Thad Matta has firmly returned to his roots. After offering 2018 Pickerington North wing forward Jerome Hunter last Thursday, the Ohio State men's basketball coach stayed busy on Tuesday. Hosting 2018 wings Justin Ahrens and Robby Carmody for unofficial visits on Tuesday, Matta and the Buckeyes extended scholarship offers to two of the region's top prospects.
I'm blessed to say I've received an offer from The Ohio State University. #GOBUCKS pic.twitter.com/sB9XoyY3rY
— Justin Ahrens (@ahrensjustin12) August 23, 2016
For Ahrens, the Buckeye offer might come as a surprise for some, as it is his first high-major and Big Ten offer.
"I think it is big for him," said Quincey Simpson, Ahrens' AAU coach with King James Shooting Stars and Lima Senior head coach. "It is no surprise for me because I see him being a high-level kid with the way he shoots it, his size and athleticism."
It was Ahrens' play under Simpson's guidance this spring and summer that really helped enhance the recruitment of the Versailles wing.
"He has bought into wanting to become a better defender. He always asks questions and holds himself accountable at both ends of the floor," Simpson said. "And that makes my job easy to coach kids like that. [He is] the most coachable kid I've ever been around."
Interestingly enough, former Ohio State assistant coach and Stony Brook head coach Jeff Boals got the ball rolling for the 6-foot-5 small forward, becoming the first coach to offer Ahrens back in the spring. Since then, five other programs have offered Ahrens, including Saint Louis, Toledo and Miami (OH).
A major target for the Buckeyes, Ahrens is one of the five best juniors in Ohio, in which Ohio State has extended offers to each, including commit Dane Goodwin of Upper Arlington, Darius Bazley of Cincinnati Princeton, Dwayne Cohill of Parma Heights Holy Name and the aforementioned Hunter. With in-state recruiting becoming a major priority once again for Ohio State, the Buckeyes look to unveil a rather large class in 2018, made up of some of the Midwest's best talent.
Ahrens and Bazley, who both play for Simpson's King James unit, flirted with the idea of being a package deal at the next level. For Ohio State, that could mean great things going forward, as the two wings have a special chemistry out on the floor.
"Those dudes are two of a kind," Simpson said laughingly. "They feed off each other. They both are always happy, playful, joking and both literally love being in the gym. So it makes them both want to fight for each other on the floor. They love to see the other one playing well no matter what the situation is."
While not an in-state guy, Robby Carmody has forged many connections within the Buckeye State.
Playing for Mars High School in the Pittsburgh area, Carmody is a 6-foot-4 athletic wing who has attracted the attention of the Ohio State staff for quite some time. Finally extending an offer on Tuesday, the Buckeyes join Louisville, Michigan, Notre Dame, Stanford and Xavier, among others, for Carmody's services.
For as much talent that the junior has, it's Carmody's energy level and toughness that has caught the eyes of coaches all over the country.
"I have never coached a kid who plays harder for longer, his motor is unreal," Dan Urban, Carmody's AAU coach, said. "He is a skilled, strong wing with unreal athleticism. He has brought toughness, silent leadership, and a chip on his shoulder that everyone, coaches included, feed off."
Starring for Adidas-sponsored Ohio Basketball Club on the AAU circuit, Carmody has been one of the most standout players the last two summers, playing alongside the fellow Ohio State target Cohill to form a dominant backcourt duo.
What was once a rivalry between Carmody and Cohill, has now turned into a nearly unbreakable bond.
"They have played against each other since the fifth grade," Urban said. "We always battled but they had a healthy respect for each other. They are like best friends now and want to try and play together at the next level if they find the right fit."
Pushing one another to be the best player possible, Carmody and Cohill reached great heights this past July, leading OBC to a 16u title in Las Vegas at the Adidas Summer Championships.
"On the court, they balance each other out, Dwayne gets on Robby and vice versa," Urban said. "They are a great pair."
News and Notes
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ESPN released new rankings for the 2017 and 2018 class this weekend with several Ohio State commits and targets gracing the lists.
- In 2017, Ohio State commit Kaleb Wesson checks in at No. 81. Wesson, who stars for Westerville South, checks in just one spot ahead of Warren Harding power forward Derek Culver, a West Virginia commit, who comes in at No. 82. Massillon Jackson wing Kyle Young rounds out the class at No. 89. You can check out the rest of the ESPN 2017 Top 100 here.
- In 2018, a bevy of Ohio State talent is represented in the top 60. Leading the class is Cincinnati Princeton's Darius Bazley at No. 47, while Upper Arlington wing and OSU commit Dane Goodwin comes in five spots behind at No. 52. Parma Heights Holy Name guard Dwayne Cohill rounds out the talent at No. 57. You can check out the rest of the ESPN 2018 Top 60 here.
- The aforementioned Young is also slated to officially visited Ohio State on Sept. 9, according to Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv. Young is officially visiting Butler this weekend, as the Bulldogs are among four other final schools in contention for the services of the 6-foot-7 wing.
