When Derryck Thornton decided to graduate from Findlay Prep high school a year early, legendary Duke Blue Devils head coach Mike Krzyzewski thought he was getting the point guard he desperately desired.
Unfortunately, the fit wasn’t what the two parties expected.
According to Thornton’s uncle, Coach K and his staff made several promises to the five-star floor general, but none of those promises were met.
Things got so bad that Thornton elected to transfer and while there were several schools pursuing him from Kansas to Miami, the 6-foot-2 guard has elected to go back home to California.
Duke transfer Derryck Thornton Jr. is headed to USC, his father confirmed to ESPN. https://t.co/ToITjeI777
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) June 17, 2016
From a personal standpoint, it makes sense as to why he would want to go home and not only that, with the Trojans losing Julian Jacobs and Nikola Jovanovic early to the NBA Draft, there’s no question Thornton will be starting once the 2017-2018 season kicks off.
Due to NCAA rules, Thornton must sit out this upcoming campaign.
Basketball wise, this is an ideal fit for Thornton.
Head coach Andy Enfield loves to play an uptempo, fast and exciting brand of basketball, which is right down Thornton’s alley.
Thornton is at his best when the ball is in his hand and when he’s able to not only create for himself, but for others in transition.
“He really got along with (associate head coach) Tony Bland, Enfield and the whole staff,” Thornton’s father, Derryck Thornton, Sr. told Scout. “He liked all four staffs but it was really the trust level at USC with Bland and the staff and the comfort of being home.”
At Duke, Thornton averaged 7.1 points, 2.6 dimes and 1.8 rebounds per game in 26 minutes.