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LGHL Top-70 cornerback sets Ohio State visit date; top in-state player could commit early
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Top-70 cornerback sets Ohio State visit date; top in-state player could commit early
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Andrew Ivins | 247Sports
Also, an OSU commit gets spicy about TTUN!
The last few weeks have been busy and exciting ones on the recruiting trail for the Ohio State football program, and now in the days following the 2023 spring game, things have settled down a little bit, but there is always something seemingly brewing when it comes to recruiting.
On Tuesday, the No. 68 player in the country — according to 247Sports Composite Ratings — Zabien Brown confirmed that he had set official visits with his final four schools, Alabama, Oregon, USC, and Ohio State. According to 247Sports’ Greg Biggins, the No. 8 corner in the country will be in Southern California on June 3, followed by Columbus two weeks later on June 17, then Tuscaloosa on June 23, and Eugene on July 1.
From a commitment perspective, you always want to see your team get the final visit, but we have seen players cancel their remaining visits after they have visited the Buckeyes. Brown is finishing up his junior year at Mater Dei in Santa Ana, Cali., but has been to Columbus twice in the past month, most recently early last week.
Like another major out-of-state prospect Texas running back James Peoples, Brown has family in Ohio and after visiting them in Cleveland over the Easter holiday, came down to campus for multiple days. It is always difficult to land a major blue-chip prospect from across the country, but when he has familial connections to Ohio, it certainly makes it easier.
“I’ve always liked Ohio State a lot and they do a great job developing defensive backs,” Brown told 247 following his last trip to Columbus. “It’s a big time program with great tradition and I like coach Walton, the DB coach a lot so I think it’s a great all around fit.”
Brown currently is planning to make his decision late in the summer, after he has made all of his official visits and before the start of his senior season.
Someone who might not wait that long — and that the Buckeyes are hoping will soon be in the same position room as Brown — is Bryce West. The No. 1 player in the state of Ohio per the 247 Composite Rankings has long maintained that he would make his commitment on National Signing Day, but he recently told Eleven Warriors that he might have a change of heart.
West, a Cleveland Glenville product, was on campus earlier this month and seemed to indicate that his recent recruiting trips might have sped up his decision-making process.
“It might just come a little bit earlier,” he said. “I’m not sure when yet, I’m definitely talking it over with my parents.”
The corner was in Columbus the first few days of April at the same time as the No. 2 player in Ohio, fellow cornerback Aaron Scott from Springfield. Walton’s room is one that could use some serious reinforcements and while landing Brown, West, and Scott isn’t out of the question, getting three top-70 players at the same position in the same class isn’t something that you necessarily want to bank on.
However, being in the mix for all three certainly bodes well for cornerback recruiting in the 2024 class. Besides, if Brian Hartline can land three top wide receivers in a class, maybe it’s time other Ohio State coaches step up as well.
Quick Hits
Continue reading...
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Andrew Ivins | 247Sports
Also, an OSU commit gets spicy about TTUN!
The last few weeks have been busy and exciting ones on the recruiting trail for the Ohio State football program, and now in the days following the 2023 spring game, things have settled down a little bit, but there is always something seemingly brewing when it comes to recruiting.
High Four-Star Cornerback Names Ohio State Finalist, Sets Visit Date
On Tuesday, the No. 68 player in the country — according to 247Sports Composite Ratings — Zabien Brown confirmed that he had set official visits with his final four schools, Alabama, Oregon, USC, and Ohio State. According to 247Sports’ Greg Biggins, the No. 8 corner in the country will be in Southern California on June 3, followed by Columbus two weeks later on June 17, then Tuscaloosa on June 23, and Eugene on July 1.
From a commitment perspective, you always want to see your team get the final visit, but we have seen players cancel their remaining visits after they have visited the Buckeyes. Brown is finishing up his junior year at Mater Dei in Santa Ana, Cali., but has been to Columbus twice in the past month, most recently early last week.
Like another major out-of-state prospect Texas running back James Peoples, Brown has family in Ohio and after visiting them in Cleveland over the Easter holiday, came down to campus for multiple days. It is always difficult to land a major blue-chip prospect from across the country, but when he has familial connections to Ohio, it certainly makes it easier.
“I’ve always liked Ohio State a lot and they do a great job developing defensive backs,” Brown told 247 following his last trip to Columbus. “It’s a big time program with great tradition and I like coach Walton, the DB coach a lot so I think it’s a great all around fit.”
Brown currently is planning to make his decision late in the summer, after he has made all of his official visits and before the start of his senior season.
Bryce West Open to Committing Earlier than Planned
Someone who might not wait that long — and that the Buckeyes are hoping will soon be in the same position room as Brown — is Bryce West. The No. 1 player in the state of Ohio per the 247 Composite Rankings has long maintained that he would make his commitment on National Signing Day, but he recently told Eleven Warriors that he might have a change of heart.
West, a Cleveland Glenville product, was on campus earlier this month and seemed to indicate that his recent recruiting trips might have sped up his decision-making process.
“It might just come a little bit earlier,” he said. “I’m not sure when yet, I’m definitely talking it over with my parents.”
The corner was in Columbus the first few days of April at the same time as the No. 2 player in Ohio, fellow cornerback Aaron Scott from Springfield. Walton’s room is one that could use some serious reinforcements and while landing Brown, West, and Scott isn’t out of the question, getting three top-70 players at the same position in the same class isn’t something that you necessarily want to bank on.
However, being in the mix for all three certainly bodes well for cornerback recruiting in the 2024 class. Besides, if Brian Hartline can land three top wide receivers in a class, maybe it’s time other Ohio State coaches step up as well.
