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PG Aaron Craft (B1G 6th MOY '11, Def POY '12, Acad AA, Dolomiti En. TR - Italy)

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High school basketball: OSU-bound Craft shows off his skills
Monday, April 19, 2010
By Steve Blackledge
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Aaron Craft wrestled with mixed feelings upon learning that Evan Turner had decided to leave Ohio State a year early for the NBA.

All of a sudden, the incoming OSU freshman from Findlay Liberty-Benton was being mentioned as a possibility to fill Turner's point guard spot.

"On one hand, it would have been a real honor to play on the same team with Evan for one year, especially with such a talented group of guys returning next year," said Craft, the Division III state player of the year. "On the other hand, I have to admit that it crossed my mind that Evan's departure leaves a spot open and that probably enhances my chances of getting more playing time next year."

Craft, a 6-footer, joins an incoming freshman class rated No. 1 by many national services.

"It's a good pressure, I guess," Craft said of possibly starting as a freshman. "It's nice that they think I'm capable of filling that void, but my only goal right now is to work hard and whatever happens will happen."

If nothing else, Craft showed a crowd of about 1,500 yesterday at Capital University for the Ohio North-South all-star games that he is a point guard in the truest sense, making everything look easy and bringing the best out of those around him.

He was named MVP after leading the North to a 116-94 victory over the South in the Division III-IV contest. His totals of 14 points, six rebounds, five assists, two steals and no turnovers weren't dazzling, but he clearly controlled the flow in an otherwise chaotic game.

"It's kind of hard to play only five minutes at a time, then sit for five minutes, and it's also difficult building a chemistry with your teammates in only one two-hour practice," Craft said, "but it was really fun being able to play with all of these talented, college-bound players who you've heard about but never seen."
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High school basketball: OSU-bound Craft shows off his skills | BuckeyeXtra
 
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Craft ready to be a Buckeye!
Moves in Sunday, starts classes Monday
Updated: Sunday, 20 Jun 2010
Howard Chen
FOX Toledo Sports Director

FINDLAY, Ohio - It was only a few months ago that Aaron Craft was leading Liberty-Benton to yet another deep basketball tournament run. On Sunday, he'll be officially taking the next step in his life.

Hardcore Sports caught up with the point guard on his final day of packing. He'll be moving into the Ohio State dorms on Sunday and starting classes on Monday. The reason he's going down early is so he can get a jump on working out with his new Buckeye teammates. In order to do that, he needs to be enrolled in classes.

Craft joins two other Northwest Ohio stars, Upper Sandusky's Jon Diebler and Libbey's William Buford, on the Buckeye squad.
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Craft ready to be a Buckeye!

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akNdpYK7EZc]YouTube - Aaron Craft packing up for Columbus[/ame]
 
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Diebler went on to praise the play of Craft, who was known as a gritty defender and a glue guy coming out of Findlay.

?He is a great basketball player,? said Diebler, who played middle school ball for Craft?s dad.

?He?s very smart. He can really play defense and his shot has come a long way.?

William Buford compared Craft to Purdue guard Chris Kramer, who oh-by-the-way was the Defensive Player of the Year in the Big Ten last season.

ON FAMOUS ALUMNI HANGING AROUND THE GYM?

-One other thing Diebler mentioned is that Craft is benefiting tremendously this summer from working with former OSU point guards Mike Conley and Brent Darby, both of whom are back in Columbus. He said Craft has been guarding Conley a lot and is picking his brain every day.
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The-Ozone, Ohio State Football, Wrestling, Softball, Basketball, Hockey, Baseball and More

With guard Lenzelle Smith out with an injured wrist, Aaron Craft is making a strong impression, especially with his defense. Buford likened his tenacity to former Purdue guard Chris Kramer.
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Lighty hoping to return next month (Hoops & Scoops: an OSU basketball blog)
 
