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2025 OH WR Quintin Simmons (Kentucky Signee)
- By pnuts34
- Football Recruiting
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LGHL Player to Watch: C.J. Hicks
- News
- 0 Replies
Player to Watch: C.J. Hicks
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 Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The sophomore linebacker shone in the Spring Game, and he may be ready to make the leap and push the starters for more snaps in 2023.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about players to watch this upcoming season. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Player to Watch” articles here.
If you weren’t excited about linebacker C.J. Hicks’ career prospects prior to the annual Ohio State Spring Game, you probably should be now.
Hicks tied for the second-most tackles in the game, with six, and equaled Sonny Styles’ game-high two pass breakups. But beyond that, Hicks looked the part of the next great OSU linebacker, making a difference on a number of meaningful plays.
Expectations for Hicks were high coming out of Archbishop Alter High School in Kettering, Ohio. The former five-star recruit was the No. 1 ranked player in the state in the 2022 class, the nation’s No. 2-ranked linebacker, and a High School Butkus Award finalist. Those kinds of accolades bring projections of seeing the field early in college, being a difference maker during his career, and a likelihood of leaving early to enter the NFL Draft.
That’s all still on the table for Hicks, who flashed early and often in the Spring Game. While it’s foolish to assume Spring Game performances will translate to meaningful games the following fall, this is the first time we’ve gotten to see what the coaches have been watching in practice. This is a player who could become a game changer.
Playing linebacker, Hicks will have opportunities to make plays in both the run game and against the pass. He nearly had himself an interception in the Spring Game and always seemed to be around the football, which is the hallmark of a great linebacker.
Hicks appeared in 12 games in 2022, missing the opener against Notre Dame but playing in every game the Buckeyes played the rest of the way. He finished with six tackles (four solo, two assists) over the course of the season. The fact that he got so many appearances in his freshman year speaks highly of what the coaching staff thinks of his abilities. He’ll look to contribute even more in 2023.
Although he’ll still be behind starting linebackers Tommy Eichenberg and Steele Chambers in 2023, I’m looking for Hicks to force his way into more snaps on defense this season. This will be a year of preparation for Hicks and Gabe Powers to gain more experience, get more meaningful reps, and become a solid starting tandem in 2024.
If he performs the way I think he will, Hicks is going to be able to give more rest to guys like Eichenberg, Chambers, and Cody Simon. With good enough performances, he could even push his way past the latter this season. Simon has flashed his potential but has left the door open for guys like Hicks and Powers to encroach on his snap count. (Powers, by the way, led all players with eight tackles in the Spring Game as he also used that stage to show what he can do.)
If Hicks can add a few pounds to his 6-foot-3 frame — his most recent listed weight is 225 — without sacrificing any speed, quickness, or agility, he could become a force. He’s athletic enough that he played running back on offense in high school, as well as kick returner and punt returner on special teams. He can run, hit, catch the football, and do something with it once it’s in his hands.
I don’t expect Hicks to be more than a backup in 2023 unless there are injuries in front of him on the depth chart. But I do believe this year he’s going to make some of those plays that have us talking about him at work on Mondays following Ohio State games. He’s a player I’ll have my eye on this season.
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 Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The sophomore linebacker shone in the Spring Game, and he may be ready to make the leap and push the starters for more snaps in 2023.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about players to watch this upcoming season. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Player to Watch” articles here.
If you weren’t excited about linebacker C.J. Hicks’ career prospects prior to the annual Ohio State Spring Game, you probably should be now.
Hicks tied for the second-most tackles in the game, with six, and equaled Sonny Styles’ game-high two pass breakups. But beyond that, Hicks looked the part of the next great OSU linebacker, making a difference on a number of meaningful plays.
Expectations for Hicks were high coming out of Archbishop Alter High School in Kettering, Ohio. The former five-star recruit was the No. 1 ranked player in the state in the 2022 class, the nation’s No. 2-ranked linebacker, and a High School Butkus Award finalist. Those kinds of accolades bring projections of seeing the field early in college, being a difference maker during his career, and a likelihood of leaving early to enter the NFL Draft.
