[Buckskin86]

Small forward
Gary (IN) Bowman Academy
AAU: Spiece Indy Heat

Ht: 6-foot-5
Wt: 200 lbs
Class: 2012 (High School)

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Marrero adds OSU to list
* Buckeyes give Bowman standout scholarship offer.

June 24, 2009
By David Robb, Post-Tribune staff writer

Barnstorming across two states to play 19 games in a matter of four days, the Bowman Academy boys basketball team picked up two team camp titles last week. Along the way, sophomore forward DeJuan Marrero also picked up a scholarship offer.

On Friday, the Eagles played three games on the campus of Ohio State. That's when Buckeyes coach Thad Matta offered Marrero a scholarship.

"It was a surprise," said Marrero, who helped the Eagles win the Purdue Team Camp on Thursday and the Valparaiso University Big School Division on Saturday.

"I didn't expect it when I went down there. He said he usually doesn't offer kids without talking to their parents or getting to know them very well. He just saw something in me. He said I've got a quick first step."

Marrero, who also holds offers from Indiana, Purdue and Valparaiso, was impressed by his first visit to Ohio State.

"The gym was awesome," Marrero said. "I'm going back down later to visit with my mom. I didn't get to see (the campus) much because I was in a rush. What I saw I enjoyed."

Marrero has also heard good things about Ohio State from AAU teammate Deshaun Thomas, an OSU recruit from Fort Wayne Bishop Luers.

"They treat him like family," Marrero said. "That's one thing I like."

Counting Purdue, Ohio State is the second Big Ten school to offer Marrero in roughly the past month. Not that he's letting the attention go to his head.

"Just keep working hard, that's all I can do, staying humble," Marrero said. "I've been working on my jump shot mostly. My defense, my rebounding, just getting stronger and quicker."

Marrero adds OSU to list :: Sports :: Post-Tribune