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LGHL The ‘bittersweet’ return of Kennedy and Jaloni Cambridge with Ohio State women’s basketball
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The ‘bittersweet’ return of Kennedy and Jaloni Cambridge with Ohio State women’s basketball
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Jaloni Cambridge (left) and Kennedy Cambridge (right) | Kennedy Cambridge on Twitter | @Kencambridge_
Kennedy shares more about the elementary school dream come true in scarlet and gray
Friday, the future of Ohio State women’s basketball received a boost. It came in the form of the verbal commitment of 2024’s No. 1 point guard, and overall No. 3 player, Jaloni Cambridge. The announcement sent waves through college basketball, with Cambridge choosing head coach Kevin McGuff’s side over recent national champions in the LSU Tigers and South Carolina Gamecocks, plus other noteworthy teams like the Louisville Cardinals and Baylor Bears.
The biggest impact of the decision wasn’t with a team, coach, or NIL deal though. It struck close to home with Jaloni’s sister: Buckeyes guard Kennedy Cambridge.
On Instagram, Kennedy shared her feelings with her followers in an outpouring of love, sharing a small glimpse into the connection between the sisters. When it comes to that connection’s place on the court, Friday’s decision is the next chapter, following many previous sibling stories.
“I played with her my entire life,” said Kennedy, talking with Land-Grant Holy Land. “Like when I was in the fourth grade, she was playing up and she was in the second grade.”
While the two haven’t always played alongside each other since those early days of being eight and 10 years old, they played together in high school for the Ensworth Tigers, and they were pretty good.
In three seasons playing together at Ensworth, with Jaloni starting on the high school varsity team as an eighth grader, the Cambridge sisters led the Tigers to two state championships. The final was a bittersweet moment for the tightly-knit Cambridge family.
Following a dominant 70-46 victory, where Kennedy had 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 blocks, while Jaloni added 19 points and seven rebounds, emotions were high.
“I remember our last game together,” said Kennedy. “We both just broke down in tears because we couldn’t believe it was over.”
The “it was over” doesn’t look like it will last.
When Kennedy left high school for the bluegrass of the University of Kentucky, the idea of them playing together again received a boost when she entered the transfer portal in the summer of 2023. As everyone now knows, Kennedy chose the Buckeyes, a school that hosted Jaloni in a visit in the fall of 2022.
However, it wasn’t guaranteed that the two Cambridges would reunite. After all, the list of schools trying their best to entice Jaloni was strong. A final group consisting of six combined national championships. Plus the idea of playing with the likes of LSU star forward Angel Reese or being part of the growing legend of South Carolina coach Dawn Staley.
After the decision, speaking with various media outlets following Jaloni’s commitment to Ohio State, Kennedy shared that Friday’s announcement was a surprise. Which is true, kinda. It’s more of the “when” that needs clarifying.
“It was not a surprise to me,” said Kennedy. “I was lying to the media, but I knew for like a week or two, officially. But we had talked about it since we got out of high school playing again.”
A small stretch of the truth by an excited sister who gets to reunite and bring an actual family member into the non-blood family of the Ohio State women’s basketball team. A team that’s losing some members of the day-to-day family in the spring.
Jaloni will join Ohio State after two graduate senior guards Jacy Sheldon and Celeste Taylor end their NCAA eligibility. Behind them are two other guards who still have one year of eligibility, if they choose to use it, in Rikki Harris and Madison Greene. Should they both return, the ability of Jaloni creates tough decisions for coach McGuff on the court.
On Kennedy’s side of being a Buckeye, the guard hasn’t played due to injury. The return date for Cambridge is unknown, but next season, alongside Jaloni, the excitement surrounding the program is palpable. A plan coming to fruition.
“We had talked about it since we got out of high school, playing again,” said Kennedy. “And we just had to make some pieces fall together and then I ended up here and boom.”
It was a game of chess, played perfectly by the pair of Cambridge sisters, all in an effort to create another bittersweet moment. A phrase used by their dad, Desmond Cambridge. The father of nine used it when posting about watching two of his daughters play together in that final championship game at Ensworth.
The feeling isn’t hard for a parent to imagine. Seeing the excitement of two high-achieving athletic sisters playing together for years comes to an abrupt end. Starting next year, it looks like it’s starting all over again.