That’s all still on the table for Hicks, who flashed early and often in the Spring Game. While it’s foolish to assume Spring Game performances will translate to meaningful games the following fall, this is the first time we’ve gotten to see what the coaches have been watching in practice. This is a player who could become a game changer.
Playing linebacker, Hicks will have opportunities to make plays in both the run game and against the pass. He nearly had himself an interception in the Spring Game and always seemed to be around the football, which is the hallmark of a great linebacker.
Hicks appeared in 12 games in 2022, missing the opener against Notre Dame but playing in every game the Buckeyes played the rest of the way. He finished with six tackles (four solo, two assists) over the course of the season. The fact that he got so many appearances in his freshman year speaks highly of what the coaching staff thinks of his abilities. He’ll look to contribute even more in 2023.
Although he’ll still be behind starting linebackers Tommy Eichenberg and Steele Chambers in 2023, I’m looking for Hicks to force his way into more snaps on defense this season. This will be a year of preparation for Hicks and Gabe Powers to gain more experience, get more meaningful reps, and become a solid starting tandem in 2024.
If he performs the way I think he will, Hicks is going to be able to give more rest to guys like Eichenberg, Chambers, and Cody Simon. With good enough performances, he could even push his way past the latter this season. Simon has flashed his potential but has left the door open for guys like Hicks and Powers to encroach on his snap count. (Powers, by the way, led all players with eight tackles in the Spring Game as he also used that stage to show what he can do.)
If Hicks can add a few pounds to his 6-foot-3 frame — his most recent listed weight is 225 — without sacrificing any speed, quickness, or agility, he could become a force. He’s athletic enough that he played running back on offense in high school, as well as kick returner and punt returner on special teams. He can run, hit, catch the football, and do something with it once it’s in his hands.
I don’t expect Hicks to be more than a backup in 2023 unless there are injuries in front of him on the depth chart. But I do believe this year he’s going to make some of those plays that have us talking about him at work on Mondays following Ohio State games. He’s a player I’ll have my eye on this season.
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LGHL Ohio State men’s basketball non-conference schedule to have a heavy SEC flare this season
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Ohio State men’s basketball non-conference schedule to have a heavy SEC flare this season
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Buckeyes are set to take on three SEC opponents in the non-conference portion of their schedule.
The schedule is far from set five months before the season begins, but the big dogs Ohio State will play in the non-conference portion of their schedule this season have already been identified. Of the potential five Power 5 conference teams the Buckeyes could see this season in the non-conference, three are from the SEC, giving this year’s non-con schedule an unusually strong scent of southern hospitality.
In addition to the three SEC squads — which we will discuss momentarily — the Buckeyes will also face off with West Virginia in a neutral site game in Cleveland, and either the Oregon Ducks out of the PAC-12 or the Santa Clara Broncos out of the West Coast Conference.
That leaves five open games for “bye” games, although we’ve seen in recent years that at times bye games can be anything but. The Buckeyes have had close calls with Akron and Niagara at home in recent years in games that were supposed to be tune-ups for Big Ten play. This season, the Buckeyes will welcome Oakland (Nov. 6), Merrimack (Nov. 15), and Western Michigan (Nov. 19) at home, with at least two more games yet to be announced.
Ohio State has played just two SEC teams since Chris Holtmann became Ohio State’s head coach in 2017. The Buckeyes beat Kentucky in the CBS Sports Classic in 2019, and were beaten by Florida in 2021 while participating in the Fort Myers Tip-Off tournament.
