As mentioned in last week's notebook, Derek Funderburk is highly sought after in Ohio State's attempts to build their 2016 class.
Beyond him, V.J. King remains a clear target despite moving out of state, while the Buckeyes are still players for Tyus Battle, Braxton Blackwell and Kobi Simmons – the latter two of which have taken unofficial visits to Columbus this fall. Simmons and Battle can play point guard but have the size to play multiple positions on the floor. Being five star recruits, the recruiting competition for both will be intense and OSU is looking at lead guard options beyond those two.
This past weekend, they hosted Daquan Bracey, a five-foot-10-inch guard from Baltimore. He does not currently have an offer from the Buckeyes and told Eleven Warriors he isn't sure if he'll receive one soon. Still, he did enjoy the atmosphere around campus and took in a basketball practice.
"It was great," Bracey said. "The coaches interacted with the kids real well and the kids responded back well to corrective criticism."
By design, recruits on visits get a second-hand look as to how Thad Matta conducts practices and instructs his players. That interaction can pay dividends in recruiting, as it was a big reason why Daniel Giddens committed.
Bracey received this inside look and, by virtue, is now on the Buckeye radar. According to Future150.com, he is rated as a two-star recruit but their scouting report is complimentary of his point guard instincts. Dayton, Kansas State and Marquette have a high opinon of Bracey, having already offered him.
Ward Also Visits
If you're an east-side native heading towards Ohio State campus, it's a pretty convenient drive any time except morning rush hour. Presumably, Gahanna Lincoln's Nick Ward waited until after that passed to make his trip westbound on 670 and up 315.
Considered a top 65 player in 247Sports' composite rankings, the Buckeyes have not yet offered Ward. Other Big Ten programs have, including Iowa, Michigan State, Purdue and Wisconsin.
According to Ward's AAU team Twitter account, he will be taking a visit to one of those schools, this weekend:
2016 Gahanna F Nick Ward will visit Michigan State this Friday for midnight madness. #AOR pic.twitter.com/boY3VQ4N9o
— ALL OHIO BASKETBALL (@all_ohio) October 22, 2014
If Ward ends up in East Lansing, he'll reunite with high school teammate Javon Bess.
Insert Zac Brown Band pun
The Buckeyes might have more flexibility in the following year's class, where they're already showing interest in a five-star recruit.
Zach Brown, who will make headline writers earn their paychecks in the future, is a five-star recruit, according to 247Sports composite rankings. Already 7-feet, 1-inch tall and 268 pounds as a high school sophomore, there's still plenty of time for him to grow before he commits somewhere. At that size, he's already a major force in the paint and it's no surprise the top basketball programs in America are heavily interested in the Miami native:
7'1" Zach Brown's dad said #Duke , #UConn & #Miami are recruiting him hardest. S.Carolina, UCLA, Kentucky, Kansas, Ohio St, Florida interest
— Andrew Slater (@ASlater247) October 17, 2014
Around The B1G
Nebrasketball has a head start on the rest of the Big Ten in building their 2016 class.
Huskers head coach Tim Miles already secured a commitment from Keanu Pinder in 2013, who decided to go the JUCO route and reclassify to 2016. As of Tuesday, they will also welcome three-star forward Isaiah Roby into the fold. Roby picked Nebraska over offers from Creighton and Georgia, among others.
