Bruce Thornton Will Surprise People Once He Gets To OSU, Says Mark Edwards

Ohio State commitment Bruce Thornton is a top 25 prospect in the 2022 class, according to Rivals.com and 247Sports.com. Despite being ranked in high regard by those platforms, he is not in the top 60 on ESPN’s list.
If you asked his The Skills Academy coach Julian Barfield “he’s a winner.”
“Do you want the guy that can control your team and do everything or do you want the guy who’s going to put up gaudy numbers?” Julian Barfield, Thornton’s coach at The Skills Academy, said. “He’s like, ‘No, I didn’t have the off-the-rim dunk like the other person had who had 25, but guess what? I won.’ ”
Thornton’s trainer Mark Edwards recently talked about working with him since the seventh grade.
“I got a hold of Bruce, I think the first time we worked out when he was in the seventh grade. He came through one of my good friends is his godfather and mentor Adam brought him through for a few workouts and the kid thought I was crazy. Because I was yelling at kids pushing them and said let’s go,” said Edwards.
“Then his freshman year, we did a lot of work and regularly talked about the game off and on. He is so ready mentally and physically that he will be a surprise, a shocker, especially when he gets to college at Ohio State. He is kind of underrated to me, and the crazy thing the guys a lot of the guys ranked ahead of him. He has locked them down and beat them head to head. So, he is someone that people need to pay attention to.”
If you are unfamiliar with Mark Edwards, his work with athletes is legendary. Over the last 26 years, he has helped over 300 scholarship athletes, including Jalen Green. Green is a top-five pick in the upcoming draft next month.
Landon Buford is an accomplished sports and entertainment journalist based in Richardson, Texas, with over a decade of experience covering the NBA, WNBA, NFL, WWE, MLB, and the entertainment industry. Known for delivering high-impact stories and headline-making interviews, Buford has earned a global audience through content that blends insider access with compelling storytelling.
He previously served as director of editorial and brand communications at PlayersTV, where he helped shape the platform’s editorial voice and brand identity. He is also the founder and editor-in-chief of LandonBuford.com—an independent outlet with more than 1.6 million views and syndication from major platforms including Bleacher Report, Sports Illustrated and Yahoo Sports. Buford’s interviews with stars like Gary Payton, Kevin Durant, Mark Cuban and Chris Paul showcase his talent for meaningful, in-depth conversations.
His bylines have appeared in Sports Illustrated, Forbes, Heavy.com, Meta’s Bulletin and One37pm, where he has contributed exclusive interviews, breaking news and cultural insights. At Heavy.com, his work drew more than a million views in just eight months, and at One37pm, it contributed to record-breaking traffic numbers.
His work highlights the intersection of sports, fashion, music, and entrepreneurship—showcasing how athletes and entertainers use their platforms to inspire change, influence trends, and shape culture beyond the game. Landon has interviewed a wide range of figures from the NBA, NFL, and entertainment industries, consistently bringing authentic voices and untold stories to the forefront.
In addition to his journalism, Buford is an entrepreneur and content creator, dedicated to amplifying diverse narratives and driving meaningful conversations across media platforms. His passion for storytelling, culture, and innovation continues to make him a respected voice in the evolving landscape of sports and entertainment media.
