Thornton to announce decision

Atlanta (Ga.) Westlake power forward Marcus Thornton has decided where he wants to continue his basketball career and his education and will announce his decision tomorrow at noon.

"Yes, Marcus decided to announce tomorrow noon at Westlake," said Marcus's father Billy Thornton via e-mail to UGASports.

Thornton will choose between Alabama, Georgia, Georgia Tech, and Texas. He has visited all four schools since being released from his letter of intent to Clemson in April after Oliver Purnell left for DePaul.

"I really appreciate all the interest and the time the coaches have spent recruiting me," Thornton told UGASports after narrowing his list of schools. "I also appreciate the support of all my friends and family, and all the other people out there who have been wishing me well."

It's been a busy road for Thornton, the nation's 126th-ranked player according to Rivals.com.

The 6-foot-7 power forward signed with Clemson during the NCAA's early signing period last November, but after former Tiger coach Oliver Purnell left to take over the job at DePaul, Thornton requested a release from his letter of intent.

Clemson obliged, starting his recruitment process all over again.

"Over the past month, my parents, my sister and I have spent many hours discussing and researching all of the colleges interested in me as a student-athlete," Thornton said. "We have been looking at things such as academics, player development, style of play, program tradition & stability, and how I "see myself fitting" into their basketball program as well as their overall university. It has been an educational, but long and challenging process."