Continue reading...
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Jaloni Cambridge (left) and Kennedy Cambridge (right) | Kennedy Cambridge on Twitter | @Kencambridge_
Kennedy shares more about the elementary school dream come true in scarlet and gray
Friday, the future of Ohio State women’s basketball received a boost. It came in the form of the verbal commitment of 2024’s No. 1 point guard, and overall No. 3 player, Jaloni Cambridge. The announcement sent waves through college basketball, with Cambridge choosing head coach Kevin McGuff’s side over recent national champions in the LSU Tigers and South Carolina Gamecocks, plus other noteworthy teams like the Louisville Cardinals and Baylor Bears.
The biggest impact of the decision wasn’t with a team, coach, or NIL deal though. It struck close to home with Jaloni’s sister: Buckeyes guard Kennedy Cambridge.
On Instagram, Kennedy shared her feelings with her followers in an outpouring of love, sharing a small glimpse into the connection between the sisters. When it comes to that connection’s place on the court, Friday’s decision is the next chapter, following many previous sibling stories.
“I played with her my entire life,” said Kennedy, talking with Land-Grant Holy Land. “Like when I was in the fourth grade, she was playing up and she was in the second grade.”
While the two haven’t always played alongside each other since those early days of being eight and 10 years old, they played together in high school for the Ensworth Tigers, and they were pretty good.
In three seasons playing together at Ensworth, with Jaloni starting on the high school varsity team as an eighth grader, the Cambridge sisters led the Tigers to two state championships. The final was a bittersweet moment for the tightly-knit Cambridge family.
Following a dominant 70-46 victory, where Kennedy had 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 blocks, while Jaloni added 19 points and seven rebounds, emotions were high.
“I remember our last game together,” said Kennedy. “We both just broke down in tears because we couldn’t believe it was over.”
The “it was over” doesn’t look like it will last.
When Kennedy left high school for the bluegrass of the University of Kentucky, the idea of them playing together again received a boost when she entered the transfer portal in the summer of 2023. As everyone now knows, Kennedy chose the Buckeyes, a school that hosted Jaloni in a visit in the fall of 2022.
However, it wasn’t guaranteed that the two Cambridges would reunite. After all, the list of schools trying their best to entice Jaloni was strong. A final group consisting of six combined national championships. Plus the idea of playing with the likes of LSU star forward Angel Reese or being part of the growing legend of South Carolina coach Dawn Staley.
After the decision, speaking with various media outlets following Jaloni’s commitment to Ohio State, Kennedy shared that Friday’s announcement was a surprise. Which is true, kinda. It’s more of the “when” that needs clarifying.
“It was not a surprise to me,” said Kennedy. “I was lying to the media, but I knew for like a week or two, officially. But we had talked about it since we got out of high school playing again.”
A small stretch of the truth by an excited sister who gets to reunite and bring an actual family member into the non-blood family of the Ohio State women’s basketball team. A team that’s losing some members of the day-to-day family in the spring.
Jaloni will join Ohio State after two graduate senior guards Jacy Sheldon and Celeste Taylor end their NCAA eligibility. Behind them are two other guards who still have one year of eligibility, if they choose to use it, in Rikki Harris and Madison Greene. Should they both return, the ability of Jaloni creates tough decisions for coach McGuff on the court.
On Kennedy’s side of being a Buckeye, the guard hasn’t played due to injury. The return date for Cambridge is unknown, but next season, alongside Jaloni, the excitement surrounding the program is palpable. A plan coming to fruition.
“We had talked about it since we got out of high school, playing again,” said Kennedy. “And we just had to make some pieces fall together and then I ended up here and boom.”
It was a game of chess, played perfectly by the pair of Cambridge sisters, all in an effort to create another bittersweet moment. A phrase used by their dad, Desmond Cambridge. The father of nine used it when posting about watching two of his daughters play together in that final championship game at Ensworth.
The feeling isn’t hard for a parent to imagine. Seeing the excitement of two high-achieving athletic sisters playing together for years comes to an abrupt end. Starting next year, it looks like it’s starting all over again.
Continue reading...
