Marcus Thornton, who worked out twice with the Boston Celtics, will be working out with them much more frequently.
Thornton, William and Mary’s all-time leading scorer, was chosen by the Celtics late Thursday night in the NBA draft, getting the word shortly before midnight. He was picked in the second round with the 45th overall pick.
The dynamic, hard-working, 6-foot-3 guard became W&M’s earliest draft pick since 1961, when Jeff Cohen was chosen 23rd, and the Tribe’s first NBA draft choice of any kind since the Los Angeles Lakers picked Keith Cieplicki in the seventh round in 1985.
Thornton likely will get the chance to prove himself soon in summer-league competition in what could be a crowded Boston backcourt.
Tuesday, the Celtics gave him a second individual workout, and he met with head coach Brad Stevens and president of basketball operations Danny Ainge.
The Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year will be joining one of the NBA’s flagship franchises. Boston’s first-round picks were guards R.J. Hunter of Georgia State — a former CAA rival of W&M’s — and Louisville’s Terry Rozier.
Evan Turner, Marcus Smart, Isaiah Thomas and Avery Bradley were the Celtics’ key backcourt players last season.
