. Mentioning us with UK, UF, and UT, is a bit of a tall order at this point. But with this line-up, who knows how far we’ll go.
BuzztheKiller
May 20th, 2010
7:05 am
Does UGA have a basketball team? I thought they killed it after the basketball history class scandal. Remember? How many points do you get for a three pointer???? Love that one.
GT
May 20th, 2010
7:10 am
Marcus Thornton is not even in the top 100 in the country, so he is no one and done player. He won’t even be the best or second best player on his team next year. Once again what is up with the quality of these Mr. Basketballs in this state. Tech had one last year that will be lucky to get drafted, couldn’t hit a free throw if it was the ocean. Georgia has a winner in the other Thornton out of Wesleyan who played on the same team with Smith who is has started since he got to Clemson. Did anyone notice Brandon Reed was freshman of the year in his Division 1 conference. Division one A basketball has produced better players on the whole, with less notice. Reason? They develop the whole student which make for a better basketball player, not to mention people. Coachablity, discipline, unselfishness. You use to have to have that just to get into Tech, still do at places like Duke.
BullyMack
May 20th, 2010
7:18 am
Man ‘o man are the Techies jealous. Funny how your football coach is the second coming but our up and coming Mark Fox is garbage and you’re so dismissive about our invigorated Bball program that is looking up while you guys are consistently bad-mouthing your own Hewitt. Lame. Anyone want to bet they will be gritting their teeth that Fox isn’t manning the sidelines at the ‘Joke By The Coke’ in another year or two?
» SEC links: Georgia gets Thornton; Baseball cranks up John Clay’s Sidelines
May 20th, 2010
7:29 am
[...] Mark Bradley of the AJC writes that Georgia gets a coup with the pickup of Marcus Thornton. [...]
BullyMack
May 20th, 2010
7:30 am
Anyone hear that? Are those sirens? Ho, hum, just another pedestrian getting mugged near the Tech campus. Between that and being reminded of the Bulldawgs everyday by looking at the co-ed’s on your campus I’d be upset too.
Bobby
May 20th, 2010
7:52 am
Looks like we just squeezed the pipeline of talent to UK,Tech and others with CMF…. The Steg is gonna be awesome with all the new additions this year and I look at UGA BBall the same way as Fla.football years ago…All we ever needed was a coach who will hang in there, build the program and put his stamp on it….
WonderDawg
May 20th, 2010
8:06 am
While UGA is the “state school”, MB, Tech is certainly considered the better basketball school, and for good reason. Tech already gets some of major talent in-state. Say what you want about Hewitt’s coaching, but he is an excellent recruiter.
That’s why I think this is a big deal. Fox went head to head with Tech and Texas (and others) and won. Maybe this is a sign that UGA is gonna be give Tech, and other BB powers some competition for the good Georgia players.
Vivian
May 20th, 2010
8:07 am
A mind is a terrible thing to waste. I heard UGA offered the kid free tattoos and a deck of “get out of jail free” cards.
HMMM
May 20th, 2010
8:07 am
I thought basketball didn’t matter to UGA fans?
Fanny
May 20th, 2010
8:11 am
Now that we’re officially in the off-season, wouldn’t this be the perfect time to take an in-depth look at UGA and have a free-ranging discussion about the problems at UGA and why the arrest rate of players is the highest in the country? it’s common knowledge that UGA is a party school, but have any football players every actually graduated with a real degree? Jan Kemp exposed the school and the coaches almost three decades ago, but there is no sign that anything has improved; if anything, the arrest rate shows that things are getting more outrageous every year while Mark Richt – a decent fellow with no coaching skills – has no clue what to do.
UGA has become a major embarrassment to all Georgians, and we want some answers starting now.
RM
May 20th, 2010
8:12 am
Huge pick-up for UGA no matter what the nerds say! What ever happened to that Polee kid in LA? Did he commit elsewhere? Go Dawgs!!
