Tyler Thornton, who completed his Duke career three months ago, could join Marquette's coaching staff as a graduate assistant.
The Associated Press reported Wednesday that Thornton is working a summer camp at Marquette, where former Duke assistant Steve Wojciechowski is a first-year head coach, and Thornton hopes to get admitted to graduate school.
"All the guys that he's been around a lot over the past year, anything that we can do to ease his transition here, we would be willing to do," Wojciechowski told the AP.
Wojciechowski's staff already includes former Duke standout Chris Carrawell.
Thornton, a point guard, committed to Duke even though the Blue Devils were also recruiting Kyrie Irving, the top-ranked point guard in the same class. Irving played one season at Duke and was the No. 1 pick in the 2011 NBA Draft. Thornton had a four-year career in Durham, contributing tough defense, strong leadership, an unselfish approach, plenty of fouls and the occasional clutch shot.
Despite being less talented than many of the players at a program that attracts McDonald's All-Americans, Thornton started 53 career games, including 25 as a senior. "Tyler is going to be a coach one day," Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said during Thornton's junior season. "He really understands the game."
http://www.fayobserver.com/blogs/sports/acc_basketball/acc-basketball-tyler-thornton-could-join-marquette-s-staff-as/article_33e0aa3e-fcc6-11e3-bdae-001a4bcf6878.html
more commentary:
Well this seems inevitable, smart and yet a nice surprise: Tyler Thornton may join Wojo's staff at Marquette as a graduate assistant.
It's been pretty clear for a long time that he has a future in coaching. He's just got a tremendous feel for the game.
In order to make the move, Thornton has to be admitted to graduate school at Marquette. Assuming he is, it's another smart move by Wojo.
His staff now has some very familiar names and a State thread as well.
Aside from Travis Diener, who played at Marquette, and Brett Nelson, who was at Florida, Wojo has hired former Blue Devil Chris Carrawell, who has an incredibly engaging personality, Mark Phelps, who worked for Herb Sendek when he coached at that-school-he'll-no-longer-publicly-mention, and Justin Gainey, who of course was a smart and overachieving point guard at State.
The first thing for a new coach is the press conference. The second is who he hires. From where we stand, Wojo has put together a very impressive staff. With the exception of Phelps, who was hired partly for his extensive experience, it's a young and dynamic group.
http://www.dukebasketballreport.com/2014/6/26/5844872/tyler-thornton-to-marquette-staff
Finally, Marquette gets someone on the staff who understands point guard play.
Why won't Sendek mention NC State?
Why can't we get some cats who can coach big men? Or is Parker gonna do that on his days off?
Quote from: 4everwarriors on June 26, 2014, 10:03:46 AM
Why can't we get some cats who can coach big men? Or is Parker gonna do that on his days off?
Wojo coached big men at Duke from what I recall.
Quote from: 4everwarriors on June 26, 2014, 10:03:46 AM
Why can't we get some cats who can coach big men? Or is Parker gonna do that on his days off?
Guard's game ;D
Quote from: The Sultan of Sunshine on June 26, 2014, 10:09:04 AM
Wojo coached big men at Duke from what I recall.
Yup, Wojo coached big men for about a decade and then was the guards coach the last 3 years or so at Duke
Quote from: AlumKCof93 on June 26, 2014, 10:00:53 AM
Why won't Sendek mention NC State?
probably akin to Tubby not mentioning Kentucky anymore i.e. left town because fanbase got too high of expectations
How about Tyler laces them up as a grad transfer as opposed to a grad asst coach?
Quote from: We R Final Four on June 26, 2014, 10:58:01 AM
How about Tyler laces them up as a grad transfer as opposed to a grad asst coach?
A Diener/Thornton backcourt? Elite Eight here we come again!
Quote from: The Sultan of Sunshine on June 26, 2014, 10:09:04 AM
Wojo coached big men at Duke from what I recall.
I believe Wojo also worked with the bigs on the US Olympic team.
Maybe they can borrow Scott from MUWBB.
Duke West...er...Marquette!
Walked a block to the Jabari presser - he gave a shout out to Wojo (who was in attendance) and his last congrat was to Tyler Thorton (who he thought might be there, but was not). I like this Duke - Wojo - STJ - Jabari connection.