Tyler Thornton

Tyler Thornton

Thornton with Duke in 2012
Duke Blue Devils
Position	Assistant coach
League	Atlantic Coast Conference
Personal information
Born	(1992-04-05) April 5, 1992 (age 33) Silver Spring, Maryland, U.S.
Listed height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Listed weight	195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school	Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.)
College	Duke (2010–2014)
NBA draft	2014: undrafted
Playing career	2017–2019
Position	Point guard
Coaching career	2019–present
Career history
As a player:
2017–2018	Yakima SunKings
2018–2019	Helsinki Seagulls
2019	Halifax Hurricanes
As a coach:
2019–2025	Howard (assistant)
2025–present	Duke (assistant)

Tyler Damascus Thornton (born April 5, 1992) is an American basketball coach and former professional player who is an assistant coach for the Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team. He was one of the top-rated high school point guards in the class of 2010. Thornton played college basketball for the Duke Blue Devils.

High school

Thornton attended Gonzaga College High School in Washington, D.C., where he averaged 14.7 points, 3.4 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.1 steals per game as a senior while maintaining a GPA over 3.3. He also lettered four times, twice named team MVP. He holds the school record for career wins. Thornton was named MVP of the Gonzaga D.C. Classic and the Hoopball Classic. Thornton made the all-tournament teams at the Iolani Classic and Alhambra Invitational. In his senior year he was named to two all-conference teams and the Gonzaga Coaches award in 2008. Named D.C. Sports Fan Freshman of the Year and Gonzaga Mr. Assist award in his first season on varsity. He also played AAU basketball on the D.C. Assault with his Duke Blue Devil teammate Josh Hairston.

College recruiting information

Name	Hometown	School	Height	Weight	Commit date
Tyler Thornton PG	Washington, D.C.	Gonzaga College High School	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	195 lb (88 kg)	Sep 13, 2008
	Recruit ratings: Scout:      Rivals:     (92)

College career

Thornton committed to Duke University on September 13, 2008, over Georgetown, North Carolina State, Texas and Virginia. ^[1]

Coaching career

Thornton joined the Howard Bison men's basketball team as an assistant coach in 2019. ^[2]

On May 30, 2025, it was announced that Thornton would join the coaching staff at Duke. ^[3]

References

1. "Basketball Recruiting - Tyler Thornton - Player Profiles - ESPN". ESPN.com. March 18, 2010. Retrieved February 17, 2012.
2. "Tyler Thornton". Howard University Athletics. Retrieved November 28, 2020.
3. Baxley, Rodd. "Tyler Thornton joining Duke basketball, Jon Scheyer's coaching staff ahead of 2025-26 season". The Fayetteville Observer. Retrieved June 13, 2025.

External links

• Duke Blue Devils bio
• ESPN recruiting profile