Gen Neyland
May 20th, 2010
8:15 am
To garner the interest of Thornton is good for UGA and it’s basketball program. It shows that the past clusterbang eras have been laid to rest. I think Fox has the ability to coach up this team and get them to really believe in themselves. The problem for Fox is that he’s gonna lose two talented players after next season so his work in recruiting and building is only just beginning. Good luck…
Chuck
May 20th, 2010
8:18 am
This thread demonstrates pretty conclusively that fans of ALL teams will attack a player that opts not to join their program
SEC links: Georgia gets Thornton; Baseball cranks up « MrSEC.com
May 20th, 2010
8:20 am
[...] Mark Bradley of the AJC writes that Georgia gets a coup with the pickup of Marcus Thornton. [...]
atlvol55
May 20th, 2010
8:20 am
First of all, the Atlanta media needs to quit referring to Thorton as the best basketball player in Georgia…he is not. Thorton is rated as about the fifth or sixth best player…
Again, Trae Golden from Powder Springs (Tennessee signee) was the player of the year in Geogia and a top 50 prospects as was Jordan McRae, from near Savannah (again a TN signee to 50ish type player)…
Also, the kid from here in Atlanta who signed with Memphis is also much more highly rated…
I’m not bashing Georgia, Thorton is a good get for them, but this guy isn’t some 5 star recruit that they AJC has made him out to be
Chuck
May 20th, 2010
8:23 am
Fanny, you’re a lunatic. If you are embarassed because the Athens Barneys have crackdowns on beer possession and driving-a-scooter-while-black, then you’re living in a fantasy land.
The police forces of most cities, especially Tech’s home-base in Atlanta, have legitimate crime problems to worry about. I have no doubt that Tech players can do whatever they want on scooters, and can blend in as underage drinkers a lot better in the larger, less concentrated drinking population of Atlanta.
But make whatever foolish claims you want. You are either hopelessly naive, or you’re simply trying to create a perception that doesn’t match reality. I think it’s the latter.
Mark Fox
May 20th, 2010
8:28 am
Get a clue, you imbeciles. I am just building up your mid-major program so I can Lane Kiffen your hillbilly behinds and leave for a far better program!
Big Sack Dawg
May 20th, 2010
8:29 am
Mark – for the first time in a long time I feel good about where GA Basketball is headed. I certainly don’t follow it nearly as close as I do football but I want to shed light on something. I believe Fox to be a good modern day recruiter, embracing the technology made available to him. I have seen a trend in the last couple of years where social networking has been utilized by some coaches. It is also embraced by the youth/the athletes of today. Fox uses Twitter to broadcast what is happening with basketball in the bulldog nation. Kids are watching/following that. Other Coaches who are active on twitter are Urban Myer and Lane CYA LATER Kiffin. It puts them out there as an indirect contact to potential scholarship athletes.
Mark Richt has a twitter account and he’s “tweeted” about 4 times in the last 2 years. Are we missing an opportunity to broadcast ourselves here? I think maybe so, Even if Richt had his admin assistant to do the tweets on his behalf(Spurrier style), I think he needs that presence in the social networking realm. The kids are eating it up. The kids themselves love the celebrity status they get with followers. Richts followers are listening closely for a heartbeat. Thoughts?
not in the top 100 for a reason
May 20th, 2010
8:41 am
HunkerDown- the state does have 2 players ranked in the top 20 of 2010, Ryan Harrow is #19 per Rivals and Jelan Kendrick is #15 per Rivals….and you are right, this state has produced some studs over the past several years, but thornton’s nowhere near that kinda player…this is a huge overreaction to a player is who solid but not spectacular, hence why hes not rated higher…he wasnt even the consensus top player in this state based on season awards, true he won Mr basketball, but Ryan Harrow was the true top player….Harrow was named Gatorade player of the Year while Kendrick was a McDonalds AA and a Jordan Brand AA….most of the recent players from this state that won Mr Basketball were also winners of everything else i just listed, ie Favors Aminu took all honors, Hickson and Lawal were mcdonalds AAs and i think Lawal was Mr basketball, though Hickson was clearly the best player in that class….anyways, my point is thornton is an OK player who probably wont fail at UGA but also probably wont standout
how2fish
May 20th, 2010
8:45 am
Fanny it would be a great time to talk about what you were doing in the back seat of that SUV at Cowboys last Sat nite…was that really a dwarf and a goat back there with you and the fogged up windows?
how2fish
May 20th, 2010
8:47 am
atlvol55 Mark Fox beat you last year, this kid will help the team be better overall..nuff said.
seahawk
May 20th, 2010
8:52 am
I’m an avid UGA basketball fan since Coach Rosemond. No, GA bball program is not as strong as FL or KY, and it won’t be for a while. Right now we are trying to achieve 8 wins in the sec east, then 9.
