[IlladelphParticipant]

Just read this article.  Thornton’s trainer calls out coach K as a liar.  He states that coach K begged Thornton to reclassify, graduate early, and supposedly promised to feature him in a ball screen offense.  His trainer basically says that coach K lied, and hinted that this will have a negative effect on future recruits.

Now, I remember when Duke signed Thornton.  I thought it was strange that Duke went all out for Thornton, and endorsed him reclassifying and skipping his senior year of high school.  I can understand it if the recruit was the second coming of John Wall, or on that level, but Thornton was not at that level.

Anyway, the kid got his opportunity at Duke and played 26 minutes a game.  He had a decent year, and played about how one might expect a young freshman to play.  The assertion by the kid’s trainer that coach K lied to him is hard to believe.  Then again, we have seen coach K lie already once this season about something totally inconsequential after the Oregon loss in the tournament, so maybe he did lie to him.

I do think that Thornton should have stayed and competed for the starting position.  If his goal is to make it to the NBA, then why not stay at an elite school, and practice every day against elite competition, and strive to get better.  Even if Duke doesn’t feature the kid in a ball screen offense, shouldn’t he learn to adapt to whatever the game plan is?  I think too many kids want guarantees of playing time, and forget that it is a team sport.  Look at Kentucky and their talent level.  They have guys getting picked in the lottery who are coming off the bench.  Thornton just had to get better and compete.  If I’m an NBA scout, I’m losing interest in the kid pretty quickly.  

I don’t know the kid personally, or who his support structure is, but I think he got bad advice to reclassify in the first place, and now he is getting bad advice to leave Duke after only one year.  He still has plenty of time to develop though, and he will probably wind up in a good program, so he may be the next Kris Dunn, or Buddy Hield in a few years.  Hope he finds what he is looking for at his next stop.

[Hype Machine]

 Nice post….

I gotta ask Duke fans…is Coach K still as good as he’s ever been.

Considering thats basically the #1 job in NCAA basketball and they could hire anyone they want, is he still the right man for the job?

 

 

 

 

[TheWhiteLionParticipant]

 I’d say so. If u fire him who r u gonna get? Honestly i think he the best option rn. He may not b the coach he once was but he is definitely their best choice as of rn

[TheWhiteLionParticipant]

 I’d say so. If u fire him who r u gonna get? Honestly i think he the best option rn. He may not b the coach he once was but he is definitely their best choice as of rn

[treytalkssports.comParticipant]

 Wow. That was fast. One year removed from a championship? 

[treytalkssports.comParticipant]

 Wow. That was fast. One year removed from a championship? 

[Hype Machine]

 Nice post….

I gotta ask Duke fans…is Coach K still as good as he’s ever been.

Considering thats basically the #1 job in NCAA basketball and they could hire anyone they want, is he still the right man for the job?

 

 

 

 

[circumlocution75Participant]

 & watch him kick Roy Williams rear end 2 or 3 times Every single year like he did in the Champioship game……..

No disrespect to Coach K – he’s a Legend but Everyone gets old & I’m not even saying the Should move on……

 I’m just answering the White Lion’s question….. Wright out-coached Williams badly…… What could he do to Roy if he had Duke’s recruits every year……..

 

[ncballer]

 I have been one of Roy’s critics on the board, and I am not sure how Wright outcoached him badly?  Nova hit some really tough shots down the stretch, and UNC’s bigmen missed chippies.  You realize that championship game was Wright’s first win over Roy ever, correct?  Roy had kicked his ass up and down every year before this year when they played.  

[ncballer]

 I have been one of Roy’s critics on the board, and I am not sure how Wright outcoached him badly?  Nova hit some really tough shots down the stretch, and UNC’s bigmen missed chippies.  You realize that championship game was Wright’s first win over Roy ever, correct?  Roy had kicked his ass up and down every year before this year when they played.  

[circumlocution75Participant]

 & watch him kick Roy Williams rear end 2 or 3 times Every single year like he did in the Champioship game……..

No disrespect to Coach K – he’s a Legend but Everyone gets old & I’m not even saying the Should move on……

 I’m just answering the White Lion’s question….. Wright out-coached Williams badly…… What could he do to Roy if he had Duke’s recruits every year……..

