Duke Blue Devils: Derryck Thornton to Transfer
Duke Blue Devils freshman Derryck Thornton will transfer out after one season.
Duke Blue Devils guard Derryck Thornton will leave Duke and transfer somewhere closer to his home in California. This is the second player to leave Duke this off season for a reason other than graduation. The first was early draft entrant Brandon Ingram.
Thornton’s departure from the program is a sign of what is wrong with collegiate athletics. Thornton was not supposed to be a college freshman this year. He reclassified at the request of Coach Mike Krzyzewski. He gave up prom and his senior year to be a Duke player because Krzyzewski needed a point guard badly.
Tyus Jones had left for the NBA. Duke recruiting had done a monster job bringing in Ingram, Luke Kennard, and Chase Jeter, but none of them was a point guard. Thornton reclassifying gave Duke the theoretical guard it needed. The season was saved, in a fashion.
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What was Thornton’s reward for rearranging his life to aid Duke? He was recruited over when Duke signed point guard Frank Jackson. Jackson is a five star recruit, destined to be the day one starter the moment he hits campus.
Coach K owed Thornton a little more consideration for his trouble than just a Duke scholarship and place on the pine. He could have repaid Thornton’s sacrifice by making Thornton a better point guard, one who might lead a national title team of his own down the line.
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Instead Thornton is looking at either bench minutes or a year out of basketball and hope that he fits in someone else’s plans.
Sure Coach K did the best thing for Duke basketball when he convinced Thornton to come early. Coach K also did the best thing for Duke basketball when he recruited Jackson. Just don’t tell me there was anything special about it. Coach K’s label has been leadership. If that means Coach K’s willingness to sacrifice Thornton for the glory of Duke, isn’t that kind of messed up?
I might point out that Thornton’s departure also opens a scholarship for Duke that might be used on a more strategic prospect in the future. Thornton may be gone, and his loss might be advantageous but nobody should be pleased about how this went down.