Login to view embedded media
Holtmann and Diebler went to work on that front over the past several months without any ability to bring him onto campus.
Whitehart says he originally connected with Diebler and started speaking regularly with him after asking Shannon Scott – a former Buckeye who also went to Milton – if he still has any connections within his college program. To Whitehart, Thornton would be a perfect Big Ten guard who’d fit in as a physical “bulldog” of a point guard.
“The more and more they watched, they were like, ‘We've got to have him,’ or ‘He's the kid we want. We feel like we can win a championship with him running the show’” Whitehart said.
Thornton received his Ohio State scholarship offer on June 10. In the ensuing months, Holtmann and Diebler chased their guy as hard as they could. As their only point guard offer recipient, he received all of their attention.
“Jake's done a phenomenal job,” Whitehart said. “He has done a phenomenal job in recruiting Bruce. I was just like, you've got to create a relationship, man. I said if this kid doesn't trust you, I don't care what program you are, you don't have a chance. So I think Jake just understood that. I bet they talk daily.”
Login to view embedded media
Together, Holtmann and Diebler locked him down. Thornton had no interest in extending the recruiting process, which made relationship-building the most important aspect. Eventually, he felt comfortable enough with both their away-from-the-court sensibilities and on-court plan to maximize his talents to become a Buckeye.
Picking up a pledge from Thornton is a massive win for Ohio State, which wanted to pair up midyear enrollee Meechie Johnson with a point guard in the 2022 class. He’s a borderline five-star prospect whose low-key mentality, physicality, cerebral play and relentless work ethic make him a fit in Columbus.
“If you watch him play, he's a pit bull,” Whitehart said. “You'll see him dunk on a 6-9 kid and there'll be no facial expression, or you'll watch him make a play that brings everybody to their feet and no change of emotion.”
Login to view embedded media
Chris Holtmann is getting it done on the recruiting trail.
With three commitments from top-150 players, Ohio State now has the top-ranked recruiting class of 2022, according to 247Sports' composite team rankings:
https://247sports.com/Season/2022-Basketball/CompositeTeamRankings/
The Buckeyes moved ahead of Michigan State in the latest class rankings following the commitment of top-30 point guard Bruce Thornton on Thursday morning. Ohio State now sits alone at the top of the composite rankings with 59 points and a 95.91 average recruit rating.
The class is led by Thornton, the No. 30 overall player in the class and No. 7 point guard. He's joined by Roddy Gayle Jr., the No. 7 shooting guard and No. 76 overall player in the class of 2022, as well as No. 23 shooting guard and No. 149 player Bowen Hardman.
Just sayin': Yeah, it's early and when all is said and done this class won't be #1 (with just two 4 stars and one 3 star), but so far it does have 3 very good basketball players.