I’m proud of Mark Fox and his players for the job they did last year and I’m looking forward to the coming season. All the haters please take a hike. For the rest of you, get behind our team and let everybody know we are proud of em!!
F-105 Thunderchief
May 20th, 2010
8:52 am
With the one-or-two-and-done nature of college basketball right now, coaches have to be able to take rosters and win with them right away. Fox essentially has landed three top players by keeping the two he inherited. UGA could have a darn good season next year and prime the pump to keep the good players coming in season after season.
Reality Check
May 20th, 2010
8:54 am
All the Georgia Haters beware. UGA beat GT head up, trashed UT (split series), and nearly beat UK on the road with about two or three real division one players on the roster. With these new recruits coming in expect better things. No one is suggesting that we will be on par with Kentucky, but UGA has already beaten GT 6 out of 10 years including the Dennis Felton era.
bulldogsteve
May 20th, 2010
9:00 am
If Tech is such a great place, then why did they not get him the first time around before he signed with Clemson? UGA has made some great strides to improve itself with Fox. If he turned down Tech the first time, why do you think he would have signed with them this time with no changes?
Coach Cool
May 20th, 2010
9:20 am
Why on Earth does the SEC use divisions for basketball?
Oh yeah, because it’s a football conference.
DawginLex
May 20th, 2010
9:25 am
Great get for coach Fox-a solid 4 year player to build around and get other recruits interested. We all know next year will be good but some serious stockpiling needs to happen so that the next year is not a repeat of past UGA seasons.
Calipari just got Terrence Jones from Oregon and stole him away from UW. UK has the #1 recruiting class in the nation again and will be top 10 again. UGA can realistically compete with UK this year for the division but will most likely finish 2nd, 3rd or 4th. Florida is loaded and UT will be solid again.
UGA can make the NCAA’s though and that would be a solid accomplishment in year 2 for Coach Fox.
snapshot
May 20th, 2010
9:26 am
muttville better hope they get good at basketball cause their football program is going down hill fast.
GT BABY
May 20th, 2010
9:39 am
let me tell you something about this kid
Notso Fast
May 20th, 2010
9:43 am
Good for Ga. He wont stay 4 years but it’s a sign that in-state players will also look to Ga. It’s a indication of good things ahead for the Bulldogs.
GT BABY
May 20th, 2010
9:44 am
After westlake beat central gwinnett in the final four of the playoffs, Westlake moved on to play someone for the national championship. Rumor has it, Thornton didnt play that game because he injured himself. Not only did he injure himself, he injured himself during warm ups while giving a team mate a chest bump and twisted his ankle……HAHAHAHAHA TRUE STORY. Westlake went on to lose the game as you could imagine.
richtfan
May 20th, 2010
9:44 am
Mark,
If the rule says that Thornton can only sign one LOI, then how is he able to sign and play at uga?
Hold on there Mr President
May 20th, 2010
9:57 am
CMF has a plan and that plan is endorsed by hungry UGA B Ball fans. He plans on building UGA into a perennial 20-10 or 22-8 type of team. This past year was a modest step toward achieving his goal. Step # 1 it was. Nice, nice job, Coach. You ARE A COACH,SIR.
With the returning players and the transfer shooter from MTSU? and one or two of his new recruits, Mark can now work toward step 2. That is to win maybe 19 or 20 for season 2010-11 and possibly win two in the SEC tourney and possibly get into The Dance, come March. This is very, very achievable for UGA.
Step # 3 is to go maybe 22-8 or 23-7 and make some major noise in the SEC reg season, with some out of conf wins, and come up with a couple of break through conference wins ( not necessarily winning the SEC ) and then winning the SEC tourney or playing for the conf tourney championship. Then, another invite to the Dance and advancing deeply9 2 games or 3?) in that tourney.
