During the autumn of 2020, Bruce Thornton was a junior at Milton High School in Alpharetta, Georgia, balancing his schooling and basketball throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Jake Diebler was an assistant coach at Ohio State beneath Chris Holtmann, with a transparent deal with recruiting: Get Thornton to decide to the Buckeyes.
“He would call me so much during that time,” Thornton recalled of Diebler. “He would FaceTime me. He wasn’t regular calling like other coaches. So I’m like, I don’t know why he’s doing this. He would call me so much, I thought he was the head coach during that time. But it’s crazy how everything comes full circle. But yeah, a lot of FaceTimes.”
Diebler recollects it equally. While he additionally talked about there have been loads of FaceTime calls, there wasn’t as a lot face time with Thornton.
“I think of all the times I FaceTimed him and he was playing video games,” said Diebler, now Ohio State’s head coach. “And I was staring at his ceiling during the recruiting process.”
Although Diebler may not have seen a lot of Thornton throughout these calls, they nonetheless made an impression and finally resulted within the two spending numerous time collectively in Columbus.
A four-star prospect and top-10 level guard in his class, Thornton dedicated to the Scarlet and Gray on Nov. 26, 2020. In hindsight, that dedication and Thornton’s signing a yr later set in movement what might be a historic Saturday.
After scoring 18 factors in Ohio State’s 94-62 win at Penn State on Wednesday, Thornton has the chance to move Dennis Hopson and develop into the Buckeyes’ all-time main scorer throughout this weekend’s common season finale at house in opposition to Indiana.
Although Diebler knew Thornton was a gifted participant and did what it took to make sure he performed for the Scarlet and Gray, he admits he did not anticipate this stage of manufacturing when the purpose guard arrived on campus.
With 9 extra rebounds, he would be the second participant in Big Ten historical past to achieve 2,000 factors, 500 assists and 500 rebounds in his profession. Thornton did not anticipate to maneuver up the file books on this manner both.
“I never thought this would ever be a thing,” Thornton mentioned when requested in regards to the marks he’s on the cusp of setting. “If you told me my freshman year, I would do something like, ‘Okay, get out of my face. It’s probably not going to happen.’ But God works in mysterious ways, man, and definitely a blessing.”
Thornton’s assault on Ohio State’s all-time scoring file is, after all, on account of his resolution to remain in faculty for 4 seasons as a substitute of leaving early for the NBA Draft, as prime gamers usually do. However, it additionally displays Thornton’s loyalty.
The guard performed by way of the beginning of the switch portal and NIL period, which created alternatives to switch every offseason. Teams with deeper pockets than Buckeye basketball would have beloved to pay Thornton to hitch their college and lead the staff.
Yet Thornton remained dedicated to the Scarlet and Gray.
“For me, something my mom always told me, if you’re gonna start something, you gotta finish it,” Thornton defined. “It’s really different now with NIL and coaching changes, but I just stood true to who I am. (Diebler) believed in me at a very high level. So, when somebody instills that much confidence in you, it’s just hard to waver. Because I don’t feel like that was fake or it was false. I feel like it was real genuine and I’m still here.”
Diebler believes Thornton’s profession deserves much more recognition than it already has. A participant like Thornton, who spends 4 years enjoying faculty basketball at one college, is changing into more and more uncommon. Many opposing coaches have praised Thornton’s loyalty — amongst different qualities — after dealing with Ohio State this season, acknowledging the identical traits that Diebler observes.
“We all want players like that,” Diebler mentioned. “And I think that’s great. I’m not surprised that these guys celebrate him. Certainly, because he’s a talented player and they have great respect for him. But they’ve watched him grow. They’ve got a feel for who he is as a person, too. And I think all that stuff should be celebrated.”
Thornton’s profession is an instance of arduous work and enchancment.
He was a beginning participant on Day 1 and performed in each recreation for the Buckeyes throughout the 2022-23 season. Thornton averaged 10.6 factors, 2.7 rebounds and a pair of.6 assists as a freshman.
Each season, Thornton has improved, averaging 19.9 factors, 5.2 rebounds and three.8 assists as a senior this yr. He challenges opposing offenses along with his point-of-attack protection. He is reliable, having missed just one recreation in his profession on account of a migraine. He can also be the one four-time captain in Ohio State basketball historical past.
“He’s also gotten better as a player,” Diebler mentioned. “He was a really good player coming in, but he’s leaving as a great player.”
The solely factor lacking from Thornton’s spectacular faculty résumé is an NCAA Tournament look. The Buckeyes’ final journey to the Big Dance was the yr earlier than Thornton arrived on campus. The Scarlet and Gray have come shut, making a deep Big Ten run throughout Thornton’s freshman season and sure falling one win wanting an at-large bid final yr, however they have not performed on the most important stage.
Despite inconsistencies in Big Ten play this season, Ohio State has labored its technique to the within of the event bubble after upsetting No. 8 Purdue on Sunday and defeating the Nittany Lions on Wednesday. The Buckeyes now have two Quad 1 wins and no unhealthy losses, with a victory over Indiana possible sufficient to safe a spot within the NCAA Tournament.
“I think you can look as far as the metrics that seem to be indicators or what the committee values when they make these decisions and you look at our NET and our WAB,” Diebler mentioned when requested why he believes the Scarlet and Gray must be within the event area. “… We have to look at those two numbers and look at the teams that we are better than in those two numbers. And I think that that speaks to what we’ve accomplished this year.”
Heading into the weekend, Ohio State ranks No. 32 within the NET and No. 39 within the WAB.
For Thornton, making the NCAA Tournament could be the cherry on prime of a historic profession.
“It’d mean a lot,” Thornton mentioned. “I remember me and my brothers and my mom filling out our bracket, seeing who’s going to win. So it’d definitely be a dream. I worked so hard all these four years, and it’s right there. So I’m not going to put no more pressure on myself. I’m just going to keep doing what I’ve been doing. I feel like it’s been working out a little bit. Holding guys to a high level, I feel like we can take care of business.”
Even with the Big Ten Tournament approaching, Saturday’s recreation is essential for Ohio State to remain on the best aspect of the bubble. Indiana is one other staff preventing for its NCAA Tournament hopes, and a loss may trigger the Buckeyes to fall out of the sector.
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Winning in opposition to the Hoosiers shall be Thornton’s essential focus, however he’ll have a busy day on Saturday. Not solely is it senior day, the place Thornton shall be honored along with his classmates, however it’s additionally the Bruce Thornton Bobblehead Game on the Schottenstein Center.
Add that Thornton will develop into Ohio State’s all-time main scorer along with his twelfth level in opposition to IU – he is solely scored fewer than 12 factors 4 instances this season – and it is so much for the participant to deal with.
Fortunately, Thornton is a veteran. He will follow his routine and go about his enterprise, trying to assist his staff on a big day.
“It’ll be a lot,” Thornton mentioned. “Probably grandma, mama gonna be crying. Friends, family coming to town. It’s gonna definitely be a special moment tomorrow, being my last home game at the Schott. But at the end of the day, I’m trying to get that win.”
