KC Athletics honors former Ranger, current NBA player Marcus Thornton

Kilgore College Athletics honored current NBA player (and former KC Ranger) Marcus Thornton Aug. 29 by hosting “Marcus Thornton Day” at KC.  Thornton was also inducted into the KC Athletics Hall of Fame.

Thornton was honored with a ceremony in Masters Gymnasium and was recognized at halftime of the KC football game that night.

Kilgore Mayor Ronnie Spradlin was in attendance and proclaimed Aug. 29 “Marcus Thornton Day in Kilgore.”

Thornton played at Kilgore College from 2005-07 under head coach Scott Schumacher where he earned All-American honors. He currently plays for the Houston Rockets.

He was the leading scorer at Louisiana State University in 2009 (averaging 20 points per game) and was drafted in the 2009 NBA Draft as the 43rd pick by the Miami Heat. He was then traded to the New Orleans Hornets where he was named All-Rookie Second team in his first year in the NBA. He also set a Hornets franchise record for most points scored in a quarter with 23 points.

In 2012, he signed a five-year, $40 million deal with the Sacramento Kings and was traded to the Nets in 2014 in exchange for Jason Terry and Reggie Evans. After playing for the Nets during the 2013-14 season (averaging 12.3 PPG) he was traded back to Sacramento for the 2013-14 season, then played at Boston and Phoenix during the 2014-15 season before being traded to Houston.

Photo above from left to right:  Jimmy Rieves, KC athletic director; Dr. Bill Holda, KC president; NBA player and former KC Ranger Marcus Thornton; and Dr. Mike Jenkins, KC's VP of student development stand at midfield Aug. 29 during halftime of the KC vs. Arkansas Baptist College football game as Thornton was honored for his induction onto the KC Athletics Hall of Fame.  Photo by Jon Vashey/KC