Welcome to the Full Court Press, your weekly destination for offseason Ohio State basketball recruiting updates.
Man On A Mission
Isaac Johnson is in an interesting situation.
The 6-foot-11 four-star center from American Fork, Utah, isn't your normal prep basketball recruit. While most players go from high school senior to college freshman in a matter of months, Johnson won't make that transition for at least two years after receiving his diploma.
Following his high school graduation, Johnson will embark on a two-year LDS mission, one he says that will end up helping him in the long run. And even though he won't join a college program until at least 2021, it isn't slowing down the incoming offers from power basketball schools across the country.
Johnson, the top-rated player in Utah, recently cut his list of prospective schools to five: Ohio State, Oregon, Utah, BYU and Gonzaga.
"I think (Ohio State coach) Chris Holtmann has really helped to turn the program around and bring fans back into an even bigger fan base," Johnson told Eleven Warriors. "Yes, I am going on my mission and I believe that it will end up helping me despite taking a 'two-year break.' I will be able to finish growing, and start maturing, weight-wise."
Johnson has scheduled a visit with each of his Top 5 schools and is excited to make the trip to Columbus.
"I have scheduled a visit with all five of the prior listed schools, but have not been to Ohio State yet," he said. "I’m pumped for them all."
If the Buckeyes can steal Johnson from the western part of the United States, they'll be getting a center that averaged 18 points a game as a junior before visiting some of the nation's top summer camps, including the National Basketball Players Association Top 100 camp in Charlottesville, Va.
Wahab, Nnaji Make Visits To Columbus
This past Saturday could turn out to have been a big day for Chris Holtmann and company as both Qudus Wahab and Zeke Nnaji made unofficial visits.
Wahab, a four-star center out of Ashburn, Virginia, included the Buckeyes in his Top 12 on Aug. 5 alongside Georgetown, Louisville, Connecticut, Syracuse and more.
Nnaji, a four-star power forward from Hopkins, Minnesota, is the second-ranked player in the state according to 247Sports. If he chooses Ohio State, he could join his sister Maya, who received a scholarship offer this past weekend.
ICYMI
Back on Aug. 12, four-star center Omar Payne included Ohio State in his Top 7. Payne is the seventh-ranked player in Florida, according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings.
Thank you for all the school that took their time to recruit me here is my top 7
— Omar Payne (@Ogomarpayne) August 12, 2018
S/O @BallisWillbrant for the edit pic.twitter.com/j3UH8cLFrk
