The top-ranked recruit in Ohio State’s 2016 class may not see action on the court this season.
Buckeyes head coach Thad Matta said Wednesday ahead of his team’s matchup against Providence that freshman forward Derek Funderburk, who hasn’t played in Ohio State's first two games, could be a redshirt candidate this year.
“[Playing in a game] hasn’t let itself yet and there has been a discussion about a redshirt,” Matta said. “I don’t know what we’re going to do yet.”
Funderburk, a 6-foot-9, 205-pound wing out of Lakewood, Ohio who spent last season at Hargrave Military Academy, was the No. 78-ranked player in the country for the 2016 class. He plays the same position as senior Marc Loving and juniors Keita Bates-Diop and Jae’Sean Tate, however, so minutes are hard to come by this season.
“He’s coming in, practicing hard and all that stuff, so we’ll be, hopefully, in good shape with him,” Matta said.
Ohio State hosts Providence on Thursday at 7 p.m.
