Bruce Thornton earns Ohio State men’s Big Ten Medal of Honor
Bruce Thornton’s collegiate career is over, but the former Ohio State men’s basketball player is still winning awards.
The first four-time captain in program history was awarded the Big Ten Medal of Honor and the Eugene D. Smith Award during the school’s annual scholar-athlete awards ceremony held April 13 at the Covelli Center. Thornton was one of 11 finalists for the men’s Medal of Honor award, given annually to one male and one female athlete who has “attained the greatest proficiency in athletics and scholastic work.”
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The Medal of Honor has been awarded for 112 years and is regarded as the conference’s most prestigious individual award. Thornton is the first Ohio State men’s basketball player to earn it since Aaron Craft in 2014 and only the second since James Cleamons in 1971. He is the 13th men’s basketball player to win the award.
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Ohio State Buckeyes guard Bruce Thornton (2) shoots around Kam Woods during the second half of the NCAA men’s basketball game at the Schottenstein Center on Feb. 11, 2026. Ohio State won 89-82.
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Ohio State Buckeyes guard Bruce Thornton (2) shoots around Kam Woods during the second half of the NCAA men’s basketball game at the Schottenstein Center on Feb. 11, 2026. Ohio State won 89-82.
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Ohio State Buckeyes guard Bruce Thornton (2) shoots the ball against the Wisconsin Badgers in the second half of the NCAA game at Value City Arena on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio.
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Ohio State Buckeyes guard Bruce Thornton (2) celebrates with guard Gabe Cupps (4) following the 89-82 win over USC Trojans in the NCAA men’s basketball game at the Schottenstein Center on Feb. 11, 2026.
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Michigan Wolverines guard Nimari Burnett (4) shoots between Ohio State Buckeyes guard Bruce Thornton (2) and center Christoph Tilly (13) during the first half of the NCAA men’s basketball game at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus on Feb. 8, 2026.
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Ohio State Buckeyes guard Bruce Thornton (2) shoots the ball against Minnesota Golden Gophers guard Langston Reynolds (6) in the first half of the NCAA basketball game at Value City Arena on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio.
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Ohio State Buckeyes guard Bruce Thornton (2) collides with Nebraska Cornhuskers guard Cale Jacobsen (31) during the second half of the NCAA men’s basketball game at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus on Jan. 5, 2026. Ohio State lost 72-69.
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Ohio State Buckeyes guard Bruce Thornton (2) shoots over Nebraska Cornhuskers guard Jamarques Lawrence (10) during the second half of the NCAA men’s basketball game at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus on Jan. 5, 2026. Ohio State lost 72-69.
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Ohio State’s Roddy Gayle (left) and Bruce Thornton joke with each other at Big Ten media day at the Target Center in Minneapolis on Oct. 10, 2023.
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Ohio State Buckeyes guard Bruce Thornton (2) is announced in the starting lineup prior to the NCAA men’s basketball game against the Evansville Purple Aces at Value City Arena in Columbus on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024.
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Ohio State Buckeyes guard Bruce Thornton (2) celebrates a three pointer with forward Devin Royal (21) and forward Amare Bynum (1) during the first half of the NCAA men’s basketball game against the Illinois Fighting Illini in Columbus on Dec. 9, 2025.
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Feb 6, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes guard Bruce Thornton (2) reacts to hitting a three pointer during the first half of the men’s basketball game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Value City Arena.
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Nov 10, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes guard Bruce Thornton (2) is announced in the starting lineup prior to the NCAA basketball game against the Texas A&M Aggies at Value City Arena.
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Ohio State Buckeyes guard Bruce Thornton (2) shoots the ball against the Maryland Terrapins in the second half at Value City Arena on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025 in Columbus, Ohio.
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Ohio State Buckeyes guard Bruce Thornton (2) reacts to a made shot and foul call during the second half of the NCAA men’s basketball game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Value City Arena on Jan. 27, 2025. Ohio State won 82-65.
