With Rob Phinisee on course to use his eligibility in 2022 and incoming commit Khristian Lander almost certainly not a four year player, Indiana projects to have a clear need for a point guard in the not so distant future.
While there are intriguing young in-state point guard talents like Leland Walker, Tayshawn Comer and Braden Smith, Indiana will no doubt conduct a national search to find the best fit.
Rivals national analyst Dan McDonald reported last month that Indiana head coach Archie Miller and an assistant had been in touch with Georgia based point guard Bruce Thornton to let them know of their intent to recruit him.
Thornton is a big, physical sophomore that is able to use his strength at a young age to impose his will.
At 6-foot-1 and 180 pounds, Thornton plays a tenacious, gritty style guarding the ball that Miller covets. On the offensive end Thornton uses a downhill, attacking approach and uses his stout frame to create space and break down defenses.
An Atlanta Journal Constitution first team all-state selection for Milton High School, Thornton averaged 23 points, 7.5 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game to lead the Eagles to the GHSA Class AAAAAAA state semifinals as a sophomore. He was also a first team selection for the 2019-2020 MaxPreps Sophomore All-American Team.
Thornton described his style in a recent interview with a national recruiting site.
“I’m a pass-first point guard, I’m trying to get my teammates involved, then get myself involved, I just want to win,” Thornton told 247Sports.
A 4-star recruit, Thornton is a top-30 player nationally according to the 247Sports Composite and the No. 7 2022 point guard according to that same service.
Thornton has several high major offers including Alabama, Auburn, Cincinnati, Clemson, Florida, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Iowa State, Miami, Vanderbilt, Virginia Tech and Xavier. It is worth noting that both of Thornton’s parents went to Georgia according to several reports.