Ohio State freshmen are already putting in work at the team's practice facility – as a result, so are arena maintenance crews. The next few weeks symbolize an important stretch for the young players on the team who are looking to get up to speed.
As Thad Matta prepares the 2015 recruiting class for its first college season, the entire staff also remains concerned with next year's freshmen crop. Kobi Simmons' looming college decision is the main reason why.
The Buckeyes are in good standing with the five-star point guard at this point:
Final 3!!! #Blessed #KJ2 pic.twitter.com/tllad7lIld
— Shoogs (@JordanKobi) September 29, 2015
As I discussed two weeks ago, Ohio State does not fare well against Kentucky in recruiting battles. Obviously, UNLV still poses a threat but this situation might not be as clear-cut as "Kentucky will get him if they want him," as is typically the case for recruits. John Calipari's pursuit of De'Aaron Fox complicates his recruitment of Simmons. Fox visits Lexington in two weeks and might not commit until well after Simmons plans to.
Simmons and his father maintain he will likely commit before the high school basketball season begins in Georgia. If OSU is truly the preferred destination, it leaves the them in a seemingly precarious situation. There are no available spots for the 2016 class past the scholarships already devoted to Derek Funderburk Jr. and Micah Potter.
The prevailing notion seems to be Potter – who recently transferred from Mentor to Montverde Academy – will reclassify to 2017. Multiple issues prevent that. Kaleb Wesson's commitment means there is no room in that class, either.
Although Potter seems to be open to the idea, he doesn't necessarily want to reclassify.
"It's a possibility I could do that but as of right now I don't have any plan of reclassifying," Potter told Cleveland.com in July. "Some freaky thing may happen and I may end up doing that, but as of right now I have no intentions of reclassifying. I plan on being a Buckeye after my senior year."
If no one ends up decommitting or reclassifying, the hope is someone on the current roster proves capable of jumping to the NBA, the D-League or overseas. In that respect, the most promising talents on the roster are Trevor Thompson and JaQuan Lyle. Both are still such raw talents and early in their careers so it's impossible to know where they'll be next year.
Obviously, Matta is prepared to take Simmons' commitment. A plan is in place to make room for him if he commits, we just won't know the specifics until Matta is able to discuss the 2016 signings publicly.
Until then, check out Simmons' newest mixtape, featuring the top highlights from Simmons' summer with the Atlanta Celtics and various camps:
Plans Beyond Simmons
If Ohio State doesn't land Simmons, the staff still seems devoted to adding another wing to the roster. One option: four-star guard Tyson Carter who received an offer from the Buckeyes in August
"I know that they are a very successful program," he told Eleven Warriors. "It meant a lot to get an offer from OSU."
Over a month later, the staff isn't letting up in their pursuit of Carter:
Ohio State had an in-home visit today with 2016 Starkville guard Tyson Carter; he begins an official visit to Arizona State tomorrow
— Corey Evans (@coreyevans_10) September 24, 2015
Flexibility is an issue in 2016 and 2017, but Ohio State has more freedom in 2018. Two more high school sophomores garnered interest this week. Both are highly-touted national prospects.
Jaedon LeDee is a five-star prospect from Houston with offers from Kansas, Kentucky, Texas and UCLA, among many others. He does not yet have one from the Buckeyes but that might change soon:
Just heard Arizona, Texas A&M, Alabama and Ohio St will be in this week to see ESPN 25 Jaedon LeDee. @ESPNRNHoops
— Reggie Rankin (@ReggieRankin) September 29, 2015
Classmate Carte'Are Gordon is a four-star recruit from St. Louis and already has offers from Illinois, Kansas, Kansas State and Missouri. OSU coaches scouted him, Wednesday:
2018 PF Carte'Are Gordon of St. John Vianney (MO) will be watched by Ohio State today. @CarteareGordon
— Zac Lyon (@Z_Lyon741) September 30, 2015