 

[D7H7NParticipant]

1. Roy is retiring soon

2. Wright wouldn’t recruit the same players as coach K anyways. Besides the name Duke, some top recruits may not buy into Wright’s 3-4 guard motion offensive scheme, and they would just go some other big name school. 

Pretty sure if coach K retires, next in line is Jeff Capel.

[D7H7NParticipant]

1. Roy is retiring soon

2. Wright wouldn’t recruit the same players as coach K anyways. Besides the name Duke, some top recruits may not buy into Wright’s 3-4 guard motion offensive scheme, and they would just go some other big name school. 

Pretty sure if coach K retires, next in line is Jeff Capel.

[McDunkin]

If this is true then I wonder if Alex Murphy got the same pitch?

[McDunkin]

If this is true then I wonder if Alex Murphy got the same pitch?

[GBeeParticipant]

 Coaches do what works. Who would you rather have coming off of those ball screens? Grayson Allen, Brandon Ingram or Derryck Thornton? I still like his talent, but Derryck needs to get his weight up and improve his jumper, maybe then he’d be utilized more in ball screens.  He shot poorly from mid, poorly near the cup and his A/T was below average, but yeah he’s supposed to be running X amount of ball screens a game taking the ball out of one of the best scorers in the league and one of the most talented freshmen in the country. Makes sense right? Coach K should do what’s best for one player as opposed to what’s best for the team. Sure. That team had no business winning some of the games that they did with their lack of depth.  Coach K did his job, and unsurprisingly did it well.  If I recall correctly, Thornton was down to Michigan and Duke.  You best believe coach Beilein would not have just given him the ball and let him do his thing either.  Derryck’s camp sounds like a bunch of sour grape, no patience having b!tches who had inflated expectations of how ready Derryck was for the college game.

 

[GBeeParticipant]

 Coaches do what works. Who would you rather have coming off of those ball screens? Grayson Allen, Brandon Ingram or Derryck Thornton? I still like his talent, but Derryck needs to get his weight up and improve his jumper, maybe then he’d be utilized more in ball screens.  He shot poorly from mid, poorly near the cup and his A/T was below average, but yeah he’s supposed to be running X amount of ball screens a game taking the ball out of one of the best scorers in the league and one of the most talented freshmen in the country. Makes sense right? Coach K should do what’s best for one player as opposed to what’s best for the team. Sure. That team had no business winning some of the games that they did with their lack of depth.  Coach K did his job, and unsurprisingly did it well.  If I recall correctly, Thornton was down to Michigan and Duke.  You best believe coach Beilein would not have just given him the ball and let him do his thing either.  Derryck’s camp sounds like a bunch of sour grape, no patience having b!tches who had inflated expectations of how ready Derryck was for the college game.

 

[ChicagoCaseyParticipant]

 I believe it is some meat in this story. Recruiting is all about blank promises, so the story the trainer said is believable. I don’t believe anything Coach K is selling and I believe he would do such a thing like this. I said this story is believable because Duke needed a point guard badly and he was the best point guard available. I can see Coach K telling him everything he wants to hear so he can reclassfy and commit to Duke.

[ChicagoCaseyParticipant]

 I believe it is some meat in this story. Recruiting is all about blank promises, so the story the trainer said is believable. I don’t believe anything Coach K is selling and I believe he would do such a thing like this. I said this story is believable because Duke needed a point guard badly and he was the best point guard available. I can see Coach K telling him everything he wants to hear so he can reclassfy and commit to Duke.

[mtpandolfiParticipant]

 The trainer is also his uncle for whatever that’s worth. 

[mtpandolfiParticipant]

 The trainer is also his uncle for whatever that’s worth. 

[I.C.Y.U.NV.MEParticipant]

 In Brandon Ingram’s farewell letter, he stated that one of the main reasons he came to Duke was because Coach K didn’t promise him minutes. He told him he’d definitely have a shot but nothing is guaranteed. He challenged him. It’s hard for me to believe that K would promise Derryck Thornton anything but tell a future top 3 pick that he’s not guaranteed. 

[I.C.Y.U.NV.MEParticipant]

 In Brandon Ingram’s farewell letter, he stated that one of the main reasons he came to Duke was because Coach K didn’t promise him minutes. He told him he’d definitely have a shot but nothing is guaranteed. He challenged him. It’s hard for me to believe that K would promise Derryck Thornton anything but tell a future top 3 pick that he’s not guaranteed. 

