Former collegiate guard Tyler Thornton has been named a graduate manager with the Marquette University men’s basketball team, head coach Steve Wojciechowski announced Monday morning.

Thornton recently graduated from Duke University, where he was recruited and coached by Wojciechowski, with a degree in psychology. He will enroll in the communications graduate program at Marquette.

“I am extremely excited to have Tyler join our staff,” Wojciechowski said. “He is a tireless worker and will be a tremendous asset to our program. He is a great student of the game and will obviously be able to provide perspective on what it takes to be successful at this level.

“I started recruiting Tyler when he was 15-years-old and have developed a close relationship with not only him, but his family as well,” Wojciechowski added. “I am happy to be in a position to help Tyler begin the next phase of his life and continue his growth both personally and professionally.”

At Duke, Thornton played an instrumental role in the team’s Elite Eight trip in 2012-13 and its 26-9 overall record during the 2013-14 season. During the Elite Eight run in 2013, Thornton shot an impressive .392 (31-79) from beyond the arc and also added 79 assists, which was good for second on the team. He was named a team captain for the 2013-14 campaign and started 25 of the team’s 35 outings.

In 2012-13, Thornton was one of 10 finalists for the Sports Illustrated College Athlete of the Year, which celebrates student-athletes who demonstrate excellent performance on the field and in the classroom, as well as sportsmanship and commitment to the community.

In high school, Thornton became Gonzaga College High School’s all-time career wins leader by leading them to four-straight seasons of at least 20 wins. He was also honored as the Washington D.C. Gatorade Player of the Year in 2010 and was named team MYP twice during his high school career.

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