Northwestern State University of Louisana

Coach Dan Bell on Thornton:  "Hands down, the most valuable player in our program. Has never, between the lines, done anything that would make anybody excited, except for the Southeastern game last year when he made some steals at the end to help win it. But he's the best teacher in the program, gets the guys to do it right, sets the tone for the program. He's just very special."

Thornton's Honors:
Demon Co-Captain 1990-92
NSU Peer Leaders' Coalition, President 1989-1992
Accepted into Louisiana Scholars College, 1988

In 1990-91: Thornton played in 21 games, starting 3, and sparking a comeback win at home over Southeastern Louisiana with 6 points, 5 rebounds and 3 steals, 2 in the final minute to help the Demons rally from 65-62 down. He equaled his career high with 6 points vs. Wiley College.

In 1989-90:  Played in 26 games, starting three - at Wyoming, Northeast Louisiana and Southwest Texas. Thornton made 48.5 percent of his shots from the field and scored 38 points, including a high of 6 in three games. His primary role was post defense.

In 1988-89:  Played in 11 games, starting one, before breaking his ankle in practice prior to SLC play. It was his first season of competitive basketball, since he bypassed high school hoops to attend the Louisiana School for the Math, Science and the Arts, a selective admissions high school open to the state's top prep students. While attending the school, he played church league basketball in Natchitoches and walked on to the Demon squad. He scored his first basket at Ole Miss and his second in the Demons' 85-82 win at Kentucky.

Personal: Michael A. Thornton is the son of Virgil Thornton, Jr., and is one of four children: Ray, Cindy, and Alicia. He is majoring in English and history and is on schedule, with a 3.1 gpa,  to graduate in May 1992. He plans to attend graduate school, serve as an assistant coach with the Demons, and says his life's ambition is "to be successful and happy with my life by helping someone else achieve happiness and success."