Lack of space over the next two years means Ohio State will narrow their focus in recruiting. We've already seen it in the 2016 class, as Kobi Simmons is the only viable addition.
The roster opens up in 2018 – Thad Matta can hand out three more scholarships. Saturday's football game against Northern Illinois frustrated everyone on many levels, but it was key for the basketball program in determining the outlook for the 2018 class.
Upper Arlington's Dane Goodwin already committed to OSU and played the role of chaperone for fellow classmates who visited this past weekend:
2018 Jerome Hunter, Dewayne Cohill and Dane Goodwin all at the Ohio State game vs Northern Illinois. Goodwin, as already committed to OSU
— Ohhoops-Mike Duncan (@ohhoopslive) September 19, 2015
Javonte Smart and Giir Ring are the only other recruits in that class to receive scholarship offers from Ohio State. As the recruiting period progresses, however, both Dwayne Cohill and Jerome Hunter can expect to draw interest from high major schools.
Cohill already has offers from Penn State and West Virginia. Florida, Northwestern and Purdue also scouted the Cleveland native. Matta and assistant coach Jeff Boals are reportedly visiting Cohill today, and he certainly drew attention from the Buckeye staff while competing against Goodwin in a June camp at The Schott:
Hunter took a less traditional path at the beginning of his recruiting process. Via Zach Fleer of Land-Grant Holy Land, Hunter attended Columbus City Prep as a freshman but only played half the season. The school did not offer classes for students in grades 10 through 12, so their hoops team was only allowed to play freshmen and junior varsity squads from other districts. Hunter eventually transferred to Pickerington North because of the strange circumstances.
Spending the summer with the Nova Village AAU team ignited his stock. West Virginia, Ohio University, and Xavier scouted him. OSU interest soon followed, eventually leading to Hunter spending the past weekend at Ohio Stadium with Cohill and Goodwin.
Meanwhile, a non-Ohio name in the 2018 class to keep an eye on: four-star forward Brandon Johns (East Lansing, Michigan). He's reportedly drawing interest from Ohio State, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan and Michigan State, among others.
"At his age, he’s one of the top-five players I’ve ever seen in my life," East Lansing High School coach Steve Finamore told MLive.com. "And I’ve seen great players."
Not Done with 2017
Kaleb Wesson, a recent selection to attend the USA Basketball Jr. National Team mini-camp, is OSU's lone 2017 commitment. Matta does not have a scholarship at his disposal for that class yet. So, the staff is approaching it much like the 2016 class and Kobi Simmons.
We chronicled Gary Trent Jr.'s summer multiple times here in the notebook. He is still Ohio State's top target in that class.
He met with Matta, Tuesday:
Great talk/meeting with coach Thad Matta #gobucks
— GARY TRENT JR (@THAT_KID_GARY) September 23, 2015
Another name in that class continues to emerge – Markell Johnson, a point guard from East Tech in Cleveland. The Buckeye staff scouted Johnson last year and remains interested in him. He recently received offers from Arizona State, Florida, VCU and Virginia Tech, among others.
Johnson will visit Columbus for the Western Michigan game:
Set To Visit @OhioStateHoops Saturday
— Markell Johnson (@kells_2017) September 23, 2015