LGHL Tiering Big Ten Men’s Basketball teams heading into 2024
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Tiering Big Ten Men’s Basketball teams heading into 2024
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports
Is Purdue on a tier of its own? How many NCAA tournament bids does the Big Ten have
As we enter 2024 and the conference basketball season, it is time to take an elevated look at the Big Ten conference as a whole and where we stand through two months.
Who is elite? Are there any national title contenders? What is Maryland? Time to answer all of those questions.
Here are the current Big Ten tiers.
This reflects all results through Jan. 1, 2024.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25198426/usa_today_22191332.jpg "Syndication: Journal-Courier")
Alex Martin/Journal and Courier / USA TODAY NETWORK
We came into the season thinking Purdue would be the top team in the conference, and two months into the season, Purdue is the top team in the conference.
They have been one of the best teams in the conference, and even though they lost to Northwestern to open up conference play, they followed that up by beating Iowa 87-68 and getting right back on track. As we enter conference play, Purdue is not only the best team in the Big Ten, they are ranked No. 1 in the country.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25198465/usa_today_22165449.jpg "NCAA Basketball: Chicago State at Wisconsin")
Kayla Wolf-USA TODAY Sports
Illinois was a team that we knew was talented coming into the season, but we weren’t sure how it would look. So far this season, it has looked like a national contender. The Fighting Illini defeated Florida Atlantic behind 30-point performances from Terrence Shannon and Marcus Domask. Domask, the Southern Illinois transfer, has been outstanding so far, and Coleman Hawkins has done a good job as the Swiss Army knife for Illinois. However, with the unknown status of Terrance Shannon right now, they have to go into tier two.
If there was a 1.5 tier, that is where Wisconsin would be. They got on a hot streak, beating Marquette and Michigan State, but they lost by 25 to Arizona, and that is lingering. They are incredibly talented and, right now, look like a top team in the conference.
Ohio State is a tough team to pin down because they are 11-2 with wins over Alabama, Santa Clara, and UCLA, but all of those teams have struggled since, and the loss to Penn State still weighs heavy. Due to the guard play, they are in the second tier, but they will need to prove their spot early on in conference play.
Indiana missed a great opportunity to beat Kansas and pick up a huge non-conference win, but they didn’t, and they lack a quality win heading into conference play. Xavier Johnson needs to come back soon for the Hoosiers. They are in tier two but could be tier three soon if he doesn’t.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25198462/usa_today_22196827.jpg "NCAA Basketball: Indiana State at Michigan State")
Dale Young-USA TODAY Sports
Northwestern is a tough one to figure out because they beat Purdue. And that’s it. But trust in Boo Buie and the pieces around him have been good so far. The Wildcats need someone to step up and take some of the load off Buie, or they could slip up in conference play.
Michigan State is a weird one because they are still 0-2 in confidence, but recent wins over Baylor, Oakland, and Indiana State have us to believe they are getting where we thought they would be.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25198461/usa_today_22191192.jpg "NCAA Basketball: McNeese State at Michigan")
Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Michigan started strong, and one loss to Long Beach State seemed to really derail their season. They are moving towards tier five, but I will keep them in tier four for now because of Dug McDaniel.
Nebraska is 11-2, and they beat Michigan State, but I have to see a little more from them to move them into the third tier and into possible tournament contention. Rutgers just beat 2013 Stonehill by one point, and they do not have an offense right now. Iowa and Maryland both have significant weaknesses that they need to clear up before I can move any of these teams into possible tournament territory.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25198458/usa_today_22030208.jpg "NCAA Basketball: Minnesota at Ohio State")
Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Dawson Garcia is the only thing that separates Minnesota from Penn State, but he is not good enough to propel them into the next tier. Minnesota and Penn State are not awful teams, and Penn State has a quality win over Ohio State, but as it stands in the conference, they just have not shown enough to warrant being in tier four.
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justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports
Is Purdue on a tier of its own? How many NCAA tournament bids does the Big Ten have
As we enter 2024 and the conference basketball season, it is time to take an elevated look at the Big Ten conference as a whole and where we stand through two months.
Who is elite? Are there any national title contenders? What is Maryland? Time to answer all of those questions.
Here are the current Big Ten tiers.
This reflects all results through Jan. 1, 2024.
