Josh Thornton, 6-1 JR PG, Camden-Wyoming (Del.) Caesar Rodney, knew what was at stake. A good week at the 2003 Nike Hoop Jamboree and the unknown guard could earn a spot at the Nike All-American Camp and all the bells and whistles that goes with the invitation.
Thornton rose to the occasion and exceeded his own expectations. “I did [surprise myself] really because I didn’t take too many shots and the ones that I did take I was hitting them. I was trying to play smarter more than anything. I didn’t want to take bad shots. I didn’t want them to think that I was out of control.”
He was anything but out of control. His 3s were going down at a pretty good rate and this unknown guard from Caesar Rodney High in lower Delaware was on his way to the big time.
And what happened once this 3rd team all-state performer stepped onto the floor at the big Nike Camp? “As soon as I stepped into the gym, I saw 6-9, 7-0 and I was so small but I loved the challenge,” Thornton said. “Since I started playing basketball, the only thing I can remember is playing with not good talent. That was the most fun thing, playing with talent. I didn’t have to score. That was so exciting just to pass and somebody else make it.”
Last season, Thornton averaged 22 points. He led the state in 3-point shooting and made 77 triples. He’s originally from New York and arrived in Delaware as an eighth grader.
Like a number of kids, Thornton would like to receive recruiting attention from Duke, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and is actually fond of the state of California. Just last week, Wake Forest head coach Skip Prosser came to watch him and the Deacons are aggressively chasing him.
At an open gym, Tennessee, Notre Dame, Clemson, Georgetown, Virginia Tech and West Virginia were all in attendance.
“I am so wide open right now,” Thornton said. “I never had a favorite college or a college that I dreamed of going to so that makes it harder for me. My decision will be based around the school and academics. I want to go into business.”