The search to complete an already elite 2018 recruiting class continues for Ohio State. On Wednesday, the Buckeyes took the first step in possibly taking that class to a new level by offering five-star 2018 point guard Darius Garland out of Nashville, Tenn.
With three commits in the class already, the Buckeyes are looking to add an elite point guard to the mix and Garland could be that guy for Ohio State. Ranked No. 12 by ESPN in the 2018 class, Garland is the third-best point guard in the nation, with offers from programs like Florida, Indiana, Louisville and Xavier.
Out of Brentwood Academy in Nashville, Garland is heavily accomplished as a junior, as he led his high school team to a I-AA state championship last season, while being named Tennessee Boys Basketball Player of the Year. Garland averaged 18.6 points, 4.3 assists, 2.5 steals and two rebounds per contest last season, while leading Brentwood to a second-straight state championship. Garland's father, Winston Garland, played his college basketball at Southeast Missouri State, before playing eight years in the NBA.
Garland played in the EYBL this past spring and summer with St. Louis Eagles, averaging 13.9 points, 2.5 assists and two rebounds per game. Garland is a very explosive ball-handler, able to get anywhere he wants off the dribble, while proving to be a tough scorer through contact near the rim. Also shooting nearly 40 percent from three-point range, Garland is able to stretch the floor and punish defenses from deep.
While Parma Heights Holy Name's Dwayne Cohill remains a prized target for Ohio State in the backcourt, Garland would is the most elite of all the point guards offered by the Buckeyes in the 2018 class up to this point.
News and Notes
- Speaking of Cohill, the 6-foot-2 guard was visited last Friday by Ohio State assistant coach Dave Dickerson, as the Buckeyes continue to keep close tabs on one of the state's best prospects.
- Ohio State continues to keep close tabs on 2017 wing guard Nojel Eastern out of Evanston, Illinois. According to Andrew Slater of 247 Sports, Buckeyes head coach Thad Matta is expected to visit in-home with Eastern late this weekend. Regarded as one of the nation's top players at his position, Eastern is the type of guard the Buckeyes would like to add in the 2017 class.
- All-Star Sunday at Coach Vic's Weekly Showcase tipped off for the first-time ever last weekend. The event featured a dunk contest, skills challenge and 1 on 1 tournament for 32 top players. Winners of the event had Ohio State ties, as the skills challenge champion was Dublin Coffman freshman point guard Dominiq Penn, son of OSU Hall of Famer Scoonie Penn. In the 1 on 1 tournament, Ohio State commit Kaleb Wesson won it all, defeating Ohio State target Jerome Hunter in the championship. Coach Vic's is back this Sunday with Wesson, Hunter and others highlighting the action. Check out the dunk contest highlights below, with yours truly making several appearances within the video.
