NBA
NBA AM: Thornwell Proves Maturity Beats Potential
If you, like a lot of people, were surprised to see the seventh-seeded South Carolina Gamecocks make the Final Four in this past springโs March Madness tournament, you might not have been if you had watched any of South Carolina star Sindarius Thornwellโs senior season.
Thornwell, easily one of the leagueโs best two-way guards, not only scored 21.4 points per game while shooting a career-high .442 from the field, but also averaged 7.2 rebounds, 2.2 steals and one block, showing just how effective he was on both the offensive and defensive ends of the floor.
Currently, though, not a single one of the Basketball Insiders mock drafters has last yearโs SEC Player of the Year slated as a first-round pick. Draft Express currently has him going 55th overall, which basically intimates that he could just as easily get drafted as not. That seems like a small miracle considering how good he was in his final college basketball season.
But heโs a senior, which these days works against older players hoping to get drafted. Teams seem to think a player in his 20s canโt offer the same potential for growth as a 19-year-old with his whole career still ahead of them.
Thornwell, stoic and tough in both his on-court and off-court personas, thinks that is a bunch of hooey.
โIโm getting drafted. Itโs just a matter of whereโlate first or second round,โ he told Basketball Insiders at the NBA Draft Combine late last week.
His argument is that there are simply too many things heโs proven he can do that these unproven teenagers havenโt.
โI bring more toughness (than the freshman players),โ he said. โPhysically, I already can compete, and Iโm mature enough to understand my role and not get as upset about maybe not playing as much right away. Plus, Iโm able to guard. Young guys donโt understand, thatโs whatโs going to get you minutes.
โThatโs what Iโm selling myself on, is giving teamโs stars a break on defense so they can compete more on offense, but I also know I can score. Youโve got 18-year-old freshman heading into this draft that have never scored 18 points in a game. There are guys who averaged 10 points a game being talked about in the lottery, whereas Iโve proven myself to be a good scorer.โ
He has, and not just against the lower-level teams South Carolina may have played during the regular season. Thornwell had a huge NCAA Tournament, scoring 24 points or more in four of his five tourney games. He believes showing out on the big stage proved he still should be in consideration for a draft selection much higher than the 55th one.
โThe NCAA tournament run helped me a lot,โ he admitted. โItโs not like I was playing one way during the season and then just had a crazy game. The way I played in the tournament is the way I played in January and February. Being on that stage, with all those eyes watching me, I knew I had to take advantage of that opportunity, and I love the spotlight. Everybody was paying attention because of all those big teams that were playing. Itโs one thing when you score 25 points against South Carolina State, but itโs something else when you have 25 against Duke. Thatโs a big difference, so I think that I benefitted a lot.โ
As far as the Combine is concerned, Thornwell didnโt do a whole lot to change what teams already knew about him coming into the process. They understand his maturity, his strength, his toughness and his experience. Itโs just going to be a matter of how many teams want to take risks on youngsters, and how many teams are looking to add an established talent. Thornwell knows his best fit is going to be with the latter type.
โI feel like I can come in and help right away. I bring toughness, competitiveness, playing hard. Those things spread, especially when you have a guy that competes and loves to defend. On the offensive end, Iโm not a defender that you donโt have to worry about on the offensive end because I can create and make the open shot. I bring a lot to the table.โ
Some team will snatch him up in the second round and immediately benefit from his skillset. At some point in the draft, itโs silly to pass up known value for a roll of the dice, and Sindarius Thornwell absolutely is a known commodity. Somehow, though, he still has a lot to prove.
โIโm just doing whatever I can to help my stock,โ he said of the Combine. โIโm not worrying about what everyone else has going on. Whatever I have to do to help my situation, Iโm doing it. Iโm not worried about it helping me or hurting me. I think thatโs why some guys donโt compete. Theyโre afraid of someone thatโs ranked lower than them outplaying them. Theyโre trying to protect themselves in workouts and in the process.
โI just want to show that Iโm a competitor on both ends of the court. I donโt even feel like I have a position. Iโm just a ball player. I want to do things the right way and compete. Thatโs all Iโm worried about.โ
That should be enough to get him drafted, and whoever does select him is going to get a real competitor, which sometimes is worth a hell of a lot more than the high hopes attached to players with โpotential.โ
With Thornwell, weโre not talking about potential anymore. Potential was three years ago. Now, heโs an NBA player.
All he needs to prove it is a team.