University of Memphis Athletics
Memphis Basketball Adds Raynere Thornton for 2017-18
Apr 20, 2017 | Men's Basketball
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – University of Memphis head men's basketball coach Tubby Smith has announced that Raynere Thornton, a 6-7 forward who played the last two seasons at Gordon State College, has signed his National Letter of Intent to play basketball for the Tigers starting in the 2017-18 season.
Thornton, a native of Marietta, Georgia, was named to the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association (GCAA) All-Conference team in 2016-17 after averaging 10.9 points 11.4 rebounds, and 5.9 assists for Gordon State. He is also rated as the No. 48 player in the JUCOrecruiting.com Top-100.
"Raynere is a multi-talented player," said Smith. "That is what we are doing – we are trying to recruit players that are versatile, and will allow us to play more aggressively defensively and offensively this year. His unselfish play is probably his best attribute – which is something we are looking for in each individual player; someone who is willing to move the ball, willing to give up his body, willing to sacrifice for the good of the team. He is a guy who will contribute immediately, and has a world of potential."
His 11.4 rebounds per game ranked ninth in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) highest division, while his assists per game ranked 23rd, and total assists (177) ranked 30th. He was his conference's leader in rebounds per game and assists per game.
He had three triple doubles during the season, including a 11-point, 14-rebound, 10-assist game on February 1 against Atlanta Metro; 12 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 assists on February 18 against South Georgia Tech; and 11 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists on March 11 against Chattahoochie Tech. He also had 17 double-doubles during the season, 15 of those coming from points and rebounds, while two others were rebounds and assists.
He helped lead Gordon State to a 22-9 overall record in 2016-17, including a 12-4 mark in GCAA play, second-best in the conference.
He joins a group of Tiger players and signees including:
Kyvon Davenport, 6-8, Forward, Gainesville, Georgia, Georgia Highlands College
Was named a NJCAA First Team All-American. He was also named the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association (GCAA) Player of the Year after averaging 16.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game, and being ranked as the No. 19 player in the JUCUrecruiting.com Top-100.
Kareem Brewton, 6-3, Guard, Claxton, Georgia, Eastern Florida State College
Was named a NJCAA First Team All-American after the 2016-17 season. Brewton scored 718 points last season – third-most in the NJCAA, and was named the Southern Conference Player of the Year. He is ranked as the No. 22 player in the JUCOrecruiting.com top-100.
Jamal Johnson, 6-4, Guard, Birmingham, Alabama, Spain Park High School
Rated as a four-star prospect by Rivals.com. He was one of just three finalists for the Alabama Player of the Year and was named First Team All-State after averaging 24.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game.
David Nickelberry, 6-7, Guard/Forward, Orlando, Florida, Windermere Prep
Was named the Class 5A District 11 Player of the Year. He averaged 15.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game and helped the team to a district championship for the second-consecutive season.
Victor Enoh, 6-8, Forward, Decatur, Georgia, Greenforest Christian Academy
Helped lead his team to the Georgia High School State Championship after earning all-conference honors. He averaged 9.7 rebounds and a blocked shot per game for the state championship squad.
Karim Sameh Azab, 6-11, Forward, Giza, Egypt, Hales Franciscan (Ill.) High School
Was a member of the FIBA Africa Under-18 Gold Medal-winning Egyptian National Team. His most successful game of the tournament came against Tunisia where he scored 18 points with 11 rebounds.
Jimario Rivers, 6-8, Guard/Forward, Clarksville, Tennessee, Southwest Tennessee C.C.
Started 19 games for the Tigers last season and averaged 6.4 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. He scored a season-high 16 points against UConn on January 5, and had a 12-point, 11-rebound double-double against USF on January 14.
Jeremiah Martin, 6-2, Guard, Memphis, Tennessee, Mitchell High School
Played and started all 32 games for the Tigers, averaging 10.3 points and a team-best 142 assists. His 58 steals were second-most in the American Athletic Conference last season. He scored in double-figures in each of his last six games of the season, including a 23-point, 11-assist game at Cincinnati on February 23.
Thornton, a native of Marietta, Georgia, was named to the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association (GCAA) All-Conference team in 2016-17 after averaging 10.9 points 11.4 rebounds, and 5.9 assists for Gordon State. He is also rated as the No. 48 player in the JUCOrecruiting.com Top-100.
"Raynere is a multi-talented player," said Smith. "That is what we are doing – we are trying to recruit players that are versatile, and will allow us to play more aggressively defensively and offensively this year. His unselfish play is probably his best attribute – which is something we are looking for in each individual player; someone who is willing to move the ball, willing to give up his body, willing to sacrifice for the good of the team. He is a guy who will contribute immediately, and has a world of potential."
His 11.4 rebounds per game ranked ninth in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) highest division, while his assists per game ranked 23rd, and total assists (177) ranked 30th. He was his conference's leader in rebounds per game and assists per game.
He had three triple doubles during the season, including a 11-point, 14-rebound, 10-assist game on February 1 against Atlanta Metro; 12 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 assists on February 18 against South Georgia Tech; and 11 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists on March 11 against Chattahoochie Tech. He also had 17 double-doubles during the season, 15 of those coming from points and rebounds, while two others were rebounds and assists.
He helped lead Gordon State to a 22-9 overall record in 2016-17, including a 12-4 mark in GCAA play, second-best in the conference.
He joins a group of Tiger players and signees including:
Kyvon Davenport, 6-8, Forward, Gainesville, Georgia, Georgia Highlands College
Was named a NJCAA First Team All-American. He was also named the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association (GCAA) Player of the Year after averaging 16.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game, and being ranked as the No. 19 player in the JUCUrecruiting.com Top-100.
Kareem Brewton, 6-3, Guard, Claxton, Georgia, Eastern Florida State College
Was named a NJCAA First Team All-American after the 2016-17 season. Brewton scored 718 points last season – third-most in the NJCAA, and was named the Southern Conference Player of the Year. He is ranked as the No. 22 player in the JUCOrecruiting.com top-100.
Jamal Johnson, 6-4, Guard, Birmingham, Alabama, Spain Park High School
Rated as a four-star prospect by Rivals.com. He was one of just three finalists for the Alabama Player of the Year and was named First Team All-State after averaging 24.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game.
David Nickelberry, 6-7, Guard/Forward, Orlando, Florida, Windermere Prep
Was named the Class 5A District 11 Player of the Year. He averaged 15.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game and helped the team to a district championship for the second-consecutive season.
Victor Enoh, 6-8, Forward, Decatur, Georgia, Greenforest Christian Academy
Helped lead his team to the Georgia High School State Championship after earning all-conference honors. He averaged 9.7 rebounds and a blocked shot per game for the state championship squad.
Karim Sameh Azab, 6-11, Forward, Giza, Egypt, Hales Franciscan (Ill.) High School
Was a member of the FIBA Africa Under-18 Gold Medal-winning Egyptian National Team. His most successful game of the tournament came against Tunisia where he scored 18 points with 11 rebounds.
Jimario Rivers, 6-8, Guard/Forward, Clarksville, Tennessee, Southwest Tennessee C.C.
Started 19 games for the Tigers last season and averaged 6.4 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. He scored a season-high 16 points against UConn on January 5, and had a 12-point, 11-rebound double-double against USF on January 14.
Jeremiah Martin, 6-2, Guard, Memphis, Tennessee, Mitchell High School
Played and started all 32 games for the Tigers, averaging 10.3 points and a team-best 142 assists. His 58 steals were second-most in the American Athletic Conference last season. He scored in double-figures in each of his last six games of the season, including a 23-point, 11-assist game at Cincinnati on February 23.
Players Mentioned
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