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Hank Thorns- two sporter

PostPosted: Wed May 13, 2009 4:22 pm
by HFvictory
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/ma ... -leaving-/

Ex-Valley star looking for new team after leaving Va. Tech
Two-sport high school standout would also consider return to football


By Ray Brewer (contact)

Wed, May 13, 2009 (12:40 p.m.)

Hank Thorns had offers to play college football and basketball two years ago when he graduated from Valley High.

After picking basketball and a scholarship to Virginia Tech, where he played point guard the past two seasons, it appeared Thorns’ days on the gridiron were over.

But maybe not.

Thorns, who set a Virginia Tech record for assists as a freshman with 113 and started 15 games for the Hokies in two years, informed coaches Monday of his plans to transfer. And those plans may include playing football.

Thorns said he left Virginia Tech to find a basketball program where he could receive more playing time and be more of a scoring point guard. Then, he got a phone call from SMU to play wide receiver and point guard.

Thorns, who had 48 catches for 820 yards and nine touchdowns as a senior at Valley, said the thoughts of strapping on shoulder pads again is intriguing.

“Basketball is my first love and my first priority,â€

PostPosted: Wed May 13, 2009 4:39 pm
by MrMustang1965
Nice story. He actually has been contacted by TWO SMUs! Southern Methodist University (basketball & football) and St. Mary's University (basketball). ;)

PostPosted: Wed May 13, 2009 5:20 pm
by CA Mustang
MrMustang1965 wrote:He actually has been contacted by TWO SMUs! Southern Methodist University (basketball & football) and St. Mary's University (basketball). ;)

Actually, the school in CA is St. Mary's College.

PostPosted: Wed May 13, 2009 5:30 pm
by MrMustang1965
CA Mustang wrote:
MrMustang1965 wrote:He actually has been contacted by TWO SMUs! Southern Methodist University (basketball & football) and St. Mary's University (basketball). ;)

Actually, the school in CA is St. Mary's College.
Oops. Sorry. Well, there IS a St. Mary's University and it's right here in TX (San Antonio).

PostPosted: Wed May 13, 2009 5:38 pm
by Mexmustang
Let me understand:
His hometown paper can only find a pic where he loses the ball?
He can play football in what year? and basketball after sitting out one year?
JJ would have recruited two of Matt's starters two years from now?

PostPosted: Wed May 13, 2009 6:19 pm
by PonyDoh
I've known Hank since he was a kid. His Dad is part of the DogCatchers AAU program in LV. Simply, Hank can really score, but he's absolutely tiny. He benefited from the April open evaluation period in AAU a few back. Pretty much, in back to back weekends, he got after Brandon Jennings & Kendall Marshall. After having no high major offers, he had Va Tech calling him. He's had some decent moments in the ACC, but Hank is a scoring point, as is Malcolm Delaney, both in the same class.

Offering him for both sports is very smart, but I bet he settles into hoops. If he were to come, he would be in the same class as McCoy and Clinkscales. That would be a good 3 man rotation, but uneven roster planning.

PostPosted: Wed May 13, 2009 7:35 pm
by that's great raplh
there is always a bid for talent

PostPosted: Sat May 16, 2009 2:45 pm
by Scoops
Another story about this kid:

Thorns to play...wide receiver?

While it won't quite trump news on a national level of Greg Paulus heading to Syracuse to play quarterback, there's word out of Las Vegas that former Virginia Tech point guard Hank Thorns is considering heading to Southern Methodist University...to play wide receiver.

A story in the Las Vegas Sun newspaper said Thorns had 48 catches for 820 yards and nine touchdowns as a senior at Valley High in Las Vegas. Those are pretty impressive numbers, but c'mon...what would any Football Bowl Subdivision college program really want with a 5-foot-9 athlete that hasn't played football in two years?

That's not meant as any kind of slap to Thorns, a sophomore who announced Monday he plans to transfer out of Tech. From his days running the point at Tech, it's obvious he has speed and vision. It just stands to reason he'd have a better chance to make an impact at one of the several schools he mentioned in the story as potential destinations to continue his basketball career.

http://weblogs.dailypress.com/sports/co ... eiver.html

PostPosted: Sat May 16, 2009 4:01 pm
by Mexmustang
The article sums up my impression. I certainly hope I am wrong. Welcome, if he comes. This could mean that Doh would have two of five starters as a result of of JJ in two years. I couldn't find anything on him regarding his high school football career. Has anyone found any information?

PostPosted: Sat May 16, 2009 7:14 pm
by PonyDoh
It's a way to get the kid interested. It'll come out in the wash, once he's enrolled and on campus. He could be a difference-maker for us in the backcourt, and football just detracts from that. If he still wants to play, give him a look at WR. If he's not spectacular, or regular contributor, push him back to hoops in a hurry.

PostPosted: Sat May 16, 2009 7:28 pm
by Mexmustang
I agree, just I don't know anything about his h.s. football career.