C Jantel Lavender (official thread)

[osugrad21]

'07 OH C Jantel Lavender

Scout Profile



Ht: 6-4
PPG: 22.0
Position: C
Year: 2007
Cleveland Central Catholic HS

BN Free

Jantel is the highest rated post player in the nation. She chose the Buckeyes over Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.

[crazybuckfan40]

Looks like Matta has some competition as to who the best basketball recruiter is at this university.

[scooter1369]

There have been quite a few recruits of other sports on campus recently. A recruit from Lakota West was here for the Cincy game. She looked like a ball player.

Welcome to the family, Jantel.

[eobuck]

Originally Posted by scooter1369

There have been quite a few recruits of other sports on campus recently. A recruit from Lakota West was here for the Cincy game. She looked like a ball player.

Welcome to the family, Jantel.

I assume that was Amber Gray, a top 15 player in the 2008 class.

Does anyone know Ayana Dunnings feelings towards OSU? She is the #3 player in the 2008 class & also the #1 center. She's from Columbus, so Jim Foster could pull a Thad Matta with 3 consecutive great center prospects.

These are the types of players that OSU's women can compete against the Duke's, UCONN's, & UNC's of the world with, not just Big 10 teams.

[Buckeye Nut]

This is awesome news! Looks like three very solid recruits for the 2007 class to go along with a great five player class that will be beginning their freshman seasons next month. Looks like OSU women's basketball is as strong as ever and there really doesn't seem to be anybody else in the Big Ten that's doing what OSU is doing on the recruiting front. I see a lot more Big Ten women's basketball titles in the near future.

[jimotis4heisman]

so then i guess i have to ask, any relation to drew? (insert 57 to 64 cousin joke here)

[scooter1369]

I'll have to say this is no coincedence that Jantel commits right after Jessica Davenport was honored in Ohio Stadium Saturday.

Who wouldn't want a chance to be honored by 105,500 people?

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Grad.....thanks for the assist.

Huge verbal for the women's program.....Welcome to the Buckeye family Jantel!

[BB73]

Great get!

Welcome to the Buckeyes, Jantel.

[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

[JCOSU86]

Brothers and Sisters with JT, Thad and now Jim Foster recruiting the lights out, I believe we are living in the Golden Age of Ohio State sports. Well, one of the Golden Ages, anyway

Welcome to the Buckeyes, Jantel!

Go Buckeyes!

[WoodyWorshiper]

Gotta love the way Jantel talked about Coach Foster. This young lady is a true "Buckeye." Congrats to Coach Foster and to Jantel!!

[starBUCKS]

I've been telling people in Florida for a couple of years that Ohio State would win NCAA Championships in football, Mens basketball and Womens basketball all with in the next 5 years.... a lot of parties.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

OHIO STATE WOMEN?S BASKETBALL
Weekend visit convinces All-American to commit
Friday, October 27, 2006
Jim Massie
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH



Jantel Lavender, a consensus All-America basketball player at Cleveland Central Catholic, had every intention of taking the full complement of five official visits to major college programs, until she arrived at Ohio State last weekend.
Lavender, a 6-foot-4 center, left Columbus and canceled a scheduled trip this week to Maryland. She called Ohio State coach Jim Foster on Tuesday to tell him she would sign a letter of intent in November to play for the Buckeyes.
"I just felt like this is where I belong," Lavender said. "The benefits of going to a school in your home state are so much better than going to another state.
"Plus, I really like Coach Foster. I like his drive, but I also like how easy he takes things. He?s calm, and it makes you so feel confident. I just knew that I would like to have him as my coach."
Lavender is Foster?s most highly regarded catch since he landed current Ohio State All-America center Jessica Davenport in his first recruiting class four years ago.
"On my list, I have (Lavendar) as the No. 1 center in the country and the No. 3 player," said Bret McCormick, the national scouting director for All Star Girls Report. "Cleveland is in their back yard, so it?s absolutely a good get."
Lavender is ranked the third-best player in the nation and the No. 1 center by Hoop-Gurlz.com and is a secondteam high school All-America pick by Street & Smith?s magazine. She averaged 20.7 points and 16 rebounds last season.
Her twin sister, Jazmine, also is coming to Ohio State. Lavender chose the Buckeyes over Maryland, Tennessee, Texas and North Carolina. She joins a recruiting class that includes guard Brittany Johnson of East Richland in Olney, Ill., guard Alison Jackson of Fenwick in Oak Park, Ill., and forward Sarah Schulze of Anna (Ohio).
NCAA rules prohibit Foster from commenting on recruits.
jmassie@dispatch.com

[osugrad21]

BN $

11/6

Jantel discusses her commitment. Good article from Gary Housteau.