Marcus Alexander Thornton (born February 9, 1993) is an American professional
basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular court, compete with the primary objective of shooting a basketball (approximately in diameter) through the defender's h ...
player for
Fortitudo Bologna
Fortitudo Pallacanestro Bologna 103, commonly known as Fortitudo Bologna and currently known as Fortitudo Kiğılı Bologna for sponsorship reasons, is a basketball club based in Bologna, Italy and currently plays in the second division.
Histor ...
of the
Lega Basket Serie A
The Lega Basket Serie A (LBA) is a professional men's club basketball league that has been organised in Italy since 1920. Serie A is organised by Lega Basket, which is regulated by the Italian Basketball Federation (FIP). It is the highest-tier ...
. He was drafted by the Boston Celtics with the 45th overall pick in the 2015 NBA draft. Thornton completed his collegiate career at the
College of William & Mary
The College of William & Mary (officially The College of William and Mary in Virginia, abbreviated as William & Mary, W&M) is a public research university in Williamsburg, Virginia. Founded in 1693 by letters patent issued by King William I ...
Chet Giermak
Chester Frank (Chet) Giermak (May 25, 1927 – March 16, 2015) was an All-American basketball player for William & Mary from 1946 to 1950.NCAA Division I
NCAA Division I (D-I) is the highest level of intercollegiate athletics sanctioned by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in the United States, which accepts players globally. D-I schools include the major collegiate athletic ...
school record in the nation at the time it was broken.
High school career
Thornton, a native of
Upper Marlboro, Maryland
Upper Marlboro, officially the Town of Upper Marlboro, is the seat of Prince George's County, Maryland. Aso of the 2020 census, the population was 652. although Greater Upper Marlboro is many times larger.
Etymology
Upper Marlboro was establ ...
, fell in love with basketball at an early age and was considered very talented throughout his youth. He attended
Bishop McNamara High School
Bishop McNamara High School (BMHS or McNamara) is a private, Catholic coed high school in Forestville CDP in unincorporated Prince George's County, Maryland.sophomore but did not play, largely because he was playing behind future
NCAA Division I
NCAA Division I (D-I) is the highest level of intercollegiate athletics sanctioned by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in the United States, which accepts players globally. D-I schools include the major collegiate athletic ...
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Western Pennsylvania, the second-most populous city in Pennsylva ...
Jerome Couplin III
Jerome Ellsworth Couplin III (born August 31, 1991) is a former American football safety. He played college football at William & Mary. He went undrafted in the 2014 NFL Draft before signing with the Detroit Lions.
Early years
Couplin grew up i ...
, who went on to play football at William & Mary (and eventually, the NFL).
He made the most out of his two-year varsity career at Bishop McNamara. Thornton scored 1,254 points, set the school career scoring average at 19.9 points per game, three-point field goal percentage (.430), and three-pointers made (161). He was named the Gatorade Maryland State Player of the Year as a senior after averaging 23.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.7 steals per game, all while competing in the
Washington Catholic Athletic Conference
The Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) is a major high school athletic league for boys, girls, and co-ed Catholic high schools of the Archdiocese of Washington & Diocese of Arlington Schools located in the Washington Metropolitan Are ...
, the toughest high school basketball conference in the country. In his final game for Bishop McNamara, he scored a career high and school record 43 points.
College career
Thornton became the first
William & Mary Tribe
The William & Mary Tribe is a moniker for the College of William & Mary's athletic teams and the university's community more broadly.
William & Mary has won two team national championships (both in men's tennis), the AIAW championships in w ...
signee to be named a Gatorade state player of the year. He chose William & Mary over other schools partly because of its academic reputation and partly because of the attention then-assistant coach Jamion Christian paid him during recruitment. Although Christian ended up taking an assistant coaching job at VCU the spring before Thornton enrolled, it did not affect his decision to attend.
The 2011–12 season, his freshman year, saw the Tribe go 6–26 and finish third from the bottom of the CAA standings. He averaged 11.1 points, scoring 355 on the year, and was named to the CAA All-Rookie Team. He increased his scoring to 18.8 points per game in
2012–13
1 (one, unit, unity) is a number representing a single or the only entity. 1 is also a numerical digit and represents a single unit of counting or measurement. For example, a line segment of ''unit length'' is a line segment of length 1. I ...
while he began to establish himself as a player who could create his own shot late in a possession. Thornton was named Second Team All-CAA, becoming just the second W&M player to earn a second team honor in his sophomore year. After scoring 565 points that season, entered his junior year just 80 points shy of 1,000 for his career.
