• Follow us on Twitter @buckeyeplanet and @bp_recruiting, like us on Facebook! Enjoy a post or article, recommend it to others! BP is only as strong as its community, and we only promote by word of mouth, so share away!
  • Consider registering! Fewer and higher quality ads, no emails you don't want, access to all the forums, download game torrents, private messages, polls, Sportsbook, etc. Even if you just want to lurk, there are a lot of good reasons to register!

OSU Men's Basketball Recruiting/Projections/General Discussions

Re: Staff Writer, Co-Editor, Photographer and Videographer @270HoopsOhio State basketball recruiting analyst @OSUatRivals

Well, his bio wants to make you think that he is "knowledgeable"...:roll1: Do you think he's counting Jimmy Sotos a senior (which technically he is) or he has knowledge of some underclassmen going to transfer or declare for the draft?
I do not think that he has knowledge of anything :confused:and if he thinks that Sotos is a senior that confirms my thinking. He
 
Upvote 0


Ohio State heating up with 2021 four-star PF

Ohio State head coach Chris Holtmann continues to prove he is one of the nation’s best at college basketball recruiting.

Last month, the program earned its most recent commitment in the 2021 recruiting class when the No. 1 recruit from the state of Ohio, Malaki Branham, committed to the Buckeyes. The addition greatly boosted the programs recruiting rankings, now viewed as the No. 6 class by 247Sports and No. 2 in the Big Ten behind Michigan State.

Alongside Branham, Holtmann and the Buckeyes also hold commitments from four-star guard Meechie Johnson and four-star power forward Kalen Etzler.

However, don’t think the Buckeyes are done yet. The team is still looking to add at least one more member to the class. One of those prospects is four-star power forward Mason Miller (Germantown, TN/Houston). Miller recently decided to play his senior season of high school basketball under his dad, former NBA star Mike Miller.

Multiple reports have Ohio State as one of his top contenders. Alongside the Buckeyes, Miller is also interested in Indiana, Creighton and TCU, with the Hoosiers looking like the current favorite.

If the Buckeyes are able to secure a commitment from Miller, it would be a testament to Holtmann’s recruiting prowess. The reason being is he would need to sell Miller on a role on the team with E.J. Liddell already on the roster, and aforementioned verbal commit Etzler at the same position — both being similar players to what Miller projects.

However, if Holtmann believes this team’s future looks best with Miller onboard, look for the Buckeyes to continue making him a priority. The Buckeyes have already reportedly hosted Miller for an unofficial virtual visit, so it appears as if the interest is there.

Miller is the No. 15 PF in the 247Sports Composite Rankings, and is the No. 60 overall prospect in the 2021 class.
 
Upvote 0
The other Ohio State hoops offer on Tuesday went out to four-star power forward Isaac Traudt, the No. 12 PF in the 2022 class and the No. 66 player in the country overall.



Hailing out of Grand Island, NE, the 6-foot-9, 195-pound forward already holds at least 19 official scholarship offers, including from some of the nation’s top programs like Creighton, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Oregon, Wisconsin and others.

Traudt’s recruitment really heated up this summer after his dominant play in the Twin Cities tournament, where he helped lead his Lincoln Supreme team to a pair of wins despite playing up an age level. Personally, he describes himself as a “versatile wing that can do everything defensively.” He also said he is a pretty good rim protector and is “getting better,” at defensive rebounding as well.

Traudt has been tearing up the prep hoops circuit, and teams around the country are taking notice. Check out some of these highlights from his efforts with the Supreme 16s:



Entire article: https://www.landgrantholyland.com/2...yden-isaac-traudt-aj-casey-george-fitzpatrick
 
Upvote 0


Here's one of the five:

Rayvon Griffith, Taft High School (Cincinnati, Ohio), 6-foot-5, Wing

Coming into last winter when the high school basketball season started in Ohio, Griffith was the 2023 prospect that garnered the most attention by evaluators -- and for good reason. Early last season in the second game of his freshman year I got to see Griffith play live against Richmond Heights and the long-term upside was evident. Standing at a legitimate 6-foot-5, he had the most athleticism out of anyone on the court -- and keep in mind Ohio State 2022 offer Josiah Harris was playing against him. At the same game were Ohio State basketball coaches Chris Holtmann, Ryan Pedon, and Jake Diebler. In short, even Ohio State’s coaches have known about Griffith since early in his high school career.

Right now Griffith’s game is predicated on being the better athlete than the man in front of him and getting to the rim. He is also very good in the post when working face up or with his back to the basket. Griffith also has a good handle, but it will have to improve before he is totally ready for the college game. And it will. As for his shooting stroke, it is a work in progress. It needs a little tuning and smoothing up before it is something he can rely on. But once his shot catches up to his athleticism and toughness there is no telling how good he can be.

Through his first high school season and without AAU, Griffith holds three offers from Oklahoma State, Alabama A&M, and Grambling State. He has also received interest from a plethora of schools such as Xavier, UCLA, and Ohio State. All signs point to Griffith being the best 2023 in Ohio, so don’t be surprised if Ohio State enters the mix before too long.


 
Upvote 0


What went right?

Ohio State has made recruiting within the state of Ohio a key priority since arriving in Columbus, and that became extremely clear in 2021. The Buckeyes went hard after the best in the state, and they were able to get things done.

It began with the additions of Meechie Johnson and Kalen Etzler. Johnson, a four-star prospect, chose Ohio State early on in the process, and has since ultimately moved into the class of 2020, and intends to play for the Buckeyes during the 2020-21 season.

Etzler is a versatile forward who is at his best playing on the perimeter as a stretch power forward. Etzler has solid size, is a good shot maker, and is a good enough athlete. He has to get more physical and consistent, but the addition is a solid long-term play.

The star of this class is Malaki Branham. As the No. 28 ranked player in the 247Sports Composite, Branham is a scoring guard with skill, athleticism, and a lot of physical tools. He can make shots, is a very good passer, and then is also a physical guard with toughness.

It wasn’t easy to land Branham, but the Buckeyes got it done, giving them their top priority in the class.

What went wrong?

For the most part, Ohio State got who they wanted at some key positions, but they also came up short in some other areas.

Specifically, Ohio State wanted to land a big man in this class. The Buckeyes went hard after in-state target Logan Duncomb, but he chose to go elsewhere, in a recruiting battle that left them a bit bruised.

Also, Ohio State has put in a lot of effort with players such as Charles Bediako, Mac Etienne and Chet Holmgren, but they don’t appear likely to land any of those three, even if they are uncommitted.

Beyond that, Ohio State took some big swings at Kendall Brown and Trevor Keels, only to see them never seriously consider the Buckeyes.
 
Upvote 0
OSU has reached out to PSU big man decommit Elijah Hutchins-Everett. 6'10, 3-star, 199th in composite.

I don't think we have offered and I think part of the staff's interest might be that they feel like they could possibly keep Elijah on the back burner for a bit since he is just now restarting his recruitment. Giving them some time to keep chasing Holmgren and Reid.

Sidenote is that this is the kind of thing OSU_Buckguy would keep us abreast of. I haven't seen him on here or any of the other boards since July. Anyone know if he is ok?
 
Upvote 0
Back
Top