[ncballer]

 I can confirm that is true about Ingram as well.  Though his reaction was not as elegant as it was in his farewell letter.  

In regard to Thornton, his recruitment was very strange.  Dennis Smith was promised as being the only PG they would recruit for 2016.  Then Duke offered Thornton a scholarship (before he reclassified), and the Smith family did not take that well at all.  Thornton making a USA team over Smith was the nail in the coffin.  

I also had heard that signing Thornton was HUGE in Ingram’s decision at the last minute.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ncballer]

 I can confirm that is true about Ingram as well.  Though his reaction was not as elegant as it was in his farewell letter.  

In regard to Thornton, his recruitment was very strange.  Dennis Smith was promised as being the only PG they would recruit for 2016.  Then Duke offered Thornton a scholarship (before he reclassified), and the Smith family did not take that well at all.  Thornton making a USA team over Smith was the nail in the coffin.  

I also had heard that signing Thornton was HUGE in Ingram’s decision at the last minute.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Helo1324Participant]

 a year after yet another NCAA championship with a predominantly freshmen lineup…Coach K takes a team that is about as shallow in the depth chart as it gets to the sweet 16 and already the haters are questioning his coaching ability…..sigh….moving on.

[Helo1324Participant]

 a year after yet another NCAA championship with a predominantly freshmen lineup…Coach K takes a team that is about as shallow in the depth chart as it gets to the sweet 16 and already the haters are questioning his coaching ability…..sigh….moving on.

[Taylor Gang MikeParticipant]

 Duke lied to him like I said. Smh. Now the kid has to sit out a year.

[Taylor Gang MikeParticipant]

 Duke lied to him like I said. Smh. Now the kid has to sit out a year.

[I.C.Y.U.NV.MEParticipant]

 I don’t believe he was lied to. They obviously needed a pg so I’m sure K told him there would be minutes available, but I don’t see him promising Derryck those minutes. I don’t see him promising him he’ll get the keys like Tyus did. DT was given ample playing time and opportunities to prove he was ready and he just wasn’t. When Amile went down and their offense switched to more of an iso offense, and DT got benched, his parents didn’t take it kindly. They also didn’t like that K told Thornton to focus less on scoring. Frank Jackson coming in didn’t help either. His parents are the ones who created this whole beef by thinking their son, while talented, is better than he is. They pushed the transfer. 

[I.C.Y.U.NV.MEParticipant]

 I don’t believe he was lied to. They obviously needed a pg so I’m sure K told him there would be minutes available, but I don’t see him promising Derryck those minutes. I don’t see him promising him he’ll get the keys like Tyus did. DT was given ample playing time and opportunities to prove he was ready and he just wasn’t. When Amile went down and their offense switched to more of an iso offense, and DT got benched, his parents didn’t take it kindly. They also didn’t like that K told Thornton to focus less on scoring. Frank Jackson coming in didn’t help either. His parents are the ones who created this whole beef by thinking their son, while talented, is better than he is. They pushed the transfer. 

[OhCanada-Participant]

 The basketball world revolves around few people. One of those people are Coach K. There is nobody I would replace Coach K with even if there name is easier to spell.

[OhCanada-Participant]

 The basketball world revolves around few people. One of those people are Coach K. There is nobody I would replace Coach K with even if there name is easier to spell.

[SpaceghostParticipant]

Im not even a coach K fan..(TARHEELS)  but Derrick Thorton was given a scholarship to an Elite School. and received lots of PLaying time, I think Coach K fullfiled his promise..IF Derrick was as good as Uncle beleives he would not have to transfer. Witcha State, Creighton school on that level prefect proving ground for Thorton. ACC is really for the elite of the elite. Frank Jackson or Derrick Thorton..hmmm easy choice 

[SpaceghostParticipant]

Im not even a coach K fan..(TARHEELS)  but Derrick Thorton was given a scholarship to an Elite School. and received lots of PLaying time, I think Coach K fullfiled his promise..IF Derrick was as good as Uncle beleives he would not have to transfer. Witcha State, Creighton school on that level prefect proving ground for Thorton. ACC is really for the elite of the elite. Frank Jackson or Derrick Thorton..hmmm easy choice 

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

I believe that since Duke badly needed a pg and coach k probably said whatever he could to land thorton. If that meant stretching the truth somewhat about the role he would play in the offense so be it. If he had told thorton the complete truth about what his role would be its highly unlikely he would have reclassified or committed to Duke. Maybe it’s possible at the time he was recruiting thorton coach k dud actually envision him playing a bigger role.