Thornton
junior
Junior or Juniors may refer to:
Arts and entertainment Music
* ''Junior'' (Junior Mance album), 1959
* ''Junior'' (Röyksopp album), 2009
* ''Junior'' (Kaki King album), 2010
* ''Junior'' (LaFontaines album), 2019
Films
* ''Junior'' (1994 ...
season of 2013–14 was a historic one for both himself and the team. The Tribe recorded 20 wins (20–12 overall), finished third in the CAA, and advanced to their third CAA tournament championship game in seven seasons. The Tribe lost by one point to
Delaware
Delaware ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Maryland to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and New Jersey and the Atlantic Ocean to its east. The state takes its name from the adjacent Del ...
, 75 to 74, barely missing out on the program's first-ever NCAA tournament appearance. Thornton's potential game-winning jump shot rattled off the back of the rim as time expired. He was the tournament's high scorer with 59 points in three games and was named to the All-CAA Tournament Team along with teammate Brandon Britt. His 599 total points for the season rank fifth-most in school history and Thornton became just the second W&M player to be named NABC All-District 10 First Team in back to back seasons. He also became the third W&M player to be named First Team All-CAA. Thornton ended the season with 1,519 career points, the most in school history for a player through his first three seasons.
Entering his senior season, Thornton was selected by the league's coaches as the preseason CAA Player of the Year. ''
Lindy's
Lindy's was two different deli and restaurant chains in Manhattan, New York City. The first chain, founded by Leo "Lindy" Lindemann, operated from 1921 to 1969.("Opening date was Aug. 20, 1921.") In 1979, the Riese Organization determined that ...
'' also chose Thornton as the league's most versatile player and its top NBA prospect. He also entered 2014–15 as the only returning All-CAA First Team player with a legitimate shot at breaking the school's scoring mark of 2,052. During the February 18, 2015 game against
Northeastern
The points of the compass are a set of horizontal, radially arrayed compass directions (or azimuths) used in navigation and cartography. A compass rose is primarily composed of four cardinal directions—north, east, south, and west—each se ...
, Thornton surpassed the 2,000-point mark and ended the game with 2,016. The W&M mark of 2,052, set by All-American
Chet Giermak
Chester Frank (Chet) Giermak (May 25, 1927 – March 16, 2015) was an All-American basketball player for William & Mary from 1946 to 1950.Towson
Towson () is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. The population was 55,197 as of the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Baltimore County and the second-most populous unincorp ...
. The school record had stood since 1950 and was the longest-standing Division I men's basketball school scoring record in the country. Thornton guided the Tribe to a 12–6 CAA record as they finished in a four-way tie for the regular season conference championship with
James Madison
James Madison Jr. (March 16, 1751June 28, 1836) was an American statesman, diplomat, and Founding Father. He served as the fourth president of the United States from 1809 to 1817. Madison is hailed as the "Father of the Constitution" for h ...
, Northeastern, and UNC Wilmington. On March 5, Thornton was named as the 2015 CAA Player of the Year, becoming the first W&M player to win it in the 32-year history of the award. He also repeated as an All-CAA First Team selection, becoming just the second W&M player to earn the honor twice (joining Adam Hess in 2003 and 2004).
For the second consecutive season, William & Mary earned a berth in the CAA tournament championship game. However, for the first time in school history, the Tribe entered the tournament as the number one seed. They went on to lose the 2015 tournament's final game to Northeastern, 72 to 61, thus ending their chance at a bid into the NCAA tournament. Thornton, however, was named to the CAA All-Tournament Team as well as being the tournament's leading scorer in both
2014
File:2014 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Stocking up supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) for the Western African Ebola virus epidemic; Citizens examining the ruins after the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping; Bundles of wat ...
and 2015. By owning the regular season tie-breakers over the other three co-champions, William & Mary earned the automatic National Invitation Tournament (NIT) bid, making the 2015 appearance their third in school history. On March 17, 2015, in the NIT's first round, Thornton scored a game-high 23 points despite the Tribe's 70–67 loss to
Tulsa
Tulsa () is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 47th-most populous city in the United States. The population was 413,066 as of the 2020 census. It is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with ...
. Thornton finished his collegiate career having amassed 2,178 points, which is the most in William & Mary history and seventh most in CAA history as of the end of the 2014–15 season. He scored 659 points in his senior season, which stands as the second most for a season in school history behind Giermak's 740. He also set the single season
three-point field goal
A three-point field goal (also 3-pointer, three, or trey) is a field goal in a basketball game made from beyond the three-point line, a designated arc surrounding the basket. A successful attempt is worth three points, in contrast to the two poi ...
s made (102) and most career games played (127 – tied) records.
