A popular destination for transferring college students, Towson University is quickly becoming a hot destination for college basketball talent looking for a fresh start.
Gary Neal, C.C. Williams, Tommy Breaux and Dennard Abraham ? four of the Tigers? starting five ? are all transfers. And next year, the Tigers will add two more student-athletes to the mix in transfers Junior Hairston and Josh Thornton.
“It saves you a whole year of recruiting,” Towson coach Pat Kennedy said. “For us to recruit Josh Thornton or Gary Neal out of high school would be very difficult.”
Thornton, who has been in practice with the Tigers since enrolling in classes last month, will have to wait until mid-December before he kicks off his sophomore season. He left Georgetown after his freshman season, where he averaged 1.7 points in six games, and is expected to impact the Tigers in the form of a Neal-type talent.
“Josh Thornton reminds you of Gary a little bit,” Kennedy said, noting that Thornton was highly recruited coming out of Caesar Rodney (Del.) High. “Josh was known in high school for putting up big numbers ? but he?s kind of an all-purpose guard.”
Thornton, who averaged 25.2 points and six assists per game as a high-school senior, was sought by Florida, Duke, North Carolina, Miami, Arkansas, Michigan and Michigan State, among others. And now he?s at Towson.
“Its exciting actually. There is a lot of room for improvement,” Thornton said. “That?s a challenge. And I?m always up for a challenge.”
So is Hairston, who has been practicing with Towson?s scout team all season after leaving College of Charleston following the 2005-06 season. Hairston, who finished his high school career with 1,870 points and 1,000 rebounds at West Rowan (N.C.) High, will have two years of eligibility remaining when he suits up for his first game in the Tigers? 2007-08 opener next fall. He averaged 2.1 points and 2.6 rebounds per game over 50 contests in two seasons with Charleston.
“I have to slow him down in practice sometimes ? he?s so emotional,” Kennedy said. “You?d think he?s playing for an NCAA at-large bid every day in practice.”
Hairston, who possesses a strong inside game, will likely share the bulk of the front-court playing time with Breaux next season after Towson loses seniors Abraham and Winstonn Tubbs.
“The worst part about it is just sitting on the sidelines watching games,” said Hairston, who is arguably the most animated person at the end of the Tigers? bench on game night. “You?ve got to show some kind of support on the bench. If I can be out there, that?s how I show my support.”
Thornton said Hairston is too big for a guard to defend, but too quick for a big man to handle.
“He?s going to be a problem,” Thornton said.
Thornton plans to be more of a problem on the defensive end, claiming that he and Breaux will be an unrivaled shot-blocking tandem.
“He?s going to bring a lot to the table next year,” freshman guard/forward Rodney Spruill said. “He brings a lot of energy to practice and to games.”
Energy will be the key for the Tigers next season. The starting lineup and main rotation off the bench should be able to run the floor and wear down the opposition.
“I think we?ll actually move forward,” Kennedy said.
