Rod Thorn

Thorn attracted nationwide attention after a high school basketball career at Princeton High School in his hometown of Princeton, West Virginia that saw him average more than 30 points per game as a senior. He was a three-time all-state selection and was a two-time High School All-American. Thorn was also a highly regarded high school baseball player, before a head injury took him away from the sport for a time. Thorn was looking at colleges, including Duke University, when the West Virginia State Legislature passed a resolution designating Thorn as a state Natural Resource. This in order to persuade him to emulate native Jerry West and attend West Virginia University. Thorn did just that. Thorn attended West Virginia University. He wore #44, the same number as Jerry West, who had just graduated.