Mark Smith, one of the top unsigned high school seniors in the 2017 class, committed to Illinois on Wednesday evening. Smith, an Edwardsville, Illinois, native, picked the hometown Illini over Ohio State, Michigan State and others.
Smith is the No. 74-ranked player in the country, according to 247Sports' composite ratings and a four-star guard prospect.
Smith took an official visit to Ohio State over the weekend but wound up staying home with Illinois, one of the favorites in his recruitment throughout. A one-time Missouri baseball commit, Smith's recruitment blew up a bit during his senior year on the hardwood. He was named Mr. Basketball in the state of Illinois this past season.
Ohio State got in earlier than most in Smith's recruitment as head coach Thad Matta watched him play multiple times as a senior. The Buckeyes extended Smith a scholarship offer on Feb. 18. In the end, however, the hometown pull of Illinois was too much to overcome as the Illini also got in early.
Ohio State has two signees in its 2017 class in four-star center Kaleb Wesson and three-star guard Braxton Beverly. The Buckeyes are reportedly interested in graduate transfers James Daniel (Howard) and Cameron Johnson (Pittsburgh), among others.
Ohio State currently has three open scholarships for the 2017–18 season. However, Kam Williams still has the option to return for his fifth season. Williams opted to test the NBA Draft waters and has not yet hired an agent. Should Williams return, the Buckeyes would then have two available scholarships to offer potential graduate transfers for next season.
Darius Bazley, a four-star prospect and the No. 1 player in Ohio for the 2018 class, de-committed from Ohio State on Wednesday afternoon.
