Ohio State excellence is not exclusive to the football field or the basketball court. Around the Oval is our way of keeping you informed of the amazing things happening with the other 34 varsity sports on campus.
McGuff Adds Another
Ohio State women's basketball coach Kevin McGuff has been on a recruiting hot-streak of late. Within the year, McGuff has landed commitments from three five-star incoming-freshman and two former McDonald's All-American transfers.
Tack another one on that list – former Kentucky guard Linnae Harper is heading to Ohio State.
BREAKING: Per @ChrisHansenPSB, Jr. W Linnae Harper will attend Ohio State after leaving Kentucky. pic.twitter.com/EAVEJGhg3u
— Brandon Clay (@BrandonClayPSB) December 14, 2015
The 5-8 junior from Chicago is a former McDonald's High School All-American, where she was a finalist for the Naismith National High School Player of the Year in both her junior and senior seasons.
Last season at Kentucky, Harper averaged 11.4 points and led the team with 7.1 rebounds per game. She was the only player under six-foot to finish in the top-10 of the SEC in rebounding, showing the aggressiveness on the boards head coach McGuff is desperately seeking in his undersized Buckeye squad.
Here is an evaluation of her play from UK Athletics:
A tough competitor with a knack for attacking and finishing in traffic ... Excellent rebounder and on-ball defender ... Can play a variety of positions ... Very agressive with the ball and has a nose for the ball ... Ranked as the nation's No. 5 prospect and No. 2 guard according to ESPN.com ... The team's only lefty ... Highest-ranked recruit in Kentucky women's basketball history ... One of seven McDonald's All-Americans on the team ...
Harper will be eligible to play for the Buckeyes next winter after sitting out the upcoming spring and fall semesters in accordance with NCAA transfer regulations. This timetable means she will be eligible for next season's conference and postseason play. As a junior, she has two seasons of eligibility remaining.
“I’m extremely excited to welcome Linnae to the Ohio State women’s basketball family,” McGuff said in an Ohio State release. “She’s an outstanding young women with a tremendous work ethic. Her experiences playing in the SEC as well as with Team USA will help her have a significant impact on our program.”
Mason Finishes With CLASS
Zach Mason has been a leader on and off the field his entire Buckeye career. Playing a relatively inglorious defensive midfield position, Mason did not end his career with flashy stats or gaudy numbers. Instead, the two-time captain quietly worked hard out of the spotlight.
The Galena, Ohio-native never missed a match, starting 82-consecutive games over his four seasons at Ohio State. He is also a two-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and a 2014 Big Ten Sportsmanship honoree.
He's always had the respect and recognition of his teammates, but now he has national recognition as well. He is the 2015 Senior CLASS Award winner.
Photo via Ohio State Athletics.
The acronym CLASS stands for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School. To be eligible, a division 1 athlete must have notable achievements in the classroom, community, character and competition.
In honoring him with this award, the media, coaches and fans named Mason the most outstanding student athlete in division I men's soccer.
Mason reacted to winning the award in an Ohio State release:
“I am extremely humbled and happy to receive this award, and I'd like to dedicate it to my grandfather Timothy Boylan, who recently passed away,” said Mason. “Being a student-athlete at The Ohio State University has been one of the greatest experiences of my life. I've learned so much about myself and grown tremendously over these past four years. I've learned the importance of commitment and persistence, two values I will carry with me into the next chapter in my life. I’ve felt so much support from countless individuals and the entire Buckeye community, as well. This award is a win not just for me, but for all of Ohio State."
Mason becomes the second Buckeye in as many years to take home the award after goalkeeper Alex Ivanov won it last season. This marks the first time in the award's history that two members from the same school have won consecutive awards in the same sport.
“Ivy [Alex Ivanov] set a great example for me to follow, and I tried to continue his legacy," Mason said. "It’s a testament to the high standards of Ohio State Athletics.”
Mason is the third Ohio State athlete to win the award, following Ivanov and James Laurinaitus, who took home the football award in 2008. With three winners, Ohio State is tied for third all-time, behind Duke's five.
He could be joined in the honor by someone from his hometown. Ohio State linebacker Joshua Perry, also from Galena Ohio, is a finalist for this season's Senior CLASS football award.
Other Scores and News
- Women's Volleyball: Fell to No. 5 seed Washington in five sets, ending their tournament run in the Sweet 16
- Women's Basketball: Defeated North Carolina A&T 89-56
- Women's Hockey: Lost both games to Minnesota Duluth 4-2 and 5-2.
- Wrestling: Lost to No. 8 Missouri 26-17.
This Week's Happenings
- Women's Basketball: Host Princeton, Friday.
- Wrestling: Visit Northwestern, Friday.
Don't Forget to Follow
- Wrestling: Curt Heinrichs @CurtHeinrichs
- Men and Women's Hockey: Aubrey Nelson @DeadlyNuts
- Women's Basketball: Kevin Harrish @Kevinish
And for all Buckeye news, follow @11W