The Buckeyes have not played three SEC teams in one season since the 2010-2011 season, when they beat Florida and South Carolina in the non-conference portion of the schedule and lost to Kentucky in the Sweet 16. That Ohio State team finished the season with a 34-3 record.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24687440/usa_today_20203899.jpg "NCAA Basketball: SEC Conference Tournament Semifinals - Texas A&M vs Vanderbilt")
Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports
Record last season: 25-10
Conference standing: 2nd in SEC
KenPom rank: 33
Ohio State will need to go through some grueling conditioning in the fall to prepare for A&M, which was one of the most physical teams in the nation last season. Similar to how they had San Diego State on the schedule right away last season, Texas A&M will set a high bar for the rest of the year in physicality.
The Aggies were a surprise team in the SEC last season, finishing just behind Alabama in the standings. While they do lose one of their big hitters in Dexter Dennis, A&M returns all-SEC honoree Wade Taylor, Tyrese Radford, and former Michigan State center Julius Marble. A&M was top-45 in both offense and defense last year in the nation, according to KenPom.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24687446/usa_today_20311533.jpg "NCAA Basketball: NCAA Tournament South Regional-San Diego State vs Alabama")
Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports
Record last season: 31-6
Conference standing: 1st in SEC
KenPom rank: 4
The Crimson Tide have quickly become one of the premier men’s basketball programs in the nation under Nate Oats, amassing a combined record of 92-42 in his four seasons, plus making two Sweet Sixteens. This particular Alabama team is intriguing because it stands to lose a ton of talent from last year’s SEC Champion team, including the potential No. 2 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, Brandon Miller.
Mark Sears and Jahvon Quinerly could return to provide a nasty 1-2 punch in the backcourt, but both are testing the NBA Draft waters currently and it is not clear if they will be back. Even if Alabama loses its five leading scorers from a season ago, Oats will still field a feisty and competitive team, which will now include former Hofstra star Aaron Estrada.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24687449/usa_today_20256489.jpg "NCAA Basketball: NCAA Tournament First Round-Providence vs Kentucky")
Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Record last season: 22-12
Conference standing: 3rd in SEC
KenPom rank: 27
Similar to Alabama, the looming threat of Kentucky in the CBS Sports Classic hinges on who returns and who does not. Antonio Reeves and Oscar Tshiebwe could both come back and make Kentucky a sure-fire top-25 team once again. If both leave, plus Cason Wallace, John Calipari will rely heavily on his incoming freshman class, which boasts four five-star recruits, all of which are in the top-15 in the 2023 class.
Sometimes teams led by five-star freshmen go on to big things. But Calipari would certainly like to have the stability of returning his two leading scorers from a season ago to pair with one of the most talented recruiting classes in college basketball history. If both of Kentucky’s leading scorers from a season ago leave, this is a team Ohio State could beat in Atlanta.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24687451/usa_today_20148852.jpg "NCAA Basketball: Arizona at UCLA")
Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
Record last season: 19-15
Conference standing: 8th in Big 12
KenPom rank: 19
West Virginia lagged towards the bottom of the Big 12 last season, but got credit for playing in the toughest conference in America and earned an NCAA Tournament bid despite losing 14 games. The offseason has been a rollercoaster for WVU, and your guess is as good as mine if the new transfer additions (Kerr Krissa, RaeQuan Battle, Jesse Edwards) will mesh together or not. All three are likely to start come November.
Additionally, there’s the whole Bob Huggins thing. The Hall of Fame head coach will serve an unpaid, three-game suspension to start the season after using a gay slur during a radio appearance back on May 8. Huggins will be back from his suspension well before Ohio State takes on WVU on December 30, but there’s just a lot of unknowns — on and off the court — for West Virginia.
The winner of the Ohio State - Alabama game on Nov. 24 will face the winner of the Oregon-Santa Clara game on Nov. 25. The losers would face-off in a third-place game
Record last season: 21-15
Conference standing: 4th in PAC-12
KenPom rank: 42
Record last season: 23-10
Conference standing: 3rd in WCC
KenPom rank: 85
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Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Buckeyes are set to take on three SEC opponents in the non-conference portion of their schedule.
