Derryck Thornton Appreciation Thread

[madrussian]

wonder if there has been any thought of redshirting the kid next year. He is young, could benefit from the extra year physically. Frank could run the point next year with Matt and Luke and possibly GA.

just a random thought...

 

[Kingbluedevil]

I missed you post Hokie my bad. And if I were in that situation I woulda stayed in high school. I loved it

High school for these kids at basketball factories is nothing like we had

 

[Anon1728003274]

If you are in DT's shoes rite now, and guys I am just throwing some basic scenarios out there, its got to be somewhat perplexing about next yr IMO...
1/At the end of the season he wasnt starting, and that had to be an adjustment after he had moved into PG spot....

2/Basically everyone (assuming Grayson is back) returns on perimeter...

3/So you're starting over and working hard to get back your spot, and FJ is coming off HUGE Mickey D's game and week....

All the luck in the world young man, love your D, and Joel Berry sure has bad memories of you in his grill in Chapel Hill!!!

 

[DiehardDukeFan4Life]

Take this FWIW and I believe that I mentioned this is in another thread but I've got a friend that used to work at the Sprint kiosk at Southpoint Mall and DT & LK were 2 of his customers while he was working there and he still keeps in contact with DT. I asked him a couple days ago if he'd heard anything about the rumor and he said they had just been talking about that (I'm assuming he meant he and DT) and he told me that the rumors about DT transferring aren't true

 

[Laettner15]

Take this FWIW and I believe that I mentioned this is in another thread but I've got a friend that used to work at the Sprint kiosk at Southpoint Mall and DT & LK were 2 of his customers while he was working there and he still keeps in contact with DT. I asked him a couple days ago if he'd heard anything about the rumor and he said they had just been talking about that (I'm assuming he meant he and DT) and he told me that the rumors about DT transferring aren't true

Really hope your friend is right, this would be great news!

 

[dukehokie]

Take this FWIW and I believe that I mentioned this is in another thread but I've got a friend that used to work at the Sprint kiosk at Southpoint Mall and DT & LK were 2 of his customers while he was working there and he still keeps in contact with DT. I asked him a couple days ago if he'd heard anything about the rumor and he said they had just been talking about that (I'm assuming he meant he and DT) and he told me that the rumors about DT transferring aren't true

I have to say, the Sprint Kiosk Intel is a totally new source hahaha!

@madrussian No chance. The only way he redshirts is if he transfers.

 

[DukeDenver]

I asked my buddy Nripish at the phone case kiosk if he'd heard anything about Bolden, but he wasn't clear what I meant by "basketball." I'll keep digging.

 

[Laettner15]

It's so hard with rumors... I feel like I am reading something new everyday, he's transferring, he's not transferring, he wants to stay but his dad wants him to leave, his dad has backed off and wants him to stay... I am just going to sit back and hope he stays. If he stays, I think with a year under his belt and with this team coming in, he has a chance to be a good player this year!

 

[aah555]

Honestly, I'm still not convinced at all that Frank Jackson will be the starting PG next season. Can he win the job? Sure. But, if DT stayed, I honestly wouldn't be shocked if Thornton ended up being the starting PG -- or at least start a number of games. DT's a better defender, more of a natural PG, and has a year of experience under his belt. If DT improves his jumper and cleans up some of the mental miscues that hurt us over the course of the year, I could easily envision him being the starter.

 

[Crank_it_loud]

I like Frank a lot, but I agree, I don't see him as a starting PG in year 1. He can certainly own the spot in spurts, but if he is playing PG a majority of the time, Duke will have some issues, particularly with pressing teams.

 

[smashmouth5]

I'm just looking forward to the Duke line changes during games. Next 5 please.

 

[pisgah101]

I'm just looking forward to the Duke line changes during games. Next 5 please.

Nope can't do that Cal invented it!! Lol

 

[dukehokie]

I like Frank a lot, but I agree, I don't see him as a starting PG in year 1. He can certainly own the spot in spurts, but if he is playing PG a majority of the time, Duke will have some issues, particularly with pressing teams.

The press isn't about how well you can dribble, it's about the passing and teamwork. Floor spacing and size are far more consistent than a quick point guard who can stay low to the ground and dribble faster than the other guy can run.

K has had a nice system against presses the past few years. Amile or a big man who can pass in the middle, guards on your wings and a safety near the basket to keep the back side of the zone press honest.

I honestly haven't seen Duke look completely inept against a zone press since the Rivers team. Hell the team the following season, the season right after the Rivers squad, made Clemson and Louisville (twice) abandon their presses and they were two of the top teams at it.

Whoever plays the PG will be fine. If Derryck comes back, he'll have to work super hard to earn it but I think he can get it. He needs to decide soon though, because Frank comes early next month and they will be on the same learning curve with the new offense.

Roll the ball out and see who wins.

 

[DevilDJ]

Gone...

 

[jamsession3]

Too much pressure...

 

[Laettner15]

ESPN just announced it too... Didn't want to believe it but I guess we just have to move on. Best of luck DT

 

[SWEc/o95]

Well there is.the scholly for Bolden. Think you are making a mistake DT but best wishes to you.

 

[Dad2ze]

That sucks but good luck to him!!!

 

[Duke It Out]

The press isn't about how well you can dribble, it's about the passing and teamwork. Floor spacing and size are far more consistent than a quick point guard who can stay low to the ground and dribble faster than the other guy can run.

K has had a nice system against presses the past few years. Amile or a big man who can pass in the middle, guards on your wings and a safety near the basket to keep the back side of the zone press honest.

I honestly haven't seen Duke look completely inept against a zone press since the Rivers team. Hell the team the following season, the season right after the Rivers squad, made Clemson and Louisville (twice) abandon their presses and they were two of the top teams at it.