If this schedule can be completed within 3 years …………….THIS is what UGA would love to have. UGA folks do not expect NC’s in BBall or many SEC Championships. We just want our B Ball to be quite decent and it easily can be with CMF and our local state talent. Once we achieve all of this, then the GRADS will be happy to drop some major $$$ on new digs for the team.
All the rest can easily fall into place for UGA ,if we meet these simple goals.
Go Dogs.
trey
May 20th, 2010
10:02 am
He didn’t want to be a bug. Just accept the fact and stop spinning trying to make your yellow selves feel better.
UGA’s basketball team wasn’t even a blip on the radar screen this past season and it still whipped the taliban. LMAO
Oh and in case you forgot: ((30-24)) so glad it STILL hurts soooo bad.
GT BABY
May 20th, 2010
10:03 am
GEORGIA FANS ARE SO PREDICTABLE. GEORGIA FANS DONT EVEN KNOW HOW TO PLAY BASKETBALL. YALL DONT EVEN KEEP UP WITH UGA BASKETBALL, NOW YOU ACT LIKE YOU CARE. WHAT A JOKE YALL ARE. WHEN GEORGIA ENDS THE FOOTBALL SEASON IN THE TOP 10 (LIKE TECH DID) COME TALK TO ME. WHEN GEORGIA MAKES IT PAST THE FIRST ROUND IN THE BIG DANCE ( LIKE TECH DID) COME TALK TO ME. WHEN GEORGIA IS IN THE TOP 5 IN BASEBALL ( LIKE TECH IS) COME TALK TO ME. HOW THE HELL IS A SCHOOL LIKE GT BETTER THAN GEORGIA IN EVERY SPORT? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
PS-HAVE FUN IN SHEREVPORT LOSERS!
PeachDawg
May 20th, 2010
10:08 am
Hold on there Mr President – You need to put the bong down before you hurt yourself. That sounds a lot like the football predictions every year. Football’s one thing, basketball’s a different thing altogether in the Classic City. Let’ not get too over-hyped.
Ten at 10: Georgia’s best hoops addition had no signing ceremony | AJC College Sports Recruiting
May 20th, 2010
10:11 am
[...] 1. By securing on Wednesday the signing of “Mr. Georgia Basketball,” Marcus Thornton, Georgia basketball coach Mark Fox locked down a pretty good incoming class for his first full year of recruiting. In addition to the 6-foot-8 forward (that’s the height at which the Bulldogs now list him), they signed 6-8 forward Cady Lalanne of Orlando; 6-9 forward Donte Williams of Atlanta; and 6-2 guard Sharrard Brantley of Dublin (via Northwest Florida College). But the biggest addition for Fox’s 2010-11 squad has been on campus for the past year. While Georgia’s rivals might say they didn’t land any four- or five-star talent, the Bulldogs could counter that their most impactful addition didn’t have a signing ceremony. Gerald Robinson Jr., a 6-1 guard from Nashville, transferred to UGA last year from Tennessee State where he averaged 16.6 points over two seasons. Teammates and coaches often said he proved in daily practices to be among the Bulldogs’ top three players right away. . . . In case you missed it, AJC columnist Mark Bradley weighed in last night on Georgia’s acquisition of Thornton. [...]
robodawg
May 20th, 2010
10:17 am
Something’s building in Athens!
Wreckmaniac
May 20th, 2010
10:19 am
It feels so good to be a dawg ? Yes, ignorance can be bliss.
Hold on there again , Mr President
May 20th, 2010
10:30 am
Any organization has a plan and works that plan. Fox did show that UGA can begin a modest move toward NCAA B Ball respectability ………..in time. This past year shows evidence of that. He did have them more exciting and playing some quality ball and frankly, with our depth issues. we lost about 4 that were nearly in the bag ……be we ran out of gas, depth wise. We were up on Arkansas like 19 points but depth issues would not allow us to continue and it was a L. Recruiting can solve a lot of that and CMF is doing that.
With the kids returning and some already on campus like the shooter that sat out last season, and a couple of incoming kids,UGA can build toward step 2……….to win 19 or so and win one? in the SEC tourney and possibly get a bid to the Dance.
