Duke has its point guard for the 2015-16 season.
After meeting Monday with Duke coach
Mike Krzyzewski, 6-foot-2 Henderson (NV) Findlay Prep point guard
Derryck Thornton opted to reclassify to 2015 and commit to the Blue Devils, sources confirmed to SNY.tv.
Paul Biancardi of ESPN.com first reported the commitment.
“Once
Tyus [Jones] declared, Duke came after me hard,” Thornton told Biancardi.
“Last night, Coach K and [assistant]
Jeff Capel came in for the visit and they told me how much confidence they have in me to be there point guard next year. They were very prepared about my game and their plan for me.
“They told me they could have went after fifth-year transfers but wanted me instead. I am excited about the opportunity and the challenge.”
Louisville had also tried to get Thornton to reclass for 2015.
Thornton becomes the fourth commit for the reigning NCAA champions, following shooting guard
Luke Kennard, power forward
Chase Jeter and 6-11 big man
Antonio Vrankovic.
Coach K
is also slated to meet Tuesday night with 2015 forward Brandon Ingram for the second time in a few days.
Thornton is also close with 2016 Gladstone (N.J.) Gill St. Bernard’s guard
Tyus Battle, who visited Duke over the weekend and is strongly considering the Blue Devils along with several other schools. Thornton and Battle have discussed playing together in college.
Kennard
told SNY.tv last week that he could play the point and had been told by the Duke staff to continue to work on his ball-handling.
Now he can play more of a scoring guard role and could play the point at times.
Duke had also been involved with Villanova transfer
Dylan Ennis, who wants to play the point.