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Ohio State Buckeyes guard Bruce Thornton (2) and guard Gabe Cupps (4) celebrate during the NCAA men’s basketball game against the Appalachian State Mountaineers at Value City Arena in Columbus on Nov. 11, 2025. Ohio State won 75-53.
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Ohio State Buckeyes guard Bruce Thornton (2) shoots over IU Indy Jaguars guard Jaxon Edwards (0) during the NCAA men’s basketball game at Value City Arena in Columbus on Nov. 3, 2025. Ohio State won the season opener 118-102.
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Ohio State Buckeyes guard Evan Mahaffey (12), guard Micah Parrish (8), guard Bruce Thornton (2) and forward Devin Royal (21) laugh on the benc during the second half of the NCAA men’s basketball game against the Campbell Fighting Camels at Value City Arena in Columbus on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. Ohio State won 104-60.
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Ohio State Buckeyes guard Bruce Thornton (2) shoots the ball before the game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Value City Arena on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025 in Columbus, Ohio.
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Ohio State’s Meechie Johnson Jr. (left) and Bruce Thornton speak with reporters at Big Ten media day in Rosemont, Illinois, on Oct. 3, 2024.
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Jun 30, 2024; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State’s Kalen Etzler guards Buckeyes teammate Bruce Thornton during the Kingdom Summer League basketball program at Ohio Dominican University.
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Dec 3, 2023; Columbus, OH, USA;
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Bruce Thornton (2) goes for a layup against Minnesota Golden Gophers guard Elijah Hawkins (0) during their game on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023 at Value City Arena.
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Nov 29, 2023; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes guard Bruce Thornton (2) sings Carmen Ohio following their win over Central Michigan.
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Ohio State Buckeyes forward Sean Stewart (13), guard Bruce Thornton (2) and forward Aaron Bradshaw (4) celebrate following the second overtime of the NCAA men’s basketball game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Value City Arena in Columbus on March 4, 2025. Ohio State won 116-114.
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Feb 18, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes guard Bruce Thornton (2) is introduced prior to the NCAA men’s basketball game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Value City Arena.
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Jan 20, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Teammates help up Ohio State Buckeyes guard Bruce Thornton (2) after he got hit in the eye during the NCAA men’s basketball game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Value City Arena.
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Nov 6, 2023; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes guard Bruce Thornton (2) calls out a play as he’s guarded by Oakland Golden Grizzlies guard DQ Cole (10) during the NCAA men’s basketball game at Value City Arena. Ohio State won 79-73.
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Feb 1, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes guard Bruce Thornton (2) is introduced prior to the NCAA men’s basketball game against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Value City Arena.
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Ohio State Buckeyes guard Bruce Thornton (2) passes the ball against Grambling State Tigers forward Roderick Coffee III (1) and guard Jamil Muttilib (11) in the first half of the NCAA men’s basketball game Value City Arena on Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025 in Columbus, Ohio.
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Ohio State Buckeyes guard Bruce Thornton (2) shoots a free throw in the first half of the NCAA basketball game at Value City Arena on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025 in Columbus, Ohio.
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Oct 19, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes guard Bruce Thornton (2) defends during an open practice at Value City Arena.
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Ohio State Buckeyes guard Bruce Thornton (2) and Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Jalen Haralson (10) dive for a loose ball during the men’s NCAA basketball game at Value City Arena in Columbus on Nov. 16, 2025. Ohio State won 64-63.
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Fans react to a shot by Ohio State Buckeyes guard Bruce Thornton (2) during the first half of the NCAA men’s basketball game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Value City Arena on Jan. 27, 2025.
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Ohio State Buckeyes guard Bruce Thornton (2) is announced in the starting lineup prior to the NCAA men’s basketball game against the Evansville Purple Aces at Value City Arena in Columbus on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024.
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Ohio State Buckeyes guard Bruce Thornton (2) dribbles toward Campbell Fighting Camels guard Nolan Dorsey (21) during the first half of the NCAA men’s basketball game at Value City Arena in Columbus on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024.
