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In his senior season at Florida State, the 6-foot-8 forward scored an ACC-best 19.7 points per game. He also averaged a career-high 7.2 rebounds per game.
Nathaniel S. Butler (NBAE/Getty Images)
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A versatile scorer, the 6’8” forward averaged 19.7 points and 7.2 rebounds in his senior season with the Seminoles and was named a Third-Team All-American by The Associated Press as well as a Second-Team All-American by Rivals.com. Thornton, 23, averaged 23.5 points per game in ACC play as a senior and played in all 35 games for Florida State, shooting 53 percent from the field.
“We are really excited to get Al Thornton,” Clippers Vice President of Basketball Operations Elgin Baylor said. “When it was our turn to draft, he was the first player on our list. We were pleased and surprised that he was there for us at number 14. He is a player who we believe will be able to come right in and play for us. He is a high-energy player, a shot-blocker and a scorer. We’re really excited to have him.”
Thornton improved his scoring average every year at Florida State, leading the team with 16.1 points per game as a junior when he was named to the All-ACC Second Team and the All-District First Team after starting all 30 games.
“As the draft transpired we had the opportunity to get a couple guys that we liked and he was there,” Clippers head coach Mike Dunleavy said. “It was a very jubilant room once that happened.”
The Perry, Georgia native played in 29 games for Florida State as a sophomore, finishing second on the team in scoring with a 9.1 points per game average. Thornton played in all 30 games for the Seminoles as a freshman.
“He puts points on the board and shoots the ball well from distance,” Dunleavy said about Thornton. “Stats are of course one area that is great, but for me what is important is how hard he plays. Night in and night out his energy is off the charts. He is very aggressive and he competes all the time. We are very pleased.”
Jordan, 22, was the NCAA Division I assist leader in 2006-07 as a senior at Marist, averaging 8.7 assists per game and finishing his career as Marist’s all-time assist leader. Jordan became the first Division I player since Avery Johnson (1986-1988) to lead the nation in assists twice. The 6’2” point guard averaged 17.2 points per game and was the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Player of the Year as well as an NABC All-District First Team selection. As a junior Jordan was also a First Team All-MAAC Selection, averaging 16.1 points and 8.5 assists per game.
