Chris Holtmann has landed his first prospect for the 2020 recruiting cycle.
Four-star wing Eugene Brown III announced his commitment to Ohio State on Monday.
Brown, a 6-foot-6, 185-pound wing, chose to play for the Buckeyes over his five other finalists, which included Butler, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Texas A&M and Louisville. The native of Decatur, Georgia, took an official visit to Ohio State this weekend, sealing his commitment. He had official visits to four of his other finalists scheduled this fall, but he will no longer make the trips.
Brown is the No. 112 overall prospect and the 26th-ranked shooting guard in 2020. He's also the No. 6 recruit from the state of Georgia in his class.
Ohio State's interest in Brown spiked when Holtmann watched him play on June 22. Three days later, Holtmann called him to extend an offer, leading to his coaching staff turning up its pursuit. Holtmann and all three assistant coaches visited Brown at his house days before he took his official visit to Ohio State.
The Brown File
- Class: 2020
- Size: 6-foot-6, 185 pounds
- Pos: Wing
- School: Southwest DeKalb (Decatur, Georgia)
- Composite Rating: ★★★★
- Composite Rank: No. 112 (overall)
“They said they liked my length, my ability to defend, my size and my ability to score,” Brown told Eleven Warriors in early August.
Ohio State views Brown as a high-upside prospect in the mold of a "3-and-D" wing, which is an archetype of player that has become prevalent across all levels of basketball. He's a strong scorer from the perimeter and has the length and athleticism to defend multiple positions, an ability that Holtmann covets.
Brown became a sought-after recruit this summer after recovering from a devastating broken leg last fall near the beginning of his high school season. On the way to the hospital, the pain, which he described as worse than anything he had ever felt, caused him to think his basketball career was over. He recovered quickly enough to return to the court for a game in March before joining AOT on the Nike EYBL circuit later in the spring and summer.
Brown is coached by his father at Southwest DeKalb. During his injury-shortened junior season, Brown played in five games, averaging 13.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game. In 30 games as a sophomore, he managed 11.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.8 steals per game.
Brown becomes the first commitment in Ohio State's 2020 class. With Brown in the fold, the Buckeyes have reached their limit of 13 scholarships for the 2020-21 season.
Though Brown could be the only commitment in Ohio State's 2020 class, Holtmann could consider oversigning in the Early Signing Period this fall or waiting until the spring to see whether a player transfers or leaves early to go pro, which would open up another scholarship.