Steps #3 and 4 will follow. This is a very, do able plan ……..why argue against such an easy game plan? Al of the ingedients for UGA BBALL success are in place ……..local talent, UGA talent, Coaches, FANS, ALUMNI $$$ and the new arena improvements. The rest will follow over time ( 3 – 5 years) and CMF will become a beloved B Ball coach in UGA annals. Why not? Besides ………this legacy is what ANY coach desires for his record.
Go Dogs.
G o T aliban
May 20th, 2010
10:33 am
Techers ………..y’all need to worry about lost navy jets and losing to UGA in B Ball and this coming November’s ANNUAL WHUPPIN. Go hand out free hash brown tickets at the Waffle House.
Go Dogs.
Wow
May 20th, 2010
11:22 am
Wow. What a fool. Enjoy playing in the cavern in Athens; possibly one of the worst venues in all of college basketball. Enjoy the apathetic fanbase that cares about nothing but re-living past glory days in football. Enjoy playing for one of the worst programs in the SEC that will never top much superior programs in Kentucky, Florida, Vanderbilt, and Tennessee (and that’s just the East). Enjoy being a bottom feeder during your college career. What a terrible decision.
collegeballfan
May 20th, 2010
11:24 am
Good for Fox and the UGA program.
Now it will mean nothing unless the UGA grads get off their lazy butts and place those butts in the stands at UGA for all home games. The way the UGA crowd treats the basketball team is a disgrace.
AceDawg
May 20th, 2010
11:32 am
Yeah, Thornton is the player we absolutely needed for Fox’s future. He will make a noticeable impact on the court this year (at least I sure think so), but now Fox has recruiting power in the state, which is so hard to get started when your team has been out of the loop. UGA can be a good tourney team this year, and Thornton helps the Dawgs transition next year assuming Leslie and Thompkins say goodbye.
BTW
May 20th, 2010
11:33 am
Hey Reality Check and the rest of you Doggie fans – UGA finished at the bottom of the East last year, and does on a consistent basis. Your program will NEVER be anywhere close to UK, FLA, Vandy, or UT. Even if you upset one or two of these teams occasionally; it’s body of work folks. Doesn’t matter much when you’re under .500 & watching all of those teams playing in the NCAA’s year in and year out. UGA will always be at the bottom of the SEC. Deal with it. Enjoy losing Marcus. Gonna have to deal with it a whole lot!
Paul Hewitt
May 20th, 2010
11:43 am
If Fox can recruit as well as he coaches then I’m in serious trouble. After all, I’m just a glorified AAU coach who thinks Xs and Os are for tic-tac-toe.
harold
May 20th, 2010
12:00 pm
ALL SEC TEAMS TIE GEORGIA TO THE WHIPPING POST IN BASKETBALL BECAUSE GEORGIA IS NOT COMMITTED TO BASKETBALL. FOX LOOKS LIKE A COMPUTER SCIENTIST. HE WAS LAST IN THE SEC!
JS
May 20th, 2010
12:00 pm
Fox will leave GA just like Tubby did! This is the highwater mark and GA BBall will be useless for another 20 years. Funny reading the posts from your dubma** fan base.
Kevin
May 20th, 2010
12:02 pm
Shane, he could barely even dunk over that high school guy. Bow down (and turn around) again to the Dawgs you losers
fight truth decay
May 20th, 2010
12:03 pm
I’m sure glad that “no play for a year at Tech” had nothing to do with being a dog.
UK THOROUGHBRED
May 20th, 2010
12:15 pm
I think this is great if are a UGA fan. Calipari tried to get him to come to UK but he was worried about getting recruited over. I understand that but can’t that happen at any school. UGA’s problem will be depth. If Fox can keep in state talent to go play in Athens UGA will steadily be on the rise.
SEC Headlines – 5/20/10 « MrSEC.com
May 20th, 2010
12:22 pm
[...] This writer believes that Mark Fox’s ability to land the state’s Mr. Basketball is a coup for Georgia.18. Fox agrees, tweeting yesterday that the final day of the signing period was a “Great day [...]
Coach Calipari
May 20th, 2010
12:47 pm
I could have had Thornton if I really wanted him but I was too busy sending envelopes of cash to Terrence Jones so he’d back out of a verbal to Washington. I can’t be expected to cheat on EVERY recruit- just the most important.
the real Old Gold
May 20th, 2010
12:52 pm
I just realized that UGA is the Mark’s and Tech is the Paul’s.
