For a moment – but only a moment – it looked as though Aaron Scott Jr. was committing to Michigan.
After a recruitment that kept everyone in suspense for months as Scott deliberated whether to choose between Ohio State, Michigan and Oregon, Scott decided to add a little more suspense before announcing his decision in Springfield, Ohio on Sunday night.
With hats and backpacks from Oregon, Michigan and Ohio State all sitting on the table, Scott started his announcement by picking up the hat and backpack from Oregon. What looked momentarily like Scott would be heading west to the Ducks instead became an elimination as he set the Oregon gear on the floor.
Then, Scott did the same with the Ohio State hat and backpack, making it appear briefly as though he would spurning the home-state school for the team up north. But that proved to be another fakeout.
After picking up the Michigan backpack, leading to cheers from the Wolverine fans in attendance, Scott unzipped the backpack and pulled out an Ohio State jersey, which he put on to announce he was committing to the Buckeyes.
“That was the plan just to throw them off a little bit,” Scott told reporters in an interview session after his announcement.
Eleven Warriors’ Garrick Hodge captured footage of the entire announcement, also including smoke effects that briefly set off the smoke detector in the building:
Aaron Scott had one of the more entertaining Ohio State commitment announcements I can remember, complete with smoke effects and faking out the room he was going to Michigan. pic.twitter.com/Xdg4jRKRnd
— Garrick Hodge (@Garrick_Hodge) July 30, 2023
The No. 5 jersey served as an homage to fellow Springfield native and former Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller, who has a close relationship with Scott.
We here!!!! @AaronScottJr1 yaaaaa 5 https://t.co/BKWWUkIl7h
— BRAXTON MILLER (@BraxtonMiller5) July 30, 2023