Tier 1: Purdue
We came into the season thinking Purdue would be the top team in the conference, and two months into the season, Purdue is the top team in the conference.
They have been one of the best teams in the conference, and even though they lost to Northwestern to open up conference play, they followed that up by beating Iowa 87-68 and getting right back on track. As we enter conference play, Purdue is not only the best team in the Big Ten, they are ranked No. 1 in the country.
Tier 2: Illinois, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Indiana
Illinois was a team that we knew was talented coming into the season, but we weren’t sure how it would look. So far this season, it has looked like a national contender. The Fighting Illini defeated Florida Atlantic behind 30-point performances from Terrence Shannon and Marcus Domask. Domask, the Southern Illinois transfer, has been outstanding so far, and Coleman Hawkins has done a good job as the Swiss Army knife for Illinois. However, with the unknown status of Terrance Shannon right now, they have to go into tier two.
If there was a 1.5 tier, that is where Wisconsin would be. They got on a hot streak, beating Marquette and Michigan State, but they lost by 25 to Arizona, and that is lingering. They are incredibly talented and, right now, look like a top team in the conference.
Ohio State is a tough team to pin down because they are 11-2 with wins over Alabama, Santa Clara, and UCLA, but all of those teams have struggled since, and the loss to Penn State still weighs heavy. Due to the guard play, they are in the second tier, but they will need to prove their spot early on in conference play.
Indiana missed a great opportunity to beat Kansas and pick up a huge non-conference win, but they didn’t, and they lack a quality win heading into conference play. Xavier Johnson needs to come back soon for the Hoosiers. They are in tier two but could be tier three soon if he doesn’t.
Tier 3: Michigan State, Northwestern
Northwestern is a tough one to figure out because they beat Purdue. And that’s it. But trust in Boo Buie and the pieces around him have been good so far. The Wildcats need someone to step up and take some of the load off Buie, or they could slip up in conference play.
Michigan State is a weird one because they are still 0-2 in confidence, but recent wins over Baylor, Oakland, and Indiana State have us to believe they are getting where we thought they would be.
Tier 4: Michigan, Rutgers, Nebraska, Iowa, Maryland
Michigan started strong, and one loss to Long Beach State seemed to really derail their season. They are moving towards tier five, but I will keep them in tier four for now because of Dug McDaniel.
Nebraska is 11-2, and they beat Michigan State, but I have to see a little more from them to move them into the third tier and into possible tournament contention. Rutgers just beat 2013 Stonehill by one point, and they do not have an offense right now. Iowa and Maryland both have significant weaknesses that they need to clear up before I can move any of these teams into possible tournament territory.
Tier 5: Minnesota, Penn State
Dawson Garcia is the only thing that separates Minnesota from Penn State, but he is not good enough to propel them into the next tier. Minnesota and Penn State are not awful teams, and Penn State has a quality win over Ohio State, but as it stands in the conference, they just have not shown enough to warrant being in tier four.
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LGHL Silver Bullets Podcast: Missouri rewind, portal and NFL decisions, and where Ohio State’s coaching staff stands
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Silver Bullets Podcast: Missouri rewind, portal and NFL decisions, and where Ohio State’s coaching staff stands
Michael Citro via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images
After a bad loss to the Tigers, there are a lot of major questions surrounding Ohio State this off-season.
Happy New Year to all of our Silver Bullets Podcast listeners. We hope 2024 is better for you than 2023 was, particularly when it comes to the performance of The Ohio State football team.
The Ohio State football season ended with a thud in Arlington, Texas on Friday night as the Buckeyes were basically inept on offense behind second and third-string quarterbacks, who the offensive line did no favors for. The Missouri Tigers won it 14-3, and with any semblance of even a merely “meh” offense it would have been an easy victory the way the defense played.
We look back on an embarrassingly bad offensive performance, a mostly great defensive effort, and where Ohio State goes from here. We also check in with our score predictions and our picks to click to see how well we foresaw the Cotton Bowl matchup.
Following our game rewind we discussed the transfer portal declarations (including a starter) that took place between the Cotton Bowl and New Year’s Day, an NFL declaration from a key defensive lineman, and an arrival to Columbus via the portal as well.
