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Rockhurst University Athletics

Jihad Thornton award

Men's Basketball

Thornton is third recipient of Norman Majors Award

Jihad Thornton led the Hawks in assists and steals in 2022-23.
Senior guard Jihad Thornton of Florissant, Missouri is the third recipient of the Norman Majors Player of the Year Award for Rockhurst Men's Basketball.

The Norman Majors Player of the Year award recognizes the Rockhurst player who inspires teammates through his fierce competitive spirit, commitment, positive attitude, and ability to persevere through adversity.

Majors was a three-year letterman at Rockhurst from 1959-62. He averaged 13.7 rebounds per game in 1959-60 and set the single-game rebound mark with 28 caroms in 1959. Majors was drafted by the Chicago Packers in the 1962 NBA Draft and went on to serve in the Peace Corps.
 
This award is named in honor of Norman Majors to honor his legacy, and the legacy of all alumni who have been a part of the Rockhurst men's basketball community over the past 102 seasons. Norman passed away on March 30, 2022 surrounded by family in western Australia.

"Jihad has an outstanding year for us," said RU basketball coach Drew Diener. "Every person in the program respects JT's work ethic, leadership and grit. When he speaks, we all listen. He thrives when adversity hits, which is a huge part of the Norm Majors Player of the Year Award. He has shown those resilient traits on and off the floor. He is a flat-out winner."

Thornton led the Hawks in assists (2.0 pg) and steals (1.3 pg) this past season. He scored 128 points in 28 games while playing 20.8 minutes per game. He will complete his degree in Mechanical Engineering at Rockhurst in 2024.

"As most of our fans have seen, JT works extremely hard on the court," said Kristy Bayer, RU Director of Athletics. "He has also applied these same characteristics of exemplary work ethic and determination in the classroom. We are grateful for all that he has given Rockhurst basketball during his career."
 
The Norman Majors Player of the Year award recognizes the Rockhurst player who inspires teammates through his fierce competitive spirit, commitment, positive attitude, and ability to persevere through adversity. The award was created was in 2021 to celebrate Norman Majors, '62, and his legacy at Rockhurst including the endowment of the Norman Majors, '62, Family Fund, an endowed fund established to provide support and new opportunities for the men's basketball program. Thornton is the third recipient of the award following Charlton Offermans (2021) and Nick Volz (2022).
 
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Players Mentioned

Nick Volz

#13 Nick Volz

F
6' 8"
Redshirt Senior
Jihad Thornton

#20 Jihad Thornton

G
5' 8"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Nick Volz

#13 Nick Volz

6' 8"
Redshirt Senior
F
Jihad Thornton

#20 Jihad Thornton

5' 8"
Senior
G