Derryck Thornton to Duke: Blue Devils Land 5-Star PG Prospect

The Duke Blue Devils' basketball program just got a major boost for the 2015 season, as 5-star point guard Derryck Thornton committed to the school for the 2015 season on Tuesday.    

He commented on the decision via Twitter:

"

I thank God for this opportunity, I thank my parents and coaches for believing in me. I have officially committed to Duke 2015 #BlueDevils

— Derryck Thornton II (@DerryckThornton) April 21, 2015"

According to Paul Biancardi of ESPN, "Junior Derryck Thornton, the 11th overall player in the ESPN 60, has decided to re-classify up to the class of 2015 and commit to Duke to be their point guard for the 2015-16 season."

Thornton spoke about his decision to make the move to Duke next year with Biancardi:

"

Last night, Coach K [Mike Krzyzewski] and [assistant] Jeff Capel came in for the visit and they told me how much confidence they have in me to be their 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.

"

247Sports has Thornton listed as a 5-star prospect. Before he reclassified to the class of 2015, 247Sports considered him the No. 1 prospect from the state of Nevada, the No. 2 point guard and the No. 7 player overall in the class of 2016. The Findlay Prep product stands 6'2" and weights 175 pounds and is talented enough to be graduating a year early and still hitting college as a premier prospect.

He also couldn't be coming at a better time for Duke, which is losing the meat of its national championship team. Freshmen studs Jahlil Okafor, Justise Winslow and Tyus Jones all declared early for the NBA draft and senior guard Quinn Cook is graduating. 

Rob Dauster and Scott Phillips of College Basketball Talk provided the following scouting report on Thornton:

"

Thornton is a high IQ floor general who makes a lot of plays for others while also being a decent jump shooter. Defensively, he’s also very competitive and should be ready to go on that end of the floor. Thornton was a likely All-American in the Class of 2016, but he’s probably ready for big-time college basketball right now. The strength and physicality of the college game will be the big question mark as Thornton enters next season.

"

It's a great day for the Blue Devils, in other words. Thornton will be expected to start right out of the gate for Duke and should upgrade a position that was otherwise going to be a major question mark for the team.