The Hurry Up is your nightcap of Ohio State recruiting news, catching you up on the day’s events with an ear on the ground for what’s next.
HAPPENING WITH HAMLIN?
If you missed it yesterday, one of Ohio State's top 2016 defensive back targets, Pittsburgh's Damar Hamlin, narrowed his list to three final schools: Ohio State, Penn State and Pitt.
Hamlin, the country's 12th-ranked cornerback in the 2016 class, has been at or near the top of the Buckeyes' defensive back recruiting board for almost a year and–despite what has appeared to be a waning of interest–he and his father remain in close contact with the Ohio State. His last visit to Ohio State, November 21st, was an unofficial visit (he's only taken one official visit so far, to Notre Dame) and was something like his eighth trip to Columbus this year, so he's not a stranger to what Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes are doing.
Pitt is the expected leader for Hamlin, as they end up being for most of Pittsburgh's elite prep footballers, but the length of his relationship with the Buckeyes and familiarity he has with them shouldn't be discounted. Still, I don't think Penn State is on this list just for giggles; there's been a concerted push by the Nittany Lions to get back in the game and they've done just that.
Ohio State's current situation at defensive back is appealing no doubt, as well as the odds of competing for a national title, if that's appealing to Hamlin. With only two commitments at defensive back thus far (Kareem Felder and Wayne Davis) and the knowledge that it's likely Eli Apple, Vonn Bell and Tyvis Powell all depart after the Fiesta Bowl, if Hamlin is good enough to play as a freshman, he'd have a good opportunity to do so. That opportunity is amplified because, although he'd prefer to play cornerback in college, Hamlin is capable of filling in at safety as well and with injuries plaguing Erick Smith and Marshon Lattimore, there's a chance to get on the field there, too.
Hamlin should make three more official visits, to his top three schools, and then things will get very interesting. Expect a decision near or on signing day, February 3rd.
PRYOR HIGHLIGHTS EXPLAIN LOFTY RANKINGS
While we're speaking of potential Ohio State defensive backs, 2017 four-star prospect Isaiah Pryor, the country's second-ranked safety, has released his junior season highlight tape.
The 6-foot-2, 190-pounder, who committed to the Buckeyes in late July, looks and runs like a natural outside linebacker to me, but whatever position he plays in college he's got the potential to be a star.
Pryor is the country's 31st overall prospect in the 2017 class. The Lawrenceville, Georgia (Archer High School) standout made two visits to Ohio State during the season, for their games against Penn State and Michigan State.
KALEB WESSON, SOUTH HOLD THEIR OWN
Two pieces of the future Ohio State basketball program met on the hardwood Wednesday night in Florida. 2016 signee Micah Potter and Montverde (Florida) and 2017 Ohio State commitment Kaleb Wesson and his Westerville South teammates went head-to-head in the City of Palms Classic in Fort Myers, Florida; Montverde crushed the Wildcats 81-52.
Potter, a 6-foot-10 forward, tallied 18 points for Montverde and Wesson notched 15 to lead the way for South. The trip and participating in the Classic, regarded as one of the country's premier high school sporting events, was an eye-opener for the Wildcats
"The competition is seriously big-time. The fans treat the players like NBA guys; they’re constantly signing autographs and all of that stuff," Westerville South head coach Ed Calo told The Columbus Dispatch. “As someone who has coached high-school kids his whole life, you just can’t comprehend how well-developed the players on these top teams are. I mean, we’ve got a few big kids, but some of these guys look like grown men."
While they were trounced by Montverde, South did manage a win in Florida, knocking off defending Florida 6A champ Norland (Miami) on Tuesday, 59-58. That win and the tournament in general gave the Wildcats something to build on and something to be proud of.
In the nations top high school tournament, it was Westerville South that finished as the top public school. All teams ahead of WS were Prep.
— Westerville South (@SouthBasketball) December 24, 2015
"We entered this tournament to learn more about ourselves and to challenge the kids," Calo said. "We learned a lot. I think this will go a long way in helping us down the road."
