Bruce Thornton Makes Decision on Return to Ohio State Buckeyes

Ohio State Buckeyes sophomore guard Bruce Thornton has announced his plans for the 2024-25 season.

Mar 26, 2024; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes guard Bruce Thornton (2) waits for an inbounds / Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA

Bruce Thornton is coming back to the Ohio State Buckeyes.

The sophomore guard served as captain of the Buckeyes last season, and finished the year as the team's leading scorer. Thornton announced he would come back to Columbus via a post on social media.

🌰@TheFoundation1_ pic.twitter.com/mgyUjLM3lF

— Bruce Thornton (@Bruce2T_) April 2, 2024

Thornton started each of the 35 games in which he played for the Buckeyes last season. On average, Thornton spent almost 34 minutes on the floor in each of those contests.

The Alpharetta, Georgia native also led his team in three, per-game categories: points (15.7), assists (4.8) and steals (1.2). As far as scoring goes, Thornton was recording almost six more points each night than he did last season over the same amount of games.

Thornton is now the second Buckeye to announce his return within the last 24 hours. Sophomore center Felix Okpara will also spend his junior year at Ohio State, according to a social-media statement Monday night.

"I am excited and grateful to announce I am 100% back with OSU and Buckeye Nation," Okpara said. "Can't wait to start a new chapter with Coach (Diebler), my returning teammates and the new staff and players to get Ohio State back to our rightful spot at the top of the Big Ten."

Not everyone from last year's squad elected to remain at Ohio State, however. Sophomore guard Bowen Hardman and freshman guard Scotty Middleton both elected to enter the transfer portal over the last five days.

Thornton will look to run back both his leadership status and the success with which the Buckeyes ended the season later this year under new head coach Jake Diebler.