USC added a key piece to its future on Friday afternoon as former Duke point guard Derryck Thornton will transfer to the Trojans, a source confirmed to NBCSports.com. Thornton’s transfer was first reported by Scout.com’s Josh Gershon.
A former five-star prospect who entered college a year early in order to help the Blue Devils last season, Thornton saw his role fade as the season went along. Thornton averaged 7.1 points and 2.6 assists per game as a freshman while shooting 39 percent from the field and 32 percent from three-point range.
While the 6-foot-2 Thornton was perhaps over-recruited thanks to Duke’s ridiculous Class of 2016, he’ll be a nice fit at USC as he’ll sit out the 2016-17 season due to NCAA transfer regulations before having three more years of eligibility.