The schedule is far from set five months before the season begins, but the big dogs Ohio State will play in the non-conference portion of their schedule this season have already been identified. Of the potential five Power 5 conference teams the Buckeyes could see this season in the non-conference, three are from the SEC, giving this year’s non-con schedule an unusually strong scent of southern hospitality.
In addition to the three SEC squads — which we will discuss momentarily — the Buckeyes will also face off with West Virginia in a neutral site game in Cleveland, and either the Oregon Ducks out of the PAC-12 or the Santa Clara Broncos out of the West Coast Conference.
That leaves five open games for “bye” games, although we’ve seen in recent years that at times bye games can be anything but. The Buckeyes have had close calls with Akron and Niagara at home in recent years in games that were supposed to be tune-ups for Big Ten play. This season, the Buckeyes will welcome Oakland (Nov. 6), Merrimack (Nov. 15), and Western Michigan (Nov. 19) at home, with at least two more games yet to be announced.
Ohio State has played just two SEC teams since Chris Holtmann became Ohio State’s head coach in 2017. The Buckeyes beat Kentucky in the CBS Sports Classic in 2019, and were beaten by Florida in 2021 while participating in the Fort Myers Tip-Off tournament.
The Buckeyes have not played three SEC teams in one season since the 2010-2011 season, when they beat Florida and South Carolina in the non-conference portion of the schedule and lost to Kentucky in the Sweet 16. That Ohio State team finished the season with a 34-3 record.
Noteworthy non-conference opponents
Texas A&M - Nov. 10
Record last season: 25-10
Conference standing: 2nd in SEC
KenPom rank: 33
Ohio State will need to go through some grueling conditioning in the fall to prepare for A&M, which was one of the most physical teams in the nation last season. Similar to how they had San Diego State on the schedule right away last season, Texas A&M will set a high bar for the rest of the year in physicality.
The Aggies were a surprise team in the SEC last season, finishing just behind Alabama in the standings. While they do lose one of their big hitters in Dexter Dennis, A&M returns all-SEC honoree Wade Taylor, Tyrese Radford, and former Michigan State center Julius Marble. A&M was top-45 in both offense and defense last year in the nation, according to KenPom.
Alabama - Nov. 24
Record last season: 31-6
Conference standing: 1st in SEC
KenPom rank: 4
The Crimson Tide have quickly become one of the premier men’s basketball programs in the nation under Nate Oats, amassing a combined record of 92-42 in his four seasons, plus making two Sweet Sixteens. This particular Alabama team is intriguing because it stands to lose a ton of talent from last year’s SEC Champion team, including the potential No. 2 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, Brandon Miller.
Mark Sears and Jahvon Quinerly could return to provide a nasty 1-2 punch in the backcourt, but both are testing the NBA Draft waters currently and it is not clear if they will be back. Even if Alabama loses its five leading scorers from a season ago, Oats will still field a feisty and competitive team, which will now include former Hofstra star Aaron Estrada.
Kentucky - Dec. 16
Record last season: 22-12
Conference standing: 3rd in SEC
KenPom rank: 27
Similar to Alabama, the looming threat of Kentucky in the CBS Sports Classic hinges on who returns and who does not. Antonio Reeves and Oscar Tshiebwe could both come back and make Kentucky a sure-fire top-25 team once again. If both leave, plus Cason Wallace, John Calipari will rely heavily on his incoming freshman class, which boasts four five-star recruits, all of which are in the top-15 in the 2023 class.
Sometimes teams led by five-star freshmen go on to big things. But Calipari would certainly like to have the stability of returning his two leading scorers from a season ago to pair with one of the most talented recruiting classes in college basketball history. If both of Kentucky’s leading scorers from a season ago leave, this is a team Ohio State could beat in Atlanta.
