As the 2021 NBA Draft gets closer, it seems more and more likely that two former Auburn basketball stars will be selected in the first round. Sharife Cooper, standout freshman point guard, was always expected to be a so-called one-and-done for the Tigers, but by the time summer rolled around it became apparent that J.T. Thor would also be heading to the big leagues.
Thor came to the Tigers last season as a freshman out of Norcross, GA. The 4-star power forward quickly rose to the top of Auburn basketball’s defensive rankings. In the 2020-21 season, Thor started all 27 games and averaged 9.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks.
He ranked eighth in the SEC in blocks and was one of five freshmen in the country to record at least 250 points, 100 rebounds, and 30 blocks in one season. On the night of the 2021 Draft, J.T. Thor will still be just 18 years old, one of the youngest players in the draft.
According to fellow FanSided site Air Alamo, the San Antonio Spurs have their eye on Thor as a possible first-round pick. While Thor has impressed as a defender, he has work to do on the offensive side, which has drawn teams to his potential:
"His deceivingly quick first step adds another layer to his defensive arsenal when he’s off the ball as he was quite good at invading passing lanes, particularly off of the opposing team’s first pass in transition. These tools along with his feel for the game on that end of the floor give him a higher floor than I think people give him credit for.What seems to be holding people back the most about him is his offense, which still needs quite a bit of work. Similarly to Kai Jones, there seems to be evidence present that he’s capable of developing his offense, but for now, it’s mostly raw potential. His biggest strength on that end of the floor for the time being seems to be getting to the bucket, whether that be by rim running in transition, cutting off the ball, or getting an easy bucket off of a steal."
The Spurs spent most of their workouts and interviews working to secure a second-round pick, per Air Alamo, but they spoke with Kai Jones and Corey Kispert, definitive first-rounders. Nevertheless, AA has deemed J.T. Thor a dark horse in the draft for the Spurs, and we at Fly War Eagle could see the big man be successful in the Lone Star State.