With the off-season here, it’s a good time to look back at some of the former Tigers and see where they are now after leaving the program. After looking at several of his teammates, Jeremiah Martin, Kyvon Davenport and Kareem Brewton Jr., it’s time to take a look at Raynere Thornton.
Like several of his teammates, Thornton was recruited to Memphis by Tubby Smith from the JUCO ranks. The forward began his collegiate career at Gordon State, where he was named to the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association All-Freshman Team in his first year and First Team All-GCAA in his second year.
Thornton appeared in 34 games, making 10 starts, during his junior season, and he averaged 5.4 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game. The junior scored in double figures six times, and he finished with 21 points and five rebounds in a six-point win over No. 23 Houston.
As a senior, he appeared in 36 games, making 32 starts, and he averaged 7.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, one assist and 1.5 turnovers in 26.1 minutes per game. Thornton scored in double-figures in five-straight games during conference play, and he scored a season-high 16 points later in the season against Wichita State.
After finishing his collegiate career, he was picked up by the Memphis Hustle, the G-League affiliate of the Grizzlies. Thornton spent one season in the G-League, averaging 3.7 points and 2.8 rebounds in 28 games.
After his lone season in the G-League, the forward went international, and he’s played in seven different countries. The Georgia native has suited up for teams in Argentina, Cyprus, Germany, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania and Taiwan.
During his first international season, he played for Aries Pitesti in Romania, and he averaged 10.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 29 games. He shot 41.9 percent from deep, and he had three games with three or more made three-pointers.
Thornton’s best season came during the 2023-24 season when he averaged 15.1 points and 6.9 rebounds for VfL Bochum in Germany’s second division. After that season, he headed to Argentina and averaged 16 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists for Argentino Junin in the country’s top league, but he appeared in only eight games.
This season, he’s in Slovakia, and he’s averaging 11.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 32 games for BC Slovan Bratislava. The Slovakian European North Basketball League is still in the middle of its season, and he recorded 12 points, five rebounds and two steals in 27 minutes in his most recent game.
His team is third in the league standings, and their next game is on Sunday against Levice.