Finally, we walk through the entire Ohio State coaching staff and talk about which of those coaches have earned our trust for another season and which ones Ryan Day should be replacing or at least seriously considering replacing. Some of those decisions should be easy ones and some are a bit more up in the air, so it will be interesting to see what Day’s staff looks like by the OSU Spring Game or if he sticks with the status quo.
We’ll be coming at you monthly in the college football offseason, with plans to return to our weekly schedule in August 2024. We’d love to hear from you, so please reach out with your feedback and questions below in the comments section or send us an email.
Be sure to subscribe, rate, review, share, and follow the show over on Twitter at @SilvrBulletsPod.
As always, thanks for listening!
Continue reading...
Michael Citro via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images
After a bad loss to the Tigers, there are a lot of major questions surrounding Ohio State this off-season.
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
Happy New Year to all of our Silver Bullets Podcast listeners. We hope 2024 is better for you than 2023 was, particularly when it comes to the performance of The Ohio State football team.
The Ohio State football season ended with a thud in Arlington, Texas on Friday night as the Buckeyes were basically inept on offense behind second and third-string quarterbacks, who the offensive line did no favors for. The Missouri Tigers won it 14-3, and with any semblance of even a merely “meh” offense it would have been an easy victory the way the defense played.
We look back on an embarrassingly bad offensive performance, a mostly great defensive effort, and where Ohio State goes from here. We also check in with our score predictions and our picks to click to see how well we foresaw the Cotton Bowl matchup.
Following our game rewind we discussed the transfer portal declarations (including a starter) that took place between the Cotton Bowl and New Year’s Day, an NFL declaration from a key defensive lineman, and an arrival to Columbus via the portal as well.
Finally, we walk through the entire Ohio State coaching staff and talk about which of those coaches have earned our trust for another season and which ones Ryan Day should be replacing or at least seriously considering replacing. Some of those decisions should be easy ones and some are a bit more up in the air, so it will be interesting to see what Day’s staff looks like by the OSU Spring Game or if he sticks with the status quo.
We’ll be coming at you monthly in the college football offseason, with plans to return to our weekly schedule in August 2024. We’d love to hear from you, so please reach out with your feedback and questions below in the comments section or send us an email.
Be sure to subscribe, rate, review, share, and follow the show over on Twitter at @SilvrBulletsPod.
As always, thanks for listening!
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State makes the cut for multiple 2025 targets
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Ohio State makes the cut for multiple 2025 targets
Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
2025 four-star DE Justin Hill via USA TODAY/247Sports
The Buckeyes also saw two of the top QB transfer prospects go elsewhere.
Ohio State finished the year 11-2 after falling to Missouri 14-3 in the Cotton Bowl. With the beginning of the offseason now official, focus will be on what Ryan Day and the Buckeyes can improve on heading into next season. A major area of this will be on recruiting, both in the traditional sense and regarding to the transfer portal.
While many of the headlines surrounding Ohio State last weekend were centered on the bowl game, you may have missed the Buckeyes making the recruiting headlines. If so, Land-Grant Holy Land has you covered.
Ohio State’s 2024 recruiting class is mainly wrapped up. The Buckeyes saw 20 of the nation’s top prospects sign with the team during the early signing period, good enough for the No. 6 class in the 247Sports Class Rankings.
With the cycle being nearly complete, focus will shift towards next year’s class. Ohio State currently holds verbal commitments from four recruits, and is actively working on adding to it. One of the positions quickly turning into a priority for the Buckeyes in next year’s class is the defensive line.
The Buckeyes have yet to earn a commitment on the line in 2025, but have offered nearly 20 prospects already. Over the holiday weekend, the Buckeyes learned they moved one step closer in securing one of their top defensive end prospects, when four-star edge rusher Justin Hill (Cincinnati, Ohio / Winton Woods) included the Buckeyes in his top 10 schools.
Alongside Ohio State, Hill included Penn State, Oregon, Miami, Cincinnati, USC, Michigan, Alabama, Georgia and Kentucky in his top schools.
Ryan Day and Ohio State have made recruiting in-state talent a priority. Keeping Hill in Ohio would be a massive win for Ohio State. While no school has yet to separate themselves from the pack, Ohio State seems to have the early lead. The Buckeyes, if not by proximity alone, were able to get him on campus multiple times last year, but Kentucky, Alabama, Cincinnati and Michigan have also been recruiting Hill heavily.
