Findlay Prep point guard Derryck Thornton is on Kentucky’s campus for Tuesday’s SEC game against Missouri.
The 6-foot Thornton is a top priority for Kentucky coach John Calipari in the Class of 2016. Kentucky also hosts 2016 New Zealand power forward Tai Wynyard, who will also visit Villanova and Texas this week, and 2015 Huntington (W.V.) Prep big man Thomas Bryant, whom Calipari watched last weekend in Kentucky.
Thornton currently averages 17.6 points and 7.3 assists, while running a Findlay Prep team that is 16-0 and ranked No. 1 in the nation by both USA Today and MaxPreps.
“Derryck has been playing great!” Findlay coach Andy Johnson told SNY.tv. “He’s one of the leaders of our team. He’s one of the hardest workers in Findlay Prep program history. He does an amazing job running our team. He’s the complete package as a player.”
Louisville coach Rick Pitino recently approached Thornton about reclassing to 2015, but his father told SNY.tv, “Louisville talked to us about it, but right now it makes more sense for him to stay put in 2016.”
He added: “We’re still thinking about it.”
Louisville has already missed out on guards Antonio Blakeney and P.J. Dozier and will need a floor general to replace the departing Chris Jones.
“He felt like Derryck would be the best point guard in either class and it makes sense for him to come on in early and we’ll put the ball in your hands and just let him take over,” his dad said.
In order to do that, Thornton would have to take two classes in summer school.
After Kentucky, Thornton will trip to Duke Feb. 18 for the North Carolina game, to Arizona Feb. 21 for the UCLA game and to Louisville March 7 for the Virginia game.
“Those are unofficials,” Tank Thornton said.
Michigan, Miami, Cal-Berkeley, USC and others are also in the mix.