Whoever plays the PG will be fine. If Derryck comes back, he'll have to work super hard to earn it but I think he can get it. He needs to decide soon though, because Frank comes early next month and they will be on the same learning curve with the new offense.

Roll the ball out and see who wins.

Frank wins I guess....

 

[duhondukie]

It's kind of alarming how many kids have transferred in the last 4 to 5 years. This causes all the depth issues we saw this year.

 

[Crank_it_loud]

Freaking sucks. Stacked team, no true PG.

 

[DiehardDukeFan4Life]

I must've misunderstood my friend the other night when he said "they were just talking about that". He just texted me and told me about DT and said he got a text from DT and notification from ESPN at the same time, so I came straight to DI.

 

[pisgah101]

Frank will make you not even think about DT

 

[Crank_it_loud]

Frank will make you not even think about DT

LOL Frank is a stud combo guard, not stud PG.

 

[dukehokie]

It's kind of alarming how many kids have transferred in the last 4 to 5 years. This causes all the depth issues we saw this year.

Meh, not really. For the first time in years (actually ever) K will have 13 recruited players on scholarship. Depth issues last season were down low, not at the guard spots. No true point guard sure, but Grayson and Frank will handle it just fine. Jason Williams was the lead guard for a title team and was no where near a true point guard. Duke will be fine IMO.

We complained enough about how Derryck wasn't a true point guard all season so I don't see why this is so alarming. Will we miss him. Of course. I fought for him all year, but the team will get by. Somehow...

 

[pisgah101]

LOL Frank is a stud combo guard, not stud PG.

Tell that to the USA coach and the MCD coach and Coach K then

 

[dukehokie]

LOL Frank is a stud combo guard, not stud PG.

What is the difference? In your eyes, what do you see from a combo guard vs. a point guard. Tyler Thornton was a point guard in the sense that he differed to other scorers. Would you rather him or Frank? I just want to understand your stance before I keep disagreeing with you about this.

 

[dukehokie]

Frank wins I guess....

Yep. They tried to fix it, but the issues and influences were too much.

 

[Crank_it_loud]

Tell that to the USA coach and the MCD coach and Coach K then

ok will do. You want to use those as references? Ok, while I don't believe in holding AAU-style AS games as a solid benchmark, let's take a look at Frank AS A PG in those games. He lit up the 3-pt markers in the MCD game, but went with 1 assist to 4 TO's. For the USA game? He was off with his shot, and looked mediocre as a PG.

Explain to me again, how we will forget about DT (or having a true PG)?

 

[Crank_it_loud]

What is the difference? In your eyes, what do you see from a combo guard vs. a point guard. Tyler Thornton was a point guard in the sense that he differed to other scorers. Would you rather him or Frank? I just want to understand your stance before I keep disagreeing with you about this.

You really think Tyler was a good PG? Come on man, he was an aggressive defender with little vision in the paint, no ability to create his own shot, and shot the 3 ball like a combo guard. That's a bad reference my man.

 

[jamsession3]

A pg, pass first guard, is extremely different then a combo. There are plenty of wings, not enough pgs.

 

[dukehokie]

You really think Tyler was a good PG? Come on man, he was an aggressive defender with little vision in the paint, no ability to create his own shot, and shot the 3 ball like a combo guard. That's a bad reference my man.

Never said good. Only said Point Guard.

 

[dukehokie]

A pg, pass first guard, is extremely different then a combo. There are plenty of wings, not enough pgs.

From the 1959 definition. Point guards have been shooting, scoring and winning for years.

 

[Crank_it_loud]

Never said good. Only said Point Guard.

So what is your point then? Frank is not a distributor, doesn't have superb vision while driving, and isn't known as a strong defender. What exactly do you want to compare? What is convenient?

Duke will be loaded next year, but will lack someone that can break opposing D's down, particularly in the half-court setting. Frank can drain 3's, make highlight dunks......but is he a true PG? Nope.

 

[jamsession3]

From the 1959 definition. Point guards have been shooting, scoring and winning for years.

There are some pgs that rather get the players in the game then score. Rick Brunson comes to mind at Temple. He made sure Eddie, Aaron and others scored before him. What we're saying is Frank may want to score first.

 

[Crank_it_loud]

From the 1959 definition. Point guards have been shooting, scoring and winning for years.

No offense but that does nothing to support your stance lol

 

[Crank_it_loud]

There are some pgs that rather get the players in the game then score. Rick Brunson comes to mind at Temple. He made sure Eddie, Aaron and others scored before him. What we're saying is Frank may want to score first.

Frank will have to score first because that is his strength on O. He isn't a natural distributor at all at this point. Can he develop? Absolutely. Look at Scheyer in his 4th year; he led Duke to a title as a SG converted to a PG. The issue here is that Frank will have to adjust very, very quickly....

Regardless, best wishes Derryck. You definitely have potential:

 

[jamsession3]

Did Derryck have a chance to get the same playing time next year? Did he want to compete for the job? Is this about Bolden's scholarship?

 

[jamsession3]

Frank will have to score first because that is his strength on O. He isn't a natural distributor at all at this point. Can he develop? Absolutely. Look at Scheyer in his 4th year; he led Duke to a title as a SG converted to a PG. The issue here is that Frank will have to adjust very, very quickly....

Regardless, best wishes Derryck. You definitely have potential:

Scheyer was still a score first guard his 4th year. Lance or Zou did not ask for the ball, and Kyle/Nolan were about to create their own shots.

 

[dukehokie]

So because Frank can score, you seriously think he is incapable of passing a basketball? What is YOUR point? I was trying to debate this with civility but if you're going to condescend I have no time for it and I'll just calmly let it all play out. I don't need to defend Frank Jackson to you or anybody else. Not even a little bit.