Flowery Branch Dawg
May 20th, 2010
4:19 pm
Mark,
Signing Thornton is great news. I am starting to actually look forward to Georgia’s next basketball season. That’s pretty unusual for us in the Dawgnation. Coach Fox may actually have a fairly talented team and as evidenced from Fox’ first year of coaching that may go a long, long way! A big-time winning team to go along with the DanceDawgs and that “Rocky” guy that runs up the bleachers and Stegman may be rocking and rolling! Go Dawgs! Woof! Woof!
Flowery Branch Dawg
May 20th, 2010
4:21 pm
Your right “the real Old Gold,” so this old Dawg says Go Marks!
Just the facts....
May 20th, 2010
4:23 pm
Just the facts….
73-66!!!
73-66!!!
73-66!!!
GT was NOT the state champs in basketball!!!
30-24!!!
30-24!!!
30-24!!!
GT was not the state champs in football!!!
GO DAWGS!!!!
Krista
May 20th, 2010
4:49 pm
Who gives a crap?
craptastic
May 20th, 2010
5:42 pm
Why little Krista apparently you do, otherwise why comment?
4 ncs are better than 1
May 20th, 2010
8:19 pm
The day before Marcus announced his “decision” the Thornton family had lawyers going all over the rule that would have made him sit out and lose a year of eligibility at Tech. I guess they were just doing that for the hell of it, weren’t they little doggies?
4 ncs are better than 1
May 20th, 2010
8:21 pm
And before you point to the comments he made, what would you expect him to say? Pure window dressing.
4 ncs are better than 1
May 20th, 2010
8:27 pm
Marcus would have had a much better chance to have made it to the NBA if he had chose Hewitt for three years instead of Fox for four. Just look at the track records of each for proof. Oh yeah, and there is that little matter of an education.
4 ncs are better than 1
May 20th, 2010
8:33 pm
Enjoy your three star coup, because you still suck and always will.
PT
May 20th, 2010
8:50 pm
It would be interesting to see what FOX could do with a team of Tech’s talent.
4 ncs are better than 1
May 20th, 2010
9:05 pm
PT, you saw what Fox could do and it wasn’t pretty. If you want to see what a real coach does in his first season with a new team, look no further than COACH PAUL JOHNSON. A below .500, last place season (with two “great players” so you say) sucks out loud and always will.
4 ncs are better than 1
May 20th, 2010
9:14 pm
At least with BB, I can’t point out the constant failures of a top ten recruiting class, like I love doing to your football program. With UGAy BB you just fail in every way.
Football Fan
May 20th, 2010
9:44 pm
Kentucky massively choked in the NCAAs with what could be 3 top-10 NBA draft picks, including John Wall as the top overall choice. Georgia took them to the wire twice with little known or wanted players. Mark Fox can outcoach Calipari hands down.
Ten at 10: Georgia's best hoops addition had no signing ceremony | braves.baseball-news-update.com
May 20th, 2010
9:54 pm
[...] 1. By securing on Wednesday the signing of “Mr. Georgia Basketball,” Marcus Thornton, Georgia basketball coach Mark Fox locked down a pretty good incoming class for his first full year of recruiting. In addition to the 6-foot-8 forward (that’s the height at which the Bulldogs now list him), they signed 6-8 forward Cady Lalanne of Orlando; 6-9 forward Donte Williams of Atlanta; and 6-2 guard Sharrard Brantley of Dublin (via Northwest Florida College). But the biggest addition for Fox’s 2010-11 squad has been on campus for the past year. While Georgia’s rivals might say they didn’t land any four- or five-star talent, the Bulldogs could counter that their most impactful addition didn’t have a signing ceremony. Gerald Robinson Jr., a 6-1 guard from Nashville, transferred to UGA last year from Tennessee State where he averaged 16.6 points over two seasons. Teammates and coaches often said he proved in daily practices to be among the Bulldogs’ top three players right away. . . . In case you missed it, AJC columnist Mark Bradley weighed in last night on Georgia’s acquisition of Thornton. [...]
messin with sasquatch
May 20th, 2010
9:57 pm
still say ugag should join the acc then they could just DOMINATE everybody……like they wish they did in the sec.
