Ohio State Basketball: Why Buckeyes PG Bruce Thornton is poised for a big junior season

After announcing his return to the Buckeyes for the 2025 season, Ohio State point guard and floor general Bruce Thornton is poised for a massive junior season in Columbus, with the best supporting cast he's had during his time in Scarlet and Gray. 

New head coach Jake Diebler has assembled a roster filled with talent, athletes, shooters, and two-way players who can impact the game on both sides of the floor. But most importantly, he returned Thornton, who was one of the best players in the Big Ten last season. In 2024, he averaged 15.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists, while shooting 42.7% from the field and 33.3% from behind the arc. 

This off-season, the Buckeyes have landed Kentucky transfer Aaron Bradshaw, San Diego State transfer, Micah Parrish, Duke transfer Sean Stewart, and South Carolina transfer Meechie Johnson, who is returning to Ohio State for the second time. The Buckeyes lost some pieces, but the additions surely outweighed the departures. 

Thornton is one of the more sought-after players expected to be in the 2025 draft class, with his ability to do a little bit of everything. Being the prime focal leader and a floor general goes a long way, but he isn't afraid of the moment either.

He gets after it on both sides of the ball, making him a strong two-way guard with the ability to control the tempo, attack the basket with a high sense of finishing skills, as well as shoot from three or inside the arc, having one of the better mid-range games in the conference. His style of play resembles a little of what Aaron Craft brought to the table for the Buckeyes during the early 2010's

The Buckeyes have missed the NCAA Tournament for two straight seasons, and for a historic program like Ohio State's, that just isn't going to cut it. But when Diebler took over late in the season last year, they began to tend upwards, and you saw glimpses of what could be when they pulled off an upset win against Zach Edey and number-one-ranked Purdue.

Now, with an off-season to prepare, structuring the team he envisions, and being led by Bruce Thornton, the Ohio State Buckeyes are poised for a bounce-back year with the hopes of rejuvenating the basketball program in Columbus.