DC Assault Tandem Chooses Duke

Ron Bailey, Publisher

September 13, 2008 – Duke University got good news times two today, as DC Assault’s (AAU) dangerous duo of Tyler Thornton and Josh Hairston both orally committed to the Durham, NC-based institution. Their decisions were made mere hours apart, while both were on Duke’s campus for unofficial visits.

“This is the right place for me. I’ve been down here a couple of times and each time I get that feeling” shared Thornton, a 6’1”, 175 pound floor-leading point guard, via telephone this evening.

Minutes later, Hairston, a forward who stands over 6’8” and weighs around 200 pounds shared similar motivation for choosing Duke, saying “It just felt like home. This is my second visit. I sat down with Coach K (Mike Krzyzewski, Duke’s hall of fame coach) and knew this was the place to be”.

Tyler Thornton (left) and Josh Hairston (right) plan to sign letters of intent to attend Duke University next year as high school seniors, when allowed by college guidelines.

Josh and Tyler both expressed admiration for Krzyzewski. Of his future coach, Thornton noted “He’s a great guy. People see him on T.V., and he’s a different person”.

Given their status as members of the Class of 2010, personal friends and teammates on DC Assault’s uber-successful 16 and under team last year, coached by Zach Suber, there was much speculation that they were a ‘package deal’ – essentially they had pre-decided to attend school together. That wasn’t the case.

“Josh made his decision ahead of me” shared Tyler, while acknowledging both young guys and their families were making independent choices. Nevertheless, the duo is happy to continue their closeness in college, witnessed by Hairston’s statement “It’s great because we’ve been together with DC Assault and are going to be together in college. It’s going to be fun”.

“Georgetown, Virginia, VA Tech, Ohio State, and of course Duke” comprised Hairston’s final list. Tyler had whittled his choices to “Duke, Villanova, Stanford, and Georgetown”.

With their addition, Duke may become DC Assault - Tobacco Road, as the school’s roster presently contains sophomore Nolan Smith, a DC Assault alum. Of Smith’s presence and impact on his decision, Tyler said “We are cool. He told me if I get the opportunity, it’s a great place for me”.

While at Duke, Thornton will likely continue being a point guard, a coach on the floor type player. Josh’s position, on the other hand, is more uncertain, something he’s comfortable with. “Coach K says he doesn’t give positions” shared Hairston, who could likely see minutes at both forward spots due to his ability to run the floor, bang, shoot and defend. “He just puts the best players on the floor”. Both young guys play not only hard, but unselfishly.

The duo is also of like mind going into their junior seasons, with victory or ‘W’s’ dominating their thinking. “I want to win the state championship, as always” relayed Hairston of his upcoming basketball motivation at Cortland High School (VA). “We’re going to win, that’s the sole purpose for us to play” said Thornton, of his 2008-2009 goals at Gonzaga Prep (DC). “I’m also going to step up my scoring”.

Both young men and their families should be lauded for the intelligent, even-keeled manner in which they approached high level recruitment. Duke will surely benefit from their presence. Foes in the Atlantic Coast Conference will not.