2007 Draft Prospects - Al Thornton

AL THORNTON

Height: 6'7"
Weight: 210
School: Florida State
Year: Senior
Position: SF

Thornton, a senior, led the ACC in scoring this season (20.0 PPG) while also grabbing over seven rebounds per game for the Seminoles. Thornton has always been known as an excellent perimeter defender but huge games offensively this season against UNC (29 points) and Florida (28 points) showcase his ability to score against NBA-caliber athletes.

Strengths:

Thornton is a terrific athlete who plays with great energy on the floor. Once a poor shooter (54% FT, 29% 3PT as a sophomore), Thornton has worked hard to become an excellent marksman (79% FT, 44% 3PT as a senior). A rugged player on both ends of the floor, Thornton is not afraid to mix it up and projects to be an excellent "Power-3" in the NBA.

Weaknesses:

Thornton is a classic tweener and will need to transition from being a power forward in college to playing as a small forward in the NBA. However, his impressive shooting ability and constant motor should ease Thornton's adjustment.

Skinny:

College seniors aren't often labeled as players with high ceilings but Thornton does have big upside. His offense improved dramatically each season at Florida State and he should continue to mature into a big time scorer. Bundle this offensive potential with Thornton's energy, toughness and natural abilities as a defender and you have a likely lottery pick that should get Top 5 pick consideration.

- Compiled by Matt Griffin. The opinions herein are those of the author only and do not neccessarily reflect those of the Boston Celtics.