West Virginia - Dec. 30
Record last season: 19-15
Conference standing: 8th in Big 12
KenPom rank: 19
West Virginia lagged towards the bottom of the Big 12 last season, but got credit for playing in the toughest conference in America and earned an NCAA Tournament bid despite losing 14 games. The offseason has been a rollercoaster for WVU, and your guess is as good as mine if the new transfer additions (Kerr Krissa, RaeQuan Battle, Jesse Edwards) will mesh together or not. All three are likely to start come November.
Additionally, there’s the whole Bob Huggins thing. The Hall of Fame head coach will serve an unpaid, three-game suspension to start the season after using a gay slur during a radio appearance back on May 8. Huggins will be back from his suspension well before Ohio State takes on WVU on December 30, but there’s just a lot of unknowns — on and off the court — for West Virginia.
The winner of the Ohio State - Alabama game on Nov. 24 will face the winner of the Oregon-Santa Clara game on Nov. 25. The losers would face-off in a third-place game
Oregon
Record last season: 21-15
Conference standing: 4th in PAC-12
KenPom rank: 42
Santa Clara
Record last season: 23-10
Conference standing: 3rd in WCC
KenPom rank: 85
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LGHL Five-star linebacker, defensive lineman set Ohio State official visits
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Five-star linebacker, defensive lineman set Ohio State official visits
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Five-star 2024 LB Sammy Brown | Tom Loy, 247Sports
The Buckeyes are looking to make June a huge month for recruiting — especially on defense.
With the evaluation period set to come to an end on May 31, the transition to June will lead us into a new quiet period. For the Buckeyes, this will be anything but a quiet time, as Ohio State will be hosting a number of high-profile recruits in the coming weeks. The 2024 class has almost the entirety of its offensive group set, but the focus in the near future will be on the other side of the ball.
That being said, Ryan Day and co. will host a massive name on defense when Sammy Brown visits Columbus for multiple days June 23-25. One of the top overall players in the 2024 class overall, Brown currently ranks as the No. 1 linebacker and No. 5 overall prospect on 247Sports’ own rankings. Announcing where he will take his five official visits this summer, defensive coordinator Jim Knowles has to like where he stands.
Ohio State will be the last official visit on Brown’s schedule, with his other four being Tennesee, Clemson, Georgia and Oklahoma in that order. Holding around 30 total offers to his name, the Buckeyes now sit among the final few with a chance to land the 6-foot-2, 230-pound Georgia native. Knowles, alongside linebackers assistant James Laurinaitis, will look to roll out the read carpet and leave a lasting impression with one of the nation’s best players as the school that gets to be the final stop on the docket.
In addition to Brown, Ohio State will also get another big name on defense on campus towards the end of June when five-star defensive end Dylan Stewart takes his multi-day OV June 16-18.
Larry Johnson and the Buckeyes have long been in on Stewart, and they will now get to show the Washington, DC product all the program has to offer in-person. The nation’s No. 2 EDGE and No. 10 overall player in the 247Sports Composite, Stewart will also be taking trips to Georgia and Miami as well as closing things out with a stop at South Carolina. With over 35 schools on his offer sheet, Stewart is a hot commodity that coach LJ would be ecstatic to land.
Speaking of defensive ends Ohio State has been interested in, three-star DL Sean Sevillano Jr. is set to make his college decision on June 2. With his four finalists coming down to Auburn, Notre Dame, Miami and Ohio State, it appears the Fighting Irish have the inside track for his services with all three Crystal Ball predictions in their favor. Sevillano Jr. is the No. 87 DL in the 2024 class on the 247Sports Composite.
Continue reading...
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Five-star 2024 LB Sammy Brown | Tom Loy, 247Sports
The Buckeyes are looking to make June a huge month for recruiting — especially on defense.
With the evaluation period set to come to an end on May 31, the transition to June will lead us into a new quiet period. For the Buckeyes, this will be anything but a quiet time, as Ohio State will be hosting a number of high-profile recruits in the coming weeks. The 2024 class has almost the entirety of its offensive group set, but the focus in the near future will be on the other side of the ball.
