PEORIA — Ben Thornbrue finished a whirlwind recruiting track with the Bradley Braves on Wednesday by committing to the Missouri Valley Conference power.
The Braves made an offer to the 6-foot-8, 220-pound rim-protecting big man on Oct. 17. He was at Bradley for an official visit on Sunday, and 72 hours later announced his commitment.
The Hillsboro, Oregon, native is a redshirt sophomore with College of Southern Idaho junior college program.
He is in his first season with that team, and played last season for Lane Community College (Eugene, Oregon), where he averaged 21.6 points per game and 7.3 rebounds. He shot 48% from the field and 26.5% from 3-point range.
Thornbrue was named NWAC Southern Region Player of the Year, Southern Region Freshman of the Year and Southern Region Defensive Player of the Year last season.
The Braves are in the final stretch of preseason preparations before their 2025-26 regular-season opener arrives on Monday with a matchup against St. Bonaventure in the Field of 68.
Dave Eminian is the Journal Star sports columnist, and covers Bradley men’s basketball, the Rivermen and Chiefs. He writes the Cleve In The Eve sports column for pjstar.com. He can be reached at 686-3206 or deminian@pjstar.com. Follow him on X.com @icetimecleve.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Bradley basketball gets commitment from big man just hours after he visits
Reporting by Dave Eminian, Peoria Journal Star / Journal Star
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