One member of the 2008-09 LSU men’s basketball team appears close to starting his NBA career earlier than previously expected.But it won’t be forward Tasmin Mitchell.Mitchell decided Sunday to return to LSU for his senior season by withdrawing his name from NBA draft consideration.”I just think I can still better myself by getting my degree and better my opportunity for the NBA and raise my stock,” Mitchell told The Daily Reveille on Monday.Former LSU guard Marcus Thornton, however, has been climbing NBA draft boards. “He’s definitely got a shot to get in the late first round,” said NBADraft.net analyst Aran Smith. “Basically, there’s a number of two-guards he’s sort of competing with for a spot in the late first round. And he’s had a number of good work outs, so that’s really helped him out.”NBADraft.net projects the Memphis Grizzlies taking Thornton off the board at No. 36, early in the second round, in its latest mock draft. DraftExpress.com has the Los Angeles Lakers selecting Thornton late in the first round at No. 29, and InsideHoops.com has the Grizzlies picking the 6-foot-4-inch guard at No. 27.ESPN.com calls Thornton the draft’s No. 44-best prospect and a likely “late first to early second” round pick. The Baton Rouge native’s potential first-round draft stock comes just weeks after no major draft Web site listed him being drafted at all. Thornton’s name was nowhere on ESPN’s list of top 100 players in the draft, which consists of only 60 picks. “Any of the teams between 25 and 30 would definitely look at him,” Smith said. “You have the Lakers and Cleveland in there, teams that could use another good shooter. Oklahoma City is a possibility … and Chicago as well. Memphis is in there. I’m not so sure about them.” LSU coach Trent Johnson said Thornton’s worked out for several teams, including Milwaukee, Detroit, Minnesota and New Orleans.”The NBA has a way of hiding their cards, so to speak,” Johnson said. “So you can’t get too caught up in it, because it’s a business … and everybody’s posturing in terms of who they want to pick and where they want to pick.” Smith said the closest NBA comparison he has for Thornton is former Sixers, Hornets, Sonics and Bulls guard Hershey Hawkins, who the Los Angeles Clippers selected No. 6 out of Bradley in 1988 following Rupp and U.S. Basketball Writers Association NCAA Player of The Year awards.”With his body type — they’re sort of barrel-chested — and they’re quick shooters,” Smith said. “I don’t think he’s quite on the level with Hawkins in terms of talent. Hawkins put up ridiculous numbers throughout his college career, whereas Thornton sort of came on toward the end of his career … I think his size is the biggest concern, defensively, and will he be able to get shots off the same way.”While Thornton appears to be the first LSU player set to come off the board at the draft on June 25, Smith expects center Chris Johnson to follow him somewhere in the second round. “Chris Johnson has a real chance to get drafted based on his length and his potential,” Smith said. “He is a senior, but he’s a guy that’s still developing some. He didn’t have a great year, but he showed flashes.”Guards Garrett Temple and Terry Martin could have to join teams as free agents after the draft or play their way through the NBA Developmental League or a European league to begin NBA careers, Smith said. “I haven’t heard too much on them as far as draft possibilities,” Smith said. “They’d be guys that’d probably have a shot to be picked up in free agency … The fact that [Temple’s] such a good defensive player, you can’t completely rule him out, but I think he really didn’t develop much offensively, so that makes it a real uphill battle.”Last week Temple said he had one workout in late April, five in May and had seven scheduled for June and has been traveling with agent John Hamilton, who also represents former LSU forward Glen Davis. Temple has covered the country on work out trips with stops in Portland, Indiana, Detroit, Boston, San Antonio, Houston and Oakland.”I had a workout with Boston, and I was up there for about three or four days with [Glen] after,” Temple said. “[Traveling] is almost worse than my AAU days, but we’re flying — sometimes first-class — and my agent has done a good job of scheduling.”Trent Johnson said forward Quintin Thornton and former forward Anthony Randolph — drafted last year by the Golden State Warriors after his freshman season at LSU — are both still working on finishing their education. Mitchell said he still considers his stint of NBA workouts and traveling the country a positive adventure.”It was a great experience. I learned a lot,” Mitchell said. “They taught me a lot working out.”—-Contact Jerit Roser at [email protected]