On March 30, the
Associated Press
The Associated Press (AP) is an American non-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association. It produces news reports that are distributed to its members, U.S. ne ...
named Thornton an honorable mention All-American. He was the first W&M player since
1981
Events January
* January 1
** Greece enters the European Economic Community, predecessor of the European Union.
** Palau becomes a self-governing territory.
* January 10 – Salvadoran Civil War: The FMLN launches its first major offensiv ...
(Mike Strayhorn) to earn the distinction and only the sixth overall to that point.
2012–13
1 (one, unit, unity) is a number representing a single or the only entity. 1 is also a numerical digit and represents a single unit of counting or measurement. For example, a line segment of ''unit length'' is a line segment of length 1. I ...
On June 25, 2015, Thornton was selected with the 45th overall pick in the 2015 NBA draft by the Boston Celtics, making him the first William & Mary player ever taken in the modern draft format (two rounds; since
1989
File:1989 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The Cypress structure collapses as a result of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, killing motorists below; The proposal document for the World Wide Web is submitted; The Exxon Valdez oil tanker runs ...
). He later joined the Celtics for the
2015 NBA Summer League
The 2015 NBA Summer League consisted of three pro basketball leagues organized by the NBA: the Orlando Pro Summer League, Utah Jazz Summer League, and Las Vegas Summer League.
Ten teams participated in the week-long Orlando Pro Summer League at ...
and averaged 5.1 points and 1.1 rebounds in eight games.
Cairns Taipans
The Cairns Taipans are an Australian professional basketball team based in Cairns, Queensland. The Taipans compete in the National Basketball League (NBL) and play their home games at the Cairns Convention Centre, known colloquially as "The ...
. In 29 minutes of action as a starter, he recorded nine points, three rebounds and three assists in an 87–63 win. On November 1, he scored a season-high 29 points on 11-of-17 shooting in a loss to
Melbourne United
Melbourne United is an Australian professional basketball team based in Melbourne, Victoria. United compete in the National Basketball League (NBL) and play their home games at John Cain Arena.
The team made their debut in the NBL in 1984 a ...
. He appeared in all 28 games for the last-placed Kings, averaging 12.8 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game, but shot just 37.7 percent from the field and 28.1 percent on three-pointers.
Maine Red Claws (2016)
On March 1, 2016, Thornton was acquired by the
Maine Red Claws
The Maine Celtics (formerly the Maine Red Claws) are an American professional basketball team in the NBA G League based in Portland, Maine, and are affiliated with the Boston Celtics. The Maine Celtics play their home games at the Portland Expo B ...
, the Celtics' D-League affiliate. Four days later, he made his debut for Maine in a 122–106 win over
Raptors 905
The Raptors 905 are a Canadian professional basketball team in the NBA G League based in Mississauga, Ontario, and are affiliated with the Toronto Raptors. Raptors 905 began play in the 2015–16 season and play their home games at Paramount Fi ...
, recording seven points, one rebound, three assists and one steal in 15 minutes.
Consultinvest Pesaro (2016–2017)
On July 30, 2016, Thornton signed a two-year deal with Italian side Consultinvest Pesaro. On June 26, 2017, Boston Celtics was reported to have renounced their rights to Thornton.
Canton Charge (2017–2018)
On November 3, 2017, Thornton was included in the opening roster of
Canton Charge
The Cleveland Charge are an American professional basketball team in the NBA G League based in Cleveland, Ohio, and are affiliated with the Cleveland Cavaliers. The team plays its home games at the Wolstein Center in downtown Cleveland.
The fr ...
.
On February 21, 2018, the Cleveland Cavaliers signed Thornton to a 10-day contract; he was then assigned back to the G-League. On March 4, he was reported to not have his second 10-day contract offered by the Cavaliers and returned to Canton Charge. Thornton never played a game for the Cavaliers.
Élan Chalon (2019–2020)
On July 4, 2019, he has signed with Élan Chalon of the LNB Pro A. Thornton averaged 10.4 points per game.
Niners Chemnitz (2020–2021)
On July 28, 2020, Thornton signed with Niners Chemnitz in Germany.
He averaged a team high 13.9 points and 4.2 assists in 33 games during the 2020-2021 season.
Thornton is the son of Wayne and Debra Thornton. His brother, Andre Brooks, was a basketball player for
Bridgeport University
The University of Bridgeport (UB) is a private university in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The university is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education. In 2021, the university was purchased by Goodwin University; it retain its own ...
in Connecticut. His sister Tasha Brooks-Thornton was a high school state champion in Columbia, Maryland. Thornton's
dreadlocks
Dreadlocks, also known as locs or dreads, are rope-like strands of hair formed by locking or braiding hair.
Origins
Some of the earliest depictions of dreadlocks date back as far as 1600–1500 BCE in the Minoan Civilization, one of Europe ...
have become a signature look and help define his personal brand. He graduated with a Kinesiology degree from William & Mary.