April 26, 2005

Cape Girardeau, Mo. - Andrais Thornton, the most valuable player last season at SMS-West Plains Community College, has signed a national letter of intent to play basketball at Southeast Missouri State University.

Thornton, 6-8, 220, averaged 13.5 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. He shot 55% from the field and 61% from the free throw line.

"Andrais Thornton is an outstanding rebounder and with the graduation losses of Reggie Golson and Dainmon Gonner we felt we needed to sign a proven rebounder," said Southeast coach Gary Garner. "Thornton can play the 4 or 5 position and we really feel good about his ability to step in and give us immediate help. He is a very good athlete who led his team in both scoring and rebounding."

Originally from Chicago, Ill., Thornton played at Colby Community College in Kansas his freshman season. He will be a junior at Southeast.

Thornton joins 6-6 junior college recruit John Chappell and 6-4 freshman recruit Eric Jones on the list of signees at Southeast.