Thornton won't be member of Redhawks for 2006-07 season

~ The 6-foot-8 forward, who averaged 7.9 points and 6.6 rebounds per game last year, still faces charges in Kansas and likely will be replaced by a junior college transfer.

As Andrais Thornton continues to face criminal charges in Kansas, one thing is certain.

His basketball career at Southeast Missouri State is over.

First-year Southeast coach Scott Edgar apparently made the decision several weeks ago to not renew Thornton's scholarship for his senior season.

Contacted on Thursday, Edgar said, "His scholarship was not renewed. I can't comment any further than that."

Thornton also said Thursday that he would rather not comment on the situation.

Thornton, the Redhawks' leading rebounder as a junior forward last season, is awaiting trial in Colby, Kan., on charges of rape and aggravated sexual battery.

Thornton is charged with the alleged Nov. 16, 2003 assault of a then 19-year-old college student and cheerleader at Colby (Kan.) Community College, where Thornton was an 18-year-old freshman basketball player.

No charges were filed until early this year, when Thornton was arrested in late January on the Southeast campus after the Redhawks returned from a game at Austin Peay.

Southeast suspended Thornton from competition for the final seven games of the season, although he remained in school and on scholarship.

Thornton, who has been out of jail on bond while awaiting trial, transferred to Southeast for the 2005-06 season from Southwest Missouri State-West Plains Community College, where he played his sophomore campaign.

Thornton, a 6-foot-8, 215-pound Chicago native, averaged 7.9 points and a team-high 6.6 rebounds per game for the Redhawks in 2005-06.

While Thornton won't play for the Redhawks this season, his roster spot evidently won't be vacant.

Dionte Perry, a 6-6, 225-pound forward from Sante Fe Community College in Gainesville, Fla., will apparently receive the scholarship vacated by Thornton.

Although Perry has not yet signed the necessary scholarship papers, he said Thursday he is definitely heading to Southeast, where he will have two seasons of eligibility.

Perry averaged 13 points and 9.1 rebounds as a sophomore at Sante Fe Community College. He shot 56.4 percent from the field and 70.2 percent from the free-throw line. He was the team's leading rebounder and second-leading scorer, while also ranking first in blocks with 58.

"I'm excited about coming there," said Perry, who said he chose Southeast over Wright State and Florida Atlantic after also receiving some interest from Purdue and Texas-El Paso. "I liked the school and the coaches."