USC grad transfer Derryck Thornton has Gonzaga on five-school list

Gonzaga is one of five schools on USC grad transfer Derryck Thornton’s list.

Thornton, a 6-foot-3, 195-pound guard from Los Angeles, averaged 7.7 points and 4.3 assists last season. He started the first 27 games before being replaced in the starting lineup by freshman Elijah Weaver.

Thornton came off the Trojans’ bench in 2018, averaging 14.2 minutes, 3.8 points and 1.2 assists. He sat out the 2017 season after transferring from Duke.

Thornton visited Boston College on Monday and is expected to visit GU and St. John’s, according to CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein. Auburn and Texas Tech are reportedly in the mix.

Gonzaga lost its two primary ballhanders, starter Josh Perkins and Geno Crandall, to graduation and wing Zach Norvell Jr. indicated last week that he plans to remain in the NBA Draft.

The Zags are short on experienced point guards. Rising sophomore Greg Foster Jr. played 129 minutes last season, including just two games (Denver and North Dakota State) with double-digit minutes. He had 12 assists and attempted just 25 shots from the field.

Admon Gilder, a grad transfer from Texas A&M, can play point and shooting guard but has typically operated off the ball. Corey Kispert, who will be a junior, started last season at wing. Rising sophomore guard Joel Ayayi logged 128 minutes last year.

The incoming class includes Kittitas High standout Brock Ravet and wing Martynas Arlauskas.

Thornton, a Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nevada) product who was considered in the top 15 nationally by several recruiting services, started 20 games and averaged 7.1 points and 2.6 assists in his one season with the Blue Devils.

Thornton had made 38.3% from the field, including 31% on 3-pointers, and 71% at the free-throw line in 93 career games at USC and Duke.