OSU close to making its point?
The way it's going, All-Ohio Red is going to have to change its name to All-Ohio Scarlet.
The dominant AAU team of Ohio-bred players has two 2010 prospects (Jared Sullinger and Jordan Sibert) committed to Ohio State and two more (J.D. Weatherspoon and Adreian Payne) weighing offers from coach Thad Matta.
Today comes word that Red's point guard, Aaron Craft of Liberty-Benton High School in Findlay, has rescinded his commitment to Tennessee and is re-opening his recruitment. That tells me that Matta has changed his mind about the 6-foot playmaker and, if he hasn't already, will offer him a scholarship.
If that happens, expect Craft to accept the offer and, a year from now, become the latest candidate to fill a glaring hole in the Buckeyes program.
"It is nothing against (Tennessee) or their staff," Craft's father, John, told the recruiting site HighMajorScoop.com. "It was of distance and what is best for Aaron. We will keep all options open and hopefully find the best fit for Aaron.?
In other words, why go all the way to Tennessee to play in a major conference when the Big Ten school two hours down the road offers the same opportunity?
Before Craft committed to Tennessee a year ago, none of his other offers was from a major-conference program. Matta apparently changed his mind after getting reports of Craft's play on the AAU circuit this spring -- coaches were not permitted to attend tournaments.
The Buckeyes have been recruiting other point guards -- Cory Joseph, Phil Pressey, Lavonte Dority, Trevor Releford, Joe Jackson -- but none is from Ohio nor a good bet to climb on board. A commitment from Craft would get the point-guard hole plugged before the busy July recruiting period and allow Matta to focus on 2011 and beyond as well as wrapping up the 2010 class with Payne or Weatherspoon, or both.
. Okay back to Craft:)