That being said, Ryan Day and co. will host a massive name on defense when Sammy Brown visits Columbus for multiple days June 23-25. One of the top overall players in the 2024 class overall, Brown currently ranks as the No. 1 linebacker and No. 5 overall prospect on 247Sports’ own rankings. Announcing where he will take his five official visits this summer, defensive coordinator Jim Knowles has to like where he stands.
Five-Star LB Sammy Brown will take official visits to theseSchools, starting with Tennessee this weekend
The 6’2 230 LB from Jefferson, GA is ranked as a Top 20 Player in the ‘24 Class.
Where Should He Go? https://t.co/sEN3gSrNlL pic.twitter.com/gtun04zD6P
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) May 28, 2023
Ohio State will be the last official visit on Brown’s schedule, with his other four being Tennesee, Clemson, Georgia and Oklahoma in that order. Holding around 30 total offers to his name, the Buckeyes now sit among the final few with a chance to land the 6-foot-2, 230-pound Georgia native. Knowles, alongside linebackers assistant James Laurinaitis, will look to roll out the read carpet and leave a lasting impression with one of the nation’s best players as the school that gets to be the final stop on the docket.
In addition to Brown, Ohio State will also get another big name on defense on campus towards the end of June when five-star defensive end Dylan Stewart takes his multi-day OV June 16-18.
Five-Star EDGE Dylan Stewart will take Official Visits to theseschools starting next weekend
The 6’6 250 EDGE from Washington D.C. is ranked as the No. 1 Player in the ‘24 Class https://t.co/O6UoMSwKAU pic.twitter.com/NAjVHom6Nu
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) May 27, 2023
Larry Johnson and the Buckeyes have long been in on Stewart, and they will now get to show the Washington, DC product all the program has to offer in-person. The nation’s No. 2 EDGE and No. 10 overall player in the 247Sports Composite, Stewart will also be taking trips to Georgia and Miami as well as closing things out with a stop at South Carolina. With over 35 schools on his offer sheet, Stewart is a hot commodity that coach LJ would be ecstatic to land.
Speaking of defensive ends Ohio State has been interested in, three-star DL Sean Sevillano Jr. is set to make his college decision on June 2. With his four finalists coming down to Auburn, Notre Dame, Miami and Ohio State, it appears the Fighting Irish have the inside track for his services with all three Crystal Ball predictions in their favor. Sevillano Jr. is the No. 87 DL in the 2024 class on the 247Sports Composite.
Quick Hits
- Ohio State has already scooped up the majority of its offensive commitments in the 2024 class, but they are still looking to add to the offensive line group. On Friday, four-star IOL Liam Andrews dropped his top eight schools, and the Buckeyes made the cut alongside Florida, LSU, Penn State, Oklahoma and others. Andrews is the No. 4 IOL and and No. 82 overall player in the 247Sports Composite.
BREAKING: Four-Star IOL Liam Andrews is down toSchools!
The 6’5 270 IOL from Brookline, MA is ranked as the No. 1 IOL in the ‘24 Class
Where Should He Go? https://t.co/2ZGM1mPNb3 pic.twitter.com/aMFv0kUBb4
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) May 26, 2023
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Indianapolis 500 & IndyCar Series
- By ScriptOhio
- Other OSU and Professional Sports
- 20 Replies
Remember the tire that flew over the fence during the wreck?
Penske finally gets a full house for Indy 500
Roger Penske will at last be able to open the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to a capacity crowd this Sunday for his first true Indy 500 since buying the property.
www.wthr.com
Indy 500 fan whose car was struck by errant tire invited to kiss the bricks
The 107th Running of the Indianapolis 500 was a memorable event for many, not the least of whom was Indianapolis resident Robin Mathews.
In the late stages of the race Sunday, a crash involving Felix Rosenqvist and Kyle Kirkwood sent a wheel sailing over the track fence, just clearing a grandstand packed with fans.
