DDN
OSU again excels in recruiting
Matta excited about scorer, athlete and pair of versatile big men.
By Mark Gokavi
Staff Writer
Thursday, November 09, 2006
COLUMBUS ? Ohio State men's basketball coach Thad Matta sat alone Wednesday at the interview table.
But you could see how happy he was about the recruiting class that will join him at the Schottenstein Center next season.
On top of the "Thad Five," the Buckeyes announced four players who signed their national letters of intent ? 7-foot-1 forward Kosta Koufos, 6-6 guard Jon Diebler, 6-9 center Dallas Lauderdale and 6-6 guard Evan Turner.
"We're obviously very excited," Matta said. "With Jon, Kosta, Dallas and Evan, we got what we were looking for, what we think we need to replace."
Ohio State's only seniors are captain Ron Lewis and Ivan Harris. This season's freshmen, like 7-footer Greg Oden, could look at the NBA. Either way, Matta has stacked back-to-back nationally ranked recruiting classes.
"I remember Coach K (Duke's Mike Krzyzewski) telling me when I got here, he said it takes one class and then you've got to follow it up and follow it up and follow it up," Matta said.
Dayton fans may remember Diebler, whose Upper Sandusky team beat Daequan Cook's Dunbar squad in the 2005 Division II state semifinals. Diebler scored 77 points in a game last season.
There is a definite buzz around Koufos, a 7-footer with forward skills whom some say has NBA potential.
Layups: Matta said "we're still recruiting" a player with an available scholarship. He also said one or two walk-ons may join the team for this weekend's Black Coaches Association Classic. Matta said it would be a "freak of nature" if Oden played in November.
