The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/480355
BASKETBALL RECRUITING program currently stands out. "He's still taking it all in," his fa‑ ther, Reg Winston, said. Winston plans to get through at least the spring AAU season before making a decision, which will likely be between the in‑state Wolverines and Spartans. Henderson (Nev.) Findlay Prep's Derryck Thornton Jr. (6‑2, Rivals.com's No. 8 junior nationally) is probably the best point guard in the country re‑ gardless of class, and he's helped lead his team to a 16‑2 record and No. 6 national ranking by MaxPreps.com. He visited Duke in early March and is close to cutting his list to five. Arizona and Kentucky seem like locks to join the Blue Devils when he pares his list, and UNLV is heavily in the mix. Michigan could be there as well, Derryck "Tank" Thornton Sr. said. "I think they will be," he said. "He really likes the coaching staff, La‑ Vall Jordan, Jeff Meyer and Coach Beilein." Their character is what stands out, Thornton Sr. said, as well as their coaching ability. "The guy can flat out coach," he said of Beilein. "You put anyone out there against him, and they'll have a chance because he can coach his butt off." They're spending much of their time on bettering the 2014 team, the Michigan coaches have explained to Thornton Sr., which is why they haven't been in contact as much as others. At the same time, it's helped others surge ahead in the race for Ri‑ vals.com's No. 1 point guard. Duke is one of them. Like Louis‑ ville, the Blue Devils would like him to graduate early and join them in the 2015 class. His father, though, believes his son wants to play in the McDonald's All‑American game next year and not grow up too quickly. It appears now that Louisville won't be in his top five, and there's still plenty of time for Michigan to make a move. Thornton will take of‑ ficial visits starting in April to the final five, and U‑M could be one of them. Miami and Cal are already set, but he canceled a Louisville visit U-M is battling Arizona, Duke and Kentucky, among others, for Henderson (Nev.) Findlay Prep point guard Derryck Thornton Jr., the nation's No. 8 overall prospect in the class of 2016 according to Rivals.com. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM