Prep Stars Hairston, Thornton Pick Duke

Two of the Washington area's top high school basketball players, both juniors, have committed to play for Duke, according to their high school coaches.

Courtland forward Josh Hairston, a third-team All-Met last season, and Gonzaga point guard Tyler Thornton, who helped the Eagles win the City Title championship, took unofficial visits to the Durham, N.C., campus and said yesterday that they would accept scholarship offers from the Blue Devils. The two are good friends who play together on the D.C. Assault travel team.

Thornton "is in a position now where he feels comfortable that's a place he can feel at home," Gonzaga Coach Steve Turner said. "He's excited about who he's going to play for, the conference that he's in, and he's going to continue to grow as a basketball player and a student."

Thornton also seriously considered Georgetown, Villanova and Stanford, Turner said.

Hairston, who is 6 feet 8, is a versatile player who is capable of shooting from the outside and handling the ball, unusual talents for a player with his size.

Hairston had been courted by many of the nation's top programs, with coaches repeatedly making the trek to Courtland, which is located just southwest of Fredericksburg. Georgetown, Virginia and Virginia Tech were among the schools that Hairston seriously considered.