Time YET AGAIN to remind GTU of reality......
May 20th, 2010
10:19 pm
Enter your comments here
Time YET AGAIN to remind GTU of reality......
May 20th, 2010
10:29 pm
Georgia Tech exists ONLY because UGA graduates made it so. GTU was conceived, founded, chartered, and funded almost exclusively by Georgia graduates. Which makes it all the more amusing when any trade school nugget make condescending remarks about The University of Georgia………..who was holding classes when the intersection of North Ave & 10th was a turnip patch. No school foot on the throat owns another like Georgia owns Tech. Georgia has a winning record verses Tech IN EVERY SINGLE SPORT THE TWO COMPETE IN, save Men’s Basketeball where Tech has a narrow lead and hasn’t won in Athens since the days of Dominique. Tech Lies, Tech Cheats, and Tech still gets skull dragged by Georgia
Time YET AGAIN to remind GTU of reality......
May 20th, 2010
10:38 pm
4 is better than 1………………
1) There has NEVER been an National Champion in college football because the NCAA doesn’t award a NC in Division 1A Football
2) Football mythical national championships are claimed. Tech can’t claim a single consensus national championship. Georgia can claim 2.
3) By the same absurd math that Tech claims 4 MNC’s Georgia claims 5.
And as far as actual result relevant scorekeeping. Wins are better than losses………60-37-4. And the gap widens………..
KevinM
May 20th, 2010
10:44 pm
Will Georgia be favored in any game other than Tech next year? It looks like they get a potential starter, but they still have to play the East twice. Good luck with them holding their own on their home court.
Its important to keep the locals local. Georgia will have to continue looking for those ‘rough’ diamonds.
THEHILLISREAL
May 20th, 2010
10:48 pm
I think he’s second coming of Dominque Wilkins. I saw him takeoff from the free throw line and slam over/on Lovejoy Player… it was ugly.
bake
May 20th, 2010
11:38 pm
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO GEORGIA BULLDAWGS!!!
bake
May 20th, 2010
11:43 pm
hey Buzztheloser…must really kill you that UGA still finds a way to beat you in basketball even though according to you they should suck. has to give you a ton of faith in your program. hey…you’ll always have women’s tennis…
col foot
May 21st, 2010
12:32 am
Fox can flat out coach. UGA could be a dangerous team this year, they have talent,speed and size.This is great combination when you have that kind of coach.
A Real UGA Fan
May 21st, 2010
12:48 pm
Think is freaking huge. 1 step closer to locking down GA.
Tdawg
May 21st, 2010
5:10 pm
Come on dawg fans don;t you get it? All these haters on here bashing the bulldog basketball program. These haters are all scared and they have reason to be. For once Georgia has beaten all of these whiney a$$ b!tch*& for the states number 1 prospect and it ain’t gonna end their. That gravy train that other schools had going on in Georgia is about to come to and end and they know it.
4 ncs are better than 1
May 21st, 2010
7:54 pm
T dawg, idiot, Thornton was not the highest ranked player in the state by a long shot, he is a three star. For reference, Brad Sheehan was ranked 22nd at his position, Thornton 34th at his, and Sheehan rarely played for us.
4 ncs are better than 1
May 21st, 2010
8:02 pm
Time yet again, you have your facts backwards. Gt can claim 4 legitimate NCs Ugay only 1 and everyone who knows anything about sports knows this. And that should be “a” National Championship. You see, you use an when the word begins with a vowel and a when it begins with a consonant. If you don’t even understand that simple rule, well…..
4 ncs are better than 1
May 21st, 2010
8:14 pm
T dawg, “and it ain’t gonna end their.” AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
4 ncs are better than 1
May 21st, 2010
8:17 pm
T dawg, “about to come to and end” You are really, really stupid.
4 ncs are better than 1
May 21st, 2010
8:26 pm
Time yet again, I bet it hurts to think Ugay made us……..and yet we have all the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS! HAHAHA!!!
4 ncs are better than 1
May 21st, 2010
8:28 pm
Maybe I should have said all the “A” national championships. Snicker!
4 ncs are better than 1
May 21st, 2010
8:29 pm
Correction “AN’.