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There are three errors in just one paragraph of the column Buckskin posted a link to. It says Craft is a "true" point guard, which is inaccurate. People should be putting stock in Buford's comparison of Craft to Chris Kramer because that is the type of player Craft is, he is a combo guard who will play tough D and can play some point. I don't think he has all the skills he needs to be a full time PG at OSU. But the events of this summer (injuries to potential PG competitors Lighty and Smith) couldn't do anything but help Craft's chances to get more PT there this fall. Two more errors come since they say Craft switched his commitment from UT to OSU because of his relationship with AAU teammates Sullinger and Thomas. First of all, Thomas was not an AAU teammate of Craft. Secondly, Craft was saying it was because he wanted to play closer to home, that Tennessee was just too far away when he could go somewhere else closer. I wouldn't read too much into these columns, though, since Offutt was lauded by his teammates (and even the coaches) in the offseason for his defense and effort (similar to what we're seeing with Craft), yet we all saw how much PT Offutt got.
 
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DZ83CK;1734210; said:
There are three errors in just one paragraph of the column Buckskin posted a link to. It says Craft is a "true" point guard, which is inaccurate. People should be putting stock in Buford's comparison of Craft to Chris Kramer because that is the type of player Craft is, he is a combo guard who will play tough D and can play some point. I don't think he has all the skills he needs to be a full time PG at OSU.
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having seen craft play a number of times against top-level competition, i can unequivocally state that craft is or could be a true point guard at ohio state and that he does have or at least can develop the skills needed to be a full-time point guard at ohio state. craft is not a combo guard. he does not possess the pure outside shot of a 2-guard and he does not possess the penetration capabilities of a 2-guard. craft is a smart floor general who is more about maintaining than creating. some will find fault with his style... just remember how much we've needed just that the last few years.
 
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DZ83CK;1734210; said:
There are three errors in just one paragraph of the column Buckskin posted a link to. It says Craft is a "true" point guard, which is inaccurate. People should be putting stock in Buford's comparison of Craft to Chris Kramer because that is the type of player Craft is, he is a combo guard who will play tough D and can play some point. I don't think he has all the skills he needs to be a full time PG at OSU. But the events of this summer (injuries to potential PG competitors Lighty and Smith) couldn't do anything but help Craft's chances to get more PT there this fall. Two more errors come since they say Craft switched his commitment from UT to OSU because of his relationship with AAU teammates Sullinger and Thomas. First of all, Thomas was not an AAU teammate of Craft. Secondly, Craft was saying it was because he wanted to play closer to home, that Tennessee was just too far away when he could go somewhere else closer. I wouldn't read too much into these columns, though, since Offutt was lauded by his teammates (and even the coaches) in the offseason for his defense and effort (similar to what we're seeing with Craft), yet we all saw how much PT Offutt got.
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Irregardless of the so-called errors in the linked article, I really don't understand where you're coming from. You might want to check the blog written by Lee Caryer and I think you know where to find it. Lee has followed basketball far longer than you and it is his belief that Craft can play PG for Ohio State. I don't care if he is not a "true" PG as long as he can bring the ball up the court and play good defense. I certainly think he is more of a PG than a SG.

Personally, I don't care why he changed his commitment as long as he is a Buckeye and I also will believe what the guys from last year are saying about him until I am, or you are, proven wrong.

We are going to have to live with them for a while unless Smith makes a very quick recovery and gets into playing shape. We have three solid wing players so if Craft can bring the ball up the court and start our offense I am fine with him. I would hate to see one of our wing players have to play PG because I just don't think they have the same ball handling skills as Turner did last year.
 
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My advise to Mr. Craft....

When the NCAA asks you a question just tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

Judge.gif
 
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Craft will be very important to the Buckeyes success this season IMO - having someone that Thad can put in the game and having confidence that he will take care of the ball and make the right passes is a huge relief after losing someone as good as ET
 
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osubusman;1801503; said:
Craft will be very important to the Buckeyes success this season IMO - having someone that Thad can put in the game and having confidence that he will take care of the ball and make the right passes is a huge relief after losing someone as good as ET
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He, personally, may not be the entire key to our success this year, but getting production from the PG position will be (IMO, of course).
 
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