The tire smashed the hood of Mathews' Chevrolet Cruze, which was parked in a lot next to the grandstand.
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LGHL Unpopular Opinion: It’s time for Ohio State to move on LeBron James
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Unpopular Opinion: It’s time for Ohio State to move on LeBron James
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Set Number: SI628 TK1
As the NBA legend’s professional career winds down, the school he never went to doesn’t need to give him so many benefits.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about what we would do if we were in charge of our favorite position group, team, conference, or sport. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all our “Unpopular Opinion” articles here.
Before I write anything in this article, I should be completely transparent about my feelings. I’m not a LeBron James fan. I respect his achievements and some of the incredible moments he has created during his legendary NBA career, I’m just not going to cheer for him. This has nothing to do with China, thinking he needs to “shut up and dribble”, or any other political reason.
There was a time when I was a LeBron stan. A few years after I moved down to Columbus, the Cavaliers played the Spurs in the NBA Finals. The run by James to carry Cleveland to the finals was outstanding, and I was hoping he would be able to take the Cavs back there, especially since that would likely mean they would beat Boston, which is a city I hate everything about.
Instead, the Celtics beat Cleveland in the 2009 Eastern Conference Semifinals. A couple months later LeBron would announce he was taking his talents to South Beach. If “The Decision” wasn’t hard enough to stomach, it happened on my birthday. From that day, LeBron was on my shit list. Not that he cares since he is like a billionaire and I’m a nobody, but when I hold a grudge, it’s for life.
LeBron has always said that if he had to play college basketball before heading to the NBA, he would have gone to Ohio State. While he says that, I’m not totally convinced that would have been the case. Not that Ohio State wasn’t a marquee basketball program, just look at some of the top recruits Thad Matta brought into the program over the years. I just think he would have thought a little harder than he says he would have about going to Duke, Kentucky, or another blue blood program.
Luckily for LeBron it wasn’t an issue he ever had to deal with, since it was obvious there was no need for him to play college basketball for any length of time.
There’s no questioning that LeBron is an Ohio State fan. We have seen him either at big Buckeye games, or tweeting about them if he couldn’t make it. There have been times where James has gifted items to Ohio State players, and he even has an honorary locker at the facility. It’s a smart move by Ohio State to highlight their relationship with him, since it could make a difference as they vie for some of the top recruits in the country.
You just know that Gene Smith and Chris Holtmann were hoping the relationship with LeBron would help Ohio State land James’ oldest son, Bronny. While the Buckeyes made Bronny’s top-three, he eventually committed to USC. Even though Holtmann is bringing in a very strong recruiting class, adding Bronny to it would have been huge for the Ohio State basketball program.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24687523/1477667501.jpg "2023 McDonald’s All American Game")
Photo by Alex Bierens de Haan/Getty Images
Honestly though, I’m not mad that Ohio State wasn’t able to land Bronny’s commitment. Even though his father is a huge Buckeye fan, Bronny can’t go to Ohio State just for that reason. He has to do what he feels is best for him. Plus, I can understand how it would be hard to leave Los Angeles after spending the last few years there while LeBron has played for the Lakers. It’s a perfect spot for Bronny if LeBron doesn’t follow through with retirement talk, since he’ll still be close to his father.
Really what I think we don’t need any more is things like the LeBron/Ohio State jerseys, his own locker at the facility, and as much association between him and the school. He’s a fan, no different than you or I. The only difference is he has the ability to give a lot more money to the school if he wants to. It’s not like he’s going to be as big of a fan in the near future either, since you know he’ll be rooting for USC because of Bronny. Plus, I have to imagine we are likely going to see him on the sidelines of a USC football game this year before he is at an Ohio State game.
LeBron has done a lot of great things for the state of Ohio and Ohio State. It’s time for everyone to move on, though. The athletic department in Columbus will survive just fine without giving LeBron any preferential treatment. I’m never going to tell him not to be a Buckeye fan, but if he wants field passes or some of those sweet seats that were likely given to him, then he can break out the checkbook. Maybe transfer that LeBron locker at the facility into one for Mike Conley or another Buckeye that actually played here and went on to see success at the professional level.
