This past weekend’s Ohio State football game was not only an on-field battle for control of the Leaders Division, but a star-studded recruiting affair.
Okonoboh, pictured visiting OSU, will decide tonightThe number of football visitors totaled over sixty and – while there were no more commitments – it certainly left an impression on a number of recruits.
It wasn’t just a football-centric Saturday, as it should prove to be the biggest weekend of the year for basketball recruiting. Several highly touted prospects took in the game, including two 2014 big men.
One of those big men will make his college decision tonight.
A 2015 forward, who was in Columbus two weeks ago, spent the past weekend in Kentucky. He had little down time, spending most of it at a basketball camp and visiting the state’s premier universities.
Okonoboh’s announcement
The most urgent situation Thad Matta needs to address is the final, available scholarship for the 2014 class. Prospects include Goodluck Okonoboh, Elbert Robinson or Myles Turner.
Okonoboh visited Ohio State during the Wisconsin weekend, and immediately left Central Ohio for an official at UNLV. Giving himself little time to catch his breath, he’ll announce his college decision, tonight, at halftime of the UL Monroe – Western Kentucky football game.
Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m., meaning his decision should fall between 8:45 and 9:30 p.m.
“Everyone here has been real supportive,” Okonoboh said, in a press release. “The team has been real supportive and coach has been real supportive. I wouldn’t be in this situation I’m in right now without coach [Chris] Sparks, so I’m real thankful for that.”
Indiana, OSU and UNLV are considered the favorites, and are the most recent schools he's visited. He posted an Instagram photo which also included the Duke and Florida logos.
Ohio State offered the 6-foot-9-inch big man in July, and has quickly made up ground.
He would be a welcomed addition to the Buckeye frontline because he's a gifted shot-blocker and has a high ceiling, due to his athletic ability. Combining that with the time he spent at Tilton School (N.H.) and his penchant for high top fades, means Okonoboh draws inevitable comparisons to Nerlens Noel.
Other Wisconsin Wisconsin visitors
Both Okonoboh and Robinson took their official visits to Ohio State over the weekend, with Turner potentially visiting later this month.
Robinson tweeted his feelings on the Ohio State visit and used several emojis:
Great time at Ohio state this past weekend!!!
— ✨ER_3-SlowMo!!!✨ (@ElbertRobinson8) September 30, 2013
He also enjoyed the atmosphere at the game, Saturday.
“It was a great experience, I loved it," Robinson told Eleven Warriors, via text. "The crowd was amazing, it gave me the chills. It was pretty fun."
Other Buckeye pledges making the trip to Ohio Stadium for the game were 2014’s Keita Bates-Diop and Jae’Sean Tate, plus 2015 commit A.J. Harris.
Franklin (Ohio) native Luke Kennard also reportedly took an unofficial visit for the game.
Bragg among standouts at Coach Lucas camp
Fellow 2015 five-star recruit Carlton Bragg spent the past weekend in Kentucky, honing his skills and trying to earn offers from a couple high profile programs.
Bragg attended the John Lucas Midwest Invitational Camp in Louisville, on Sept. 28 and 29. Slam Online called him “unquestionably the best player in the camp.” That’s not a small feat, considering talented, 2016 big Thon Maker also participated.
“Bragg took over with his skill level and motor,” Slam Online’s Rodger Bohn wrote. “The definition of today’s hybrid forward, the Cleveland product hit quick release three-pointers, posted smaller defenders, and straight up dunked everything in the paint.”
Here are some highlights backing up Bohn’s point:
Bragg didn’t leave Louisville without checking out its university’s campus, spending part of Sept. 27 on an unofficial visit. He has yet to receive an offer from the Cardinals.
Following that, he took a short drive to Lexington and visited the University of Kentucky. He hasn’t received an offer from coach John Calipari, but he’s garnering major interest from the Wildcats’ staff.