Hill doesn’t seem to be close to committing, but he has narrowed down his list of suitors to 10. Expect him to continue to visit the above schools and further narrow down his list of schools during the coming year.
Hill is the No. 13 DE and is the No. 138 overall prospect in the 247Sports Composite Rankings. He is also the No. 6 recruit out of Ohio.
The aforementioned Hill was not the only recruit to include the Buckeyes in their top schools over the holiday weekend. Ohio State also made the cut for 2025 four-star cornerback Onis Konanbanny (Columbia, SC / Heathwood Hall Episcopal School) when he included the program in his top 10 schools.
Alongside Ohio State, Konanbanny included Florida State, Tennessee, Penn State, LSU, Oklahoma, Michigan, Oregon, North Carolina and USC in his top schools.
Konanbanny has been able to visit with Ohio State, North Carolina, Florida State, Tennessee and Michigan already, but will likely try to make trips to visit with some of the other schools in his list. He will also look to lock in some official visits in the spring and fall, and will likely wait until next summer to make a commitment at the earliest.
Konanbanny is the No. 28 CB and is the No. 253 overall prospect in the 247Sports Composite Rankings. He is also the No. 2 recruit out of South Carolina.
Peterson currently plays in West Virginia, but is from Cuayahoga Falls, Ohio. Because Ohio State is the hometown school, the Buckeyes will likely be in the mix until the end, but Kansas is also making a heavy push for him.
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Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
2025 four-star DE Justin Hill via USA TODAY/247Sports
The Buckeyes also saw two of the top QB transfer prospects go elsewhere.
Ohio State finished the year 11-2 after falling to Missouri 14-3 in the Cotton Bowl. With the beginning of the offseason now official, focus will be on what Ryan Day and the Buckeyes can improve on heading into next season. A major area of this will be on recruiting, both in the traditional sense and regarding to the transfer portal.
While many of the headlines surrounding Ohio State last weekend were centered on the bowl game, you may have missed the Buckeyes making the recruiting headlines. If so, Land-Grant Holy Land has you covered.
2025 four-star DE has Ohio State in top schools
Ohio State’s 2024 recruiting class is mainly wrapped up. The Buckeyes saw 20 of the nation’s top prospects sign with the team during the early signing period, good enough for the No. 6 class in the 247Sports Class Rankings.
With the cycle being nearly complete, focus will shift towards next year’s class. Ohio State currently holds verbal commitments from four recruits, and is actively working on adding to it. One of the positions quickly turning into a priority for the Buckeyes in next year’s class is the defensive line.
The Buckeyes have yet to earn a commitment on the line in 2025, but have offered nearly 20 prospects already. Over the holiday weekend, the Buckeyes learned they moved one step closer in securing one of their top defensive end prospects, when four-star edge rusher Justin Hill (Cincinnati, Ohio / Winton Woods) included the Buckeyes in his top 10 schools.
Alongside Ohio State, Hill included Penn State, Oregon, Miami, Cincinnati, USC, Michigan, Alabama, Georgia and Kentucky in his top schools.
Ryan Day and Ohio State have made recruiting in-state talent a priority. Keeping Hill in Ohio would be a massive win for Ohio State. While no school has yet to separate themselves from the pack, Ohio State seems to have the early lead. The Buckeyes, if not by proximity alone, were able to get him on campus multiple times last year, but Kentucky, Alabama, Cincinnati and Michigan have also been recruiting Hill heavily.
Hill doesn’t seem to be close to committing, but he has narrowed down his list of suitors to 10. Expect him to continue to visit the above schools and further narrow down his list of schools during the coming year.
Hill is the No. 13 DE and is the No. 138 overall prospect in the 247Sports Composite Rankings. He is also the No. 6 recruit out of Ohio.
2025 four-star CB has Ohio State in top schools
The aforementioned Hill was not the only recruit to include the Buckeyes in their top schools over the holiday weekend. Ohio State also made the cut for 2025 four-star cornerback Onis Konanbanny (Columbia, SC / Heathwood Hall Episcopal School) when he included the program in his top 10 schools.
