Through the first third of the college basketball season, Bruce Thornton hasn’t just picked up where he left off - he’s taken his game to an entirely new level. The Ohio State senior guard is not only the Buckeyes’ emotional leader, but he’s also become one of the most efficient and impactful players in the country.
At 6-foot-2, Thornton is making every inch count. He’s Ohio State’s first-ever four-time team captain, and he’s playing like a guy who knows exactly what that honor means.
His scoring is up from 17.7 points per game last season to a scorching 21.8 this year - and it’s not just volume, it’s efficiency that’s turning heads. Thornton is hitting 60 percent from the field (74-of-123), a blistering 50 percent from beyond the arc (26-of-52), and 86 percent from the free-throw line (44-of-51).
That’s elite-level shot-making across the board.
But Thornton’s impact goes beyond just putting the ball in the basket. He’s averaging 5.0 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.3 steals per game - numbers that speak to his all-around presence on the floor. Whether it’s initiating offense, crashing the boards, or locking in defensively, Thornton is doing it all.
And the Buckeyes are reaping the benefits. They’re off to an 8-2 start as they gear up for a marquee matchup against No.
12 North Carolina in the CBS Sports Classic in Atlanta. That game won’t just be a national showcase - it’s also a homecoming of sorts for Thornton, who hails from nearby Fairburn, Georgia.
Consistency has been one of Thornton’s calling cards this season. He’s scored in double figures in every game, with five 20-point outings and two games where he cracked the 30-point mark.
His signature performance so far? A career-high 38-point explosion against Purdue Fort Wayne - a night where he simply couldn’t miss and took over from start to finish.
Even when things haven’t gone smoothly, Thornton has found ways to deliver. Take the recent battle against West Virginia.
He had just two points at halftime and looked out of rhythm. But when the game tightened late, Thornton came alive.
He scored 19 of his team-high 21 points after the break, including the game-winning 10-foot jumper over a 6-foot-9 defender with 3.3 seconds left in the second overtime. That’s the kind of clutch gene coaches dream about.
Thornton’s steady rise has also been reflected in the Ohio State record books. He’s now started all 112 games of his college career - tied for 10th all-time in program history.
He began the season ranked 21st on the Buckeyes’ all-time scoring list with 1,487 points. He’s already surged to ninth with 1,705, and he’s closing in on some legendary names: Jay Burson (1,756) and Jim Jackson (1,785) are next in line.
He’s also climbing in other categories. Thornton is tied for fourth in career three-pointers made (185), sits sixth in career assists (448), and continues to etch his name into Ohio State lore with every game he plays.
Simply put, Thornton is playing at an All-Big Ten level - and you could make a strong case that he belongs in the All-American conversation, too. His combination of leadership, production, and poise has made him the engine behind everything Ohio State is doing right now.
And as he returns to Atlanta - not far from where it all started at Milton High School, which just retired his jersey - Thornton has the chance to add another chapter to what’s shaping up to be a special senior season.