However, coach K’s job is to do primarily what’s in the best interest of Duke’s program as a whole and win as many games as possible, which is more important than any one player. From that perspective, it would make very little sense to run the offense through thorton when you have Grayson Allen and brandon ingram on your roster. For what it’s worth, thorton received a good amount of playing time and got valuable experience this year I thought. It wasn’t like he was buried on the bench or anything. He got the chance to start as a freshman for one of the best programs in the country, and if he didn’t perform up to his own expectations of himself, maybe be should look in the mirror instead of blaming the coach.

 

 

 

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

I believe that since Duke badly needed a pg and coach k probably said whatever he could to land thorton. If that meant stretching the truth somewhat about the role he would play in the offense so be it. If he had told thorton the complete truth about what his role would be its highly unlikely he would have reclassified or committed to Duke. Maybe it’s possible at the time he was recruiting thorton coach k dud actually envision him playing a bigger role.

However, coach K’s job is to do primarily what’s in the best interest of Duke’s program as a whole and win as many games as possible, which is more important than any one player. From that perspective, it would make very little sense to run the offense through thorton when you have Grayson Allen and brandon ingram on your roster. For what it’s worth, thorton received a good amount of playing time and got valuable experience this year I thought. It wasn’t like he was buried on the bench or anything. He got the chance to start as a freshman for one of the best programs in the country, and if he didn’t perform up to his own expectations of himself, maybe be should look in the mirror instead of blaming the coach.

 

 

 

[BiggysmallsParticipant]

 Here’s a thought for Thornton: get better at not needing to play basketball with a ball screen all the time.

Like of all things to be upset about. I could understand if he said, he hey went out and recruited over me with Jackson. It wasnt a great fit or whatever but seriously? He didn’t get enough ball screens? It seems so preschool to me. Can the dude not play offense without a ball screen? If so, I get why they’d recruit over him. 

Duke wouldn’t be the first school to sell a kid a bag of goods and then reneg on it. It’s also possible that they thought Thornton would be better, he was okay but not special and they went ahead and recruited over him. Kentucky does that every year. A lot of schools would love to have that problem. 

I’m curious to see where Thorton goes now. He had a nice year for a freshman and he’ll be a good player in time. Not sure where he’s from but wherever he goes, that team will get a good player. 

 

 

 

 

 

[BiggysmallsParticipant]

 Here’s a thought for Thornton: get better at not needing to play basketball with a ball screen all the time.

Like of all things to be upset about. I could understand if he said, he hey went out and recruited over me with Jackson. It wasnt a great fit or whatever but seriously? He didn’t get enough ball screens? It seems so preschool to me. Can the dude not play offense without a ball screen? If so, I get why they’d recruit over him. 

Duke wouldn’t be the first school to sell a kid a bag of goods and then reneg on it. It’s also possible that they thought Thornton would be better, he was okay but not special and they went ahead and recruited over him. Kentucky does that every year. A lot of schools would love to have that problem. 

I’m curious to see where Thorton goes now. He had a nice year for a freshman and he’ll be a good player in time. Not sure where he’s from but wherever he goes, that team will get a good player. 

 

 

 

 

 

[GBeeParticipant]

 I don’t necessarily agree that they recruited Jackson over Thornton.  Jackson is much more of a SG than a PG, or even a combo at this point.  Thornton could’ve still been the primary ball-handler bc he’s a much better, more dynamic ball-handler and playmaker.  Thornton would’ve also been the best option for defending the opposing point as well.  Despite his offensive struggles, he was still a really pesky, competitive defender. Allen returning though messed up that possibility for Thornton.  Allen, Kennard, Jones and Jackson are all 2’s, so Coach K would’ve had to find them minutes somewhere, which would include minutes at the 1.  