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Ohio State Buckeyes guard Bruce Thornton (2) celebrates making a dunk during the second half of the NCAA men’s basketball game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Value City Arena in Columbus on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024. Ohio State won 80-66.
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Ohio State basketball 2022 commit Bruce Thornton at the Ohio State Buckeyes and Oregon Ducks football game on Saturday, September 11, 2021 at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.
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Jan 20, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes guard Bruce Thornton (2) high fives fans following the NCAA men’s basketball game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Value City Arena. Ohio State won 79-67.
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Mar 26, 2024; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes guard Bruce Thornton (2) brings the ball up court during the NIT quarterfinals against the Georgia Bulldogs at Value City Arena.
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Ohio State Buckeyes guard Bruce Thornton (2) shoots a free throw during the second half of the NCAA men’s Big Ten basketball game against the Washington Huskies at Value City Arena in Columbus on Feb. 12, 2025. Ohio State won 93-69.
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Ohio State Buckeyes guard Bruce Thornton (2) makes a layup in front of Illinois Fighting Illini forward Jake Davis (15) during the first half of the NCAA men’s basketball game in Columbus on Dec. 9, 2025.
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Mar 26, 2024; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes guard Bruce Thornton (2) warms up prior to the NIT quarterfinals against the Georgia Bulldogs at Value City Arena.
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In 102 games for Ohio State, all starts, guard Bruce Thornton has averaged 14.6 points and 4.0 assists per game.
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Jan 20, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Chris Holtmann talks to guards Bruce Thornton (2) and Roddy Gayle Jr. (1) during the second half of the NCAA men’s basketball game at Value City Arena. Ohio State won 79-67.
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Ohio State Buckeyes guard Bruce Thornton (2) scrambles for a loose ball in front of IU Indy Jaguars guard Micah Davis (4) during the NCAA men’s basketball game at Value City Arena in Columbus on Nov. 3, 2025. Ohio State won the season opener 118-102.
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Ohio State Buckeyes guard Bruce Thornton (2) reacts while the team sings “Carmen Ohio” following the NCAA men’s basketball game against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Value City Arena in Columbus on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. Ohio State lost 91-90 on a last second shot.
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Jul 9, 2024; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes guard Bruce Thornton talks to John Mobley Jr. and Meechie Johnson Jr. during a summer workout in the practice gym at the Schottenstein Center.
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Ohio State Buckeyes forward Aaron Bradshaw (4) and guard Bruce Thornton (2) react from the bench during the second half of the NCAA men’s basketball game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Value City Arena on Jan. 27, 2025. Ohio State won 82-65.
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Ohio State Buckeyes guard Bruce Thornton (2) celebrates a dunk by forward Sean Stewart (13) during the second half of the NCAA men’s basketball game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Value City Arena on Jan. 27, 2025. Ohio State won 82-65.
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Feb 18, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes guard Bruce Thornton (2) dribbles up court during the second half of the NCAA men’s basketball game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Value City Arena. Ohio State won 73-69.
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Mar 26, 2024; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes guard Bruce Thornton (2) waits for an inbounds play during the second half of the NIT quarterfinals against the Georgia Bulldogs at Value City Arena. Ohio State lost 79-77.
On the women’s side, diver Lena Hentschel was Ohio State’s recipient.
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Bruce Thornton (2) is recognized on senior night before the NCAA game at Value City Arena on Saturday, March 7, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio.
Thornton also earned the award named after Ohio State’s former athletic director, established in 2024 and given annually to “one student-athlete who embodies the mission of The Eugene D. Smith Leadership Institute by exhibiting the highest level of character and leadership.”
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In four years as a starter for the Buckeyes, Thornton finished his career as the all-time leading scorer with 2,164 points and was named second-team all-Big Ten and an honorable mention Associated Press All-American.
Ohio State men’s basketball beat writer Adam Jardy can be reached at ajardy@dispatch.com, on Bluesky at @cdadamjardy.bsky.social or on Twitter at @AdamJardy.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State’s Bruce Thornton earns Big Ten Medal of Honor