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As the NBA legend’s professional career winds down, the school he never went to doesn’t need to give him so many benefits.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about what we would do if we were in charge of our favorite position group, team, conference, or sport. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all our “Unpopular Opinion” articles here.
Before I write anything in this article, I should be completely transparent about my feelings. I’m not a LeBron James fan. I respect his achievements and some of the incredible moments he has created during his legendary NBA career, I’m just not going to cheer for him. This has nothing to do with China, thinking he needs to “shut up and dribble”, or any other political reason.
There was a time when I was a LeBron stan. A few years after I moved down to Columbus, the Cavaliers played the Spurs in the NBA Finals. The run by James to carry Cleveland to the finals was outstanding, and I was hoping he would be able to take the Cavs back there, especially since that would likely mean they would beat Boston, which is a city I hate everything about.
Instead, the Celtics beat Cleveland in the 2009 Eastern Conference Semifinals. A couple months later LeBron would announce he was taking his talents to South Beach. If “The Decision” wasn’t hard enough to stomach, it happened on my birthday. From that day, LeBron was on my shit list. Not that he cares since he is like a billionaire and I’m a nobody, but when I hold a grudge, it’s for life.
LeBron has always said that if he had to play college basketball before heading to the NBA, he would have gone to Ohio State. While he says that, I’m not totally convinced that would have been the case. Not that Ohio State wasn’t a marquee basketball program, just look at some of the top recruits Thad Matta brought into the program over the years. I just think he would have thought a little harder than he says he would have about going to Duke, Kentucky, or another blue blood program.
Luckily for LeBron it wasn’t an issue he ever had to deal with, since it was obvious there was no need for him to play college basketball for any length of time.
There’s no questioning that LeBron is an Ohio State fan. We have seen him either at big Buckeye games, or tweeting about them if he couldn’t make it. There have been times where James has gifted items to Ohio State players, and he even has an honorary locker at the facility. It’s a smart move by Ohio State to highlight their relationship with him, since it could make a difference as they vie for some of the top recruits in the country.
You just know that Gene Smith and Chris Holtmann were hoping the relationship with LeBron would help Ohio State land James’ oldest son, Bronny. While the Buckeyes made Bronny’s top-three, he eventually committed to USC. Even though Holtmann is bringing in a very strong recruiting class, adding Bronny to it would have been huge for the Ohio State basketball program.
Honestly though, I’m not mad that Ohio State wasn’t able to land Bronny’s commitment. Even though his father is a huge Buckeye fan, Bronny can’t go to Ohio State just for that reason. He has to do what he feels is best for him. Plus, I can understand how it would be hard to leave Los Angeles after spending the last few years there while LeBron has played for the Lakers. It’s a perfect spot for Bronny if LeBron doesn’t follow through with retirement talk, since he’ll still be close to his father.
Really what I think we don’t need any more is things like the LeBron/Ohio State jerseys, his own locker at the facility, and as much association between him and the school. He’s a fan, no different than you or I. The only difference is he has the ability to give a lot more money to the school if he wants to. It’s not like he’s going to be as big of a fan in the near future either, since you know he’ll be rooting for USC because of Bronny. Plus, I have to imagine we are likely going to see him on the sidelines of a USC football game this year before he is at an Ohio State game.
LeBron has done a lot of great things for the state of Ohio and Ohio State. It’s time for everyone to move on, though. The athletic department in Columbus will survive just fine without giving LeBron any preferential treatment. I’m never going to tell him not to be a Buckeye fan, but if he wants field passes or some of those sweet seats that were likely given to him, then he can break out the checkbook. Maybe transfer that LeBron locker at the facility into one for Mike Conley or another Buckeye that actually played here and went on to see success at the professional level.
Continue reading...