WhereWeGoinnnnnn #AGTG #THEpic.twitter.com/2Smcd3UE8E
— ᴏɴɪs " " ᴋᴏɴᴀɴʙᴀɴɴʏ'25 (@KonanbannyOnis) January 1, 2024
Alongside Ohio State, Konanbanny included Florida State, Tennessee, Penn State, LSU, Oklahoma, Michigan, Oregon, North Carolina and USC in his top schools.
Konanbanny has been able to visit with Ohio State, North Carolina, Florida State, Tennessee and Michigan already, but will likely try to make trips to visit with some of the other schools in his list. He will also look to lock in some official visits in the spring and fall, and will likely wait until next summer to make a commitment at the earliest.
Konanbanny is the No. 28 CB and is the No. 253 overall prospect in the 247Sports Composite Rankings. He is also the No. 2 recruit out of South Carolina.
Quick Hits
- The Ohio State football team is not the only program making recruiting headlines in Columbus. The men’s basketball team, led by Chris Holtmann, also made some noise over the holiday weekend, making the cut for one of the nation’s top prospects. 2025 five-star point guard Darryn Peterson (Huntington, West Virginia / Huntington Prep) included the Buckeyes in his top eight schools alongside North Carolina, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Arkansas, Kansas and Baylor.
Peterson currently plays in West Virginia, but is from Cuayahoga Falls, Ohio. Because Ohio State is the hometown school, the Buckeyes will likely be in the mix until the end, but Kansas is also making a heavy push for him.
- On Monday, two of the top quarterbacks in the transfer portal announced their decisions. Former Washington State QB Cam Ward announced he will be foregoing his senior season and instead will enter for the NFL Draft. Additionally, former Oregon State QB DJ Uiagalelei announced that he will be transferring to Florida State.
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LGHL Hangout in the Holy Land Podcast: Ohio State’s Cotton Bowl dud and a eulogy for the 2023 football season
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Hangout in the Holy Land Podcast: Ohio State’s Cotton Bowl dud and a eulogy for the 2023 football season
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
The Hangout Boys react to an embarrassing OSU loss and plead for changes to be made within the Buckeyes’ program.
The latest episode of Land-Grant Holy Land’s flagship podcast is here! Join LGHL’s Josh Dooley and Chuck Holmes as they discuss Ohio State football, recruiting, and much, much more! Come for the hot takes, stay for the warm ones.
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
On this episode of “Hangout in the Holy Land,” Josh and Chuck do their best to react to a confusing, disappointing, and frankly embarrassing Cotton Bowl loss for Ryan Day and the Ohio State Buckeyes.
With Michigan, National Signing Day, and even the loss of their starting QB at least temporarily in the rearview, Day and his OSU football squad had an opportunity to turn the page and roll into 2024 with some momentum. Instead, the head coach looked overwhelmed and underprepared, leaving Buckeye Nation with more questions than answers.
Questions such as: What the hell happened in Arlington, TX? Where does the football program go from here? And should Day be the one leading it?
Please make sure to like, rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast! And as always, Go Bucks!
Connect with the pod
Twitter: @HolyLandPod
Connect with Josh Dooley
Twitter: @jdooleybuckeye
Connect with Chuck Holmes
Twitter: @ctholmes3
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Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
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Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
The Hangout Boys react to an embarrassing OSU loss and plead for changes to be made within the Buckeyes’ program.
The latest episode of Land-Grant Holy Land’s flagship podcast is here! Join LGHL’s Josh Dooley and Chuck Holmes as they discuss Ohio State football, recruiting, and much, much more! Come for the hot takes, stay for the warm ones.
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On this episode of “Hangout in the Holy Land,” Josh and Chuck do their best to react to a confusing, disappointing, and frankly embarrassing Cotton Bowl loss for Ryan Day and the Ohio State Buckeyes.
With Michigan, National Signing Day, and even the loss of their starting QB at least temporarily in the rearview, Day and his OSU football squad had an opportunity to turn the page and roll into 2024 with some momentum. Instead, the head coach looked overwhelmed and underprepared, leaving Buckeye Nation with more questions than answers.
Questions such as: What the hell happened in Arlington, TX? Where does the football program go from here? And should Day be the one leading it?
Please make sure to like, rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast! And as always, Go Bucks!
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