[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

COMMITMENTJantel Lavender

Lavender chooses OSU

Thursday, October 26, 2006

Bob Fortuna

Plain Dealer Reporter

Fans of Ohio State University women's basketball will get a healthy swig of the girl they call "Juice" in the near future.
Jantel Laven der, Cleveland Central Catho lic's 6-4 senior center, made an oral commit ment to the Lady Buckeyes late Tuesday night, just a couple of days after she made an official visit.
"I love [OSU] coach Jim Foster," said Lavender. "He's a believer in his team and the program, but he puts it on a personal level. I deeply believe he cares about you as a person."
Ohio State was always in the picture, but through the advice of other recruits she talked to, Lavender wanted to make her visits to experience the recruiting process and be certain her decision was right.
"I'm going to improve my game through coach Foster," said Lavender, the highest-ranked post player in the nation by scout.com and ranked third overall for the class of 2007. "During our conversations during the recruiting process, coach Foster would tell the little things on how to improve my game."
Lavender also did her homework.
"When Jessica Davenport arrived at Ohio State, she was ranked the 16th-best player in the nation," said Lavender, who averaged 20.7 points, 16 rebounds, four assists and four blocks last season in helping lead Central Catholic to the North Coast League White Division title and a district championship appearance.
"She's now a two-time All-American and ranked the best at her position."
Lavender, a Division III first-team All-Ohio and third-team Parade Magazine All-American selection last season, visited the University of North Carolina, Texas and Tennessee before venturing to OSU. She has canceled this weekend's scheduled official visit to the University of Maryland.
Jazmine Lavender, a role player on Central Catholic's girls basketball team and a sprinter on the track team who made the visits with her twin sister, also will be on scholarship.
"From my understanding, they're going to incorporate Jazmine into a managerial position with the basketball program," said their mother, Robin Lavender. "There was never any doubt they were going to attend the same college."
Obviously, it was an easy offer to swallow.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
bfortuna@plaind.com, 216-999-4665