Once one of the most coveted point guards in the 2016 class, Derryck Thornton couldn’t pass up the opportunity to replace Tyus Jones and lead Duke’s national title defense next season.
Only catch was, he’d have to reclassify to the 2015 class in order to do it. So, he did.
Now the Blue Devils have their point guard, one that could be quite a formidable replacement for last season’s Final Four MOP.
Name: Derryck Thornton
Height: 6’2
Position: Point Guard
Ranking: Five-star, No. 15 overall
Strengths: Thornton plays the game with range, meaning that he covers ground on both ends very quickly and with fluidity. This allows him to be deadly in the open court, defend the perimeter against a variety of guards, and get to the rim with efficiency in the half court. While he can definitely score at the rim, Thornton is at his best when getting by the first level of the defense and finding shooters on the perimeter, something he will have plenty of next season at Duke. Something that really stands out is that even when he isn’t having his most effective game with the ball in his hands, he finds way to effect the game with his defense and poise, rarely committing silly turnovers or committing ill-advised fouls. Thornton understands the game at a high level, and his frame, along with his emerging athleticism, bodes well for his future development.
Areas to Improve: At this point, Thornton still isn’t a reliable threat from the outside when shooting, which may not hurt him too badly at Duke with the perimeter scoring he’ll be surrounded with, but it will definitely limit him down the road as he develops. There are also questions about his aggressiveness, as sometimes, he looks like he might be a bit too passive offensively and he risks becoming a non-threat. Defensively, he’s got a high ceiling, but more consistent effort would go a long way.
