ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
HARRISON HOOKFIN
#42 - FORWARD
Harrison Hookfin hasn’t stopped smiling.
Not since he got a morning text from Ohio State video coordinator Kyle Davis in January that the basketball team he grew up rooting for might be interested in adding him as a walk-on. Not since Chris Holtmann told him in late January, after passing a physical and participating in four practices, that he wanted to officially welcome him to the team. Not since he made his collegiate debut late in the Buckeyes’ 90-70 win against Iowa on Feb. 26.
And definitely not since he experienced the thrill of an NCAA tournament win.
“It does not seem real,” Hookfin told Eleven Warriors a day after the Buckeyes upset Iowa State in the first round of the NCAA tournament. “Maybe it will hit me over the summer, but right now, it's just everything's numb.”
Two years ago, Hookfin knew he’d be a Buckeye. He just had no idea – or reason to believe – he’d end up on their roster.
As a junior at Lebanon High School, he averaged 0.9 points per game. He ended the academic year standing 6-foot-1. That summer, he experienced an unexpected growth spurt that shot him up to 6-foot-5, and his game ascended with his body. Hookfin led his team with 14.4 points and 7.3 points per game as a senior.
Maybe he could have played basketball at a Division II or Division III program, but long before adding four inches, he knew where he’d attend college. He applied to one university: Ohio State.
“My entire life, I only wanted to go to Ohio State,” Hookfin said. “That's all I cared about is coming here.”
That aspect of his story – minus the random growth spurt – mirrors the path of former walk-on extraordinaire Joey Lane, who turned down interest from lower-level schools to live out his dream as a Buckeye.
But unlike Lane, who spent all four collegiate years on the team, Hookfin didn’t immediately have a spot. In the months prior to enrolling, his high school coach “found a way” to contact Ohio State’s basketball program, but he began classes without any promise of – or even really any path to – a spot on the roster. That didn’t deter Hookfin, though.
“My entire life, I always tried to stay positive,” Hookfin said. “So I'm always thinking that, 'OK, it's going to happen today. If it doesn't happen today, it's going to happen.'”
.
.
.
“I have so much family here,” Hookfin said. “I have such history here. I've grown up an Ohio State fan for as long as I can remember. So, you know, it's just a dream come true.”
Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...he-perfect-heir-to-ohio-states-walk-on-throne
#42 - FORWARD
- HEIGHT 6-5
- WEIGHT 220
- YEAR FR.
- HOMETOWN LEBANON, OHIO
- H.S./LAST SCHOOL LEBANON
- Made first collegiate appearance, playing one minute off the bench against Iowa (2/26)
- First team All-GWOC South as a senior
- Scored 14.2 points and grabbed 7.1 rebounds per contest in his final season at Lebanon
- Son of Kelly and Erin Hookfin
- Has three older siblings, Casey and Madison
Harrison Hookfin hasn’t stopped smiling.
Not since he got a morning text from Ohio State video coordinator Kyle Davis in January that the basketball team he grew up rooting for might be interested in adding him as a walk-on. Not since Chris Holtmann told him in late January, after passing a physical and participating in four practices, that he wanted to officially welcome him to the team. Not since he made his collegiate debut late in the Buckeyes’ 90-70 win against Iowa on Feb. 26.
And definitely not since he experienced the thrill of an NCAA tournament win.
“It does not seem real,” Hookfin told Eleven Warriors a day after the Buckeyes upset Iowa State in the first round of the NCAA tournament. “Maybe it will hit me over the summer, but right now, it's just everything's numb.”
Two years ago, Hookfin knew he’d be a Buckeye. He just had no idea – or reason to believe – he’d end up on their roster.
As a junior at Lebanon High School, he averaged 0.9 points per game. He ended the academic year standing 6-foot-1. That summer, he experienced an unexpected growth spurt that shot him up to 6-foot-5, and his game ascended with his body. Hookfin led his team with 14.4 points and 7.3 points per game as a senior.
Maybe he could have played basketball at a Division II or Division III program, but long before adding four inches, he knew where he’d attend college. He applied to one university: Ohio State.
“My entire life, I only wanted to go to Ohio State,” Hookfin said. “That's all I cared about is coming here.”
That aspect of his story – minus the random growth spurt – mirrors the path of former walk-on extraordinaire Joey Lane, who turned down interest from lower-level schools to live out his dream as a Buckeye.
But unlike Lane, who spent all four collegiate years on the team, Hookfin didn’t immediately have a spot. In the months prior to enrolling, his high school coach “found a way” to contact Ohio State’s basketball program, but he began classes without any promise of – or even really any path to – a spot on the roster. That didn’t deter Hookfin, though.
“My entire life, I always tried to stay positive,” Hookfin said. “So I'm always thinking that, 'OK, it's going to happen today. If it doesn't happen today, it's going to happen.'”
.
.
.
“I have so much family here,” Hookfin said. “I have such history here. I've grown up an Ohio State fan for as long as I can remember. So, you know, it's just a dream come true.”
Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...he-perfect-heir-to-ohio-states-walk-on-throne