[GBeeParticipant]

 I don’t necessarily agree that they recruited Jackson over Thornton.  Jackson is much more of a SG than a PG, or even a combo at this point.  Thornton could’ve still been the primary ball-handler bc he’s a much better, more dynamic ball-handler and playmaker.  Thornton would’ve also been the best option for defending the opposing point as well.  Despite his offensive struggles, he was still a really pesky, competitive defender. Allen returning though messed up that possibility for Thornton.  Allen, Kennard, Jones and Jackson are all 2’s, so Coach K would’ve had to find them minutes somewhere, which would include minutes at the 1.  

[I.C.Y.U.NV.MEParticipant]

 I honestly think Thornton wanted to stay, but the bad blood between his parents and the coaching staff forced him to leave. I think his parents thought of him as a one, maybe 2 year guy. K obviously needed him for this year but he knew Derryck’s value would be down the road. If he wanted a OAD guy he would of kept the pressure up on Jamal Murray. The transfer makes no sense because he’ll have to sit out a year and now he’ll definitely be a 3 or 4 year guy. Might as well have made years 3 and 4 at Duke. He could have been great.

[I.C.Y.U.NV.MEParticipant]

 I honestly think Thornton wanted to stay, but the bad blood between his parents and the coaching staff forced him to leave. I think his parents thought of him as a one, maybe 2 year guy. K obviously needed him for this year but he knew Derryck’s value would be down the road. If he wanted a OAD guy he would of kept the pressure up on Jamal Murray. The transfer makes no sense because he’ll have to sit out a year and now he’ll definitely be a 3 or 4 year guy. Might as well have made years 3 and 4 at Duke. He could have been great.

[BlueRivers25Participant]

Thornton did average 26 minutes a game. So the opportunities where there for him on the court. But watching many Duke games, he just wasnt that good as advertise or as good as his Father and Trainer/Uncle thinks he is. 

Doesn’t mean he cant continue to grow and develop. He didn’t want to put in the time and stick it out at Duke. See Nolan Smith and Quinn Cook, how their game and career developed during the years at Duke. It wasn’t easy for them, but they stayed and didn’t transfer. Both of them became leaders and Champions. 

I think if he stayed he would have had that opportunity to grow and become the players Nolan and Quinn became. 

By him transfering, now it will free up more minutes for Frank Jackson, Luke Kennard, Matt Jones, Grayson Allen. Duke will be fine and continue to play for Championships. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[BlueRivers25Participant]

Thornton did average 26 minutes a game. So the opportunities where there for him on the court. But watching many Duke games, he just wasnt that good as advertise or as good as his Father and Trainer/Uncle thinks he is. 

Doesn’t mean he cant continue to grow and develop. He didn’t want to put in the time and stick it out at Duke. See Nolan Smith and Quinn Cook, how their game and career developed during the years at Duke. It wasn’t easy for them, but they stayed and didn’t transfer. Both of them became leaders and Champions. 

I think if he stayed he would have had that opportunity to grow and become the players Nolan and Quinn became. 

By him transfering, now it will free up more minutes for Frank Jackson, Luke Kennard, Matt Jones, Grayson Allen. Duke will be fine and continue to play for Championships. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[I.C.Y.U.NV.MEParticipant]

 I would have really loved to see him develope at Duke. I think he could have been an all acc guy his junior and senior years. Him leaving is a bigger blow than people think. Yeah, it might not matter this year because they’re loaded regardless, but 2017-2018 is when it does matter. They’ll have to scramble to find a pg and will likely rely on a freshman pg for the 3rd year in a row.

[BlueRivers25Participant]

In 2017 – 2018, Duke will have plenty of time to find a PG. But hear you, I would rather have a battle tested Junior PG than another unproven Frosh at PG or a SG playing PG. 

Guys like Tyus Jones dont come around often. 

 

 

[BlueRivers25Participant]

In 2017 – 2018, Duke will have plenty of time to find a PG. But hear you, I would rather have a battle tested Junior PG than another unproven Frosh at PG or a SG playing PG. 

Guys like Tyus Jones dont come around often. 

 

 

[I.C.Y.U.NV.MEParticipant]

 I would have really loved to see him develope at Duke. I think he could have been an all acc guy his junior and senior years. Him leaving is a bigger blow than people think. Yeah, it might not matter this year because they’re loaded regardless, but 2017-2018 is when it does matter. They’ll have to scramble to find a pg and will likely rely on a freshman pg for the 3rd year in a row.

[Author]

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