Quick Hits
- He might only be ranked as the No. 590 player in the country, but he has offers from Ohio State, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, LSU, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, and many other school, including a number of Ivy League institutions. Currently, Florida tight end Colton Heinrich is working on setting up an official visit to Columbus, according to Bucknuts’ Bill Kurelic. Heinrich was on campus earlier this month and texts with position coach Keenan Bailey almost every day. He knows that the Buckeyes landed a TE pledge over the weekend in Max LeBlanc, but is aware of OSU’s plan to have two players at the position in the 2024 cycle.
- It’s not all good news for the Buckeyes on the trail, as on Tuesday, as four-star offensive tackle Donovan Harbour committed to Penn State. While he had an offer from OSU, and visited last September, the momentum had long been in the Nittany Lions favor on this one, so the pledge was likely not a surprise for Justin Frye.
@coachjfranklin 1000% committed️ pic.twitter.com/xveTf0TMl4
— Donovan “7D9” Harbour (@donovan_harbour) April 18, 2023
- Yesterday, top-100 offensive lineman, and Buckeye commit, Ian Moore took to Twitter to answer a spicy question from a recruiting insider. And while we (and Ian) are obviously biased, I think he totally nailed this one.
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LGHL Ohio State fortifies backcourt with addition of former Baylor guard Dale Bonner
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Ohio State fortifies backcourt with addition of former Baylor guard Dale Bonner
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
The sixth-year guard and Shaker Heights-native is expected to back up Ohio State’s second-year guards, Bruce Thornton and Roddy Gayle.
In a bit of an unexpected twist earlier this week, Ohio State added a transfer guard who had not previously been linked to the program prior to his commitment. Dale Bonner, a 6-foot-2, 170-pound guard who has played at Division-II Fairmont State and more recently Baylor, made it known on Monday that he would transfer to Ohio State for his final year of eligibility.
Bonner averaged 17.8 points and 5.3 assists per game during his (redshirt) freshman season at Fairmont State in the 2019-2020 season. He then averaged 20.2 points per game as a sophomore, leading the team in scoring. He was Fairmont State’s overall leader in points, assists, and steals during his two seasons before transferring to Baylor before the 2021-2022 season.
A fan favorite in Waco, Scott Drew’s Baylor teams used Bonner primarily as a backup to guys like Adam Flagler, Keyonte George, and LJ Cryer during his two seasons there. Still, Bonner averaged 18.3 minutes per game on two Baylor teams that earned No. 1 and No. 3-seeds in the past two NCAA Tournaments. He averaged 3.9 points and 2.1 assists per game, and had 67 steals in 60 games.
He’s been described as a “gifted defender and passer” and was one of Baylor’s best on-ball defenders last season. Adding Bonner to a recipe that already includes Thornton, Gayle, Felix Okpara, and Scotty Middleton could help create Ohio State’s best defensive team in several seasons.
Bonner will likely be expected to play a similar role at Ohio State, as Bruce Thornton and Roddy Gayle are likely entrenched at the point and shooting guard spots after playing extensive minutes as freshmen — in Gayle’s case, mostly during the stretch run. Bonner will not be expected to carry a big scoring load with Thornton, Gayle, Jamison Battle, Zed Key, and others on the team, but they may lean on his shooting (37.2% from three last season) a bit more than Baylor did.
The sixth-year guard told the Columbus Dispatch on Monday afternoon that he was not set on playing in any particular conference or level of basketball, as he also had visits to Tulane, Minnesota, Notre Dame, and Akron scheduled for this month. However, Ohio State felt like “the right fit.”
“I was pretty open to all levels and all different coaches around the country,” he said. “It essentially came down to me getting on campus and seeing everything. I just felt comfortable and felt like it was the right fit for me and the right decision.”
Bonner will probably play a similar amount of minutes at Ohio State as he did at Baylor, barring any injuries popping up. Taison Chatman, a four-star freshman guard from Minnesota, will also mix into the Ohio State backcourt this season, but Thornton and Gayle will have the first crack at starting roles. It also would not be a shocker for Holtmann and staff to work in some three-guard lineups next season where it makes sense, with Thornton, Gayle, and one of Bonner or Chatman on the floor together.
While not a splashy addition, the Buckeyes had a need for an experienced guard who could work alongside a comparatively inexperienced backcourt cast. Ohio State’s other need this offseason — adding a dynamic forward who could score in bunches — was accomplished with the addition of Battle two weeks ago.
With Bonner on the roster, Ohio State is now one scholarship over the limit, with 14. However, Brice Sensabaugh is likely remaining in the NBA Draft, and there are rumors that Tanner Holden may opt to transfer as well. It goes without saying that if Holtmann was comfortable adding Bonner at this point, he and his staff are confident that one of Sensabaugh or Holden will not be on the team this fall.
Continue reading...
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
The sixth-year guard and Shaker Heights-native is expected to back up Ohio State’s second-year guards, Bruce Thornton and Roddy Gayle.
In a bit of an unexpected twist earlier this week, Ohio State added a transfer guard who had not previously been linked to the program prior to his commitment. Dale Bonner, a 6-foot-2, 170-pound guard who has played at Division-II Fairmont State and more recently Baylor, made it known on Monday that he would transfer to Ohio State for his final year of eligibility.
Bonner averaged 17.8 points and 5.3 assists per game during his (redshirt) freshman season at Fairmont State in the 2019-2020 season. He then averaged 20.2 points per game as a sophomore, leading the team in scoring. He was Fairmont State’s overall leader in points, assists, and steals during his two seasons before transferring to Baylor before the 2021-2022 season.
A fan favorite in Waco, Scott Drew’s Baylor teams used Bonner primarily as a backup to guys like Adam Flagler, Keyonte George, and LJ Cryer during his two seasons there. Still, Bonner averaged 18.3 minutes per game on two Baylor teams that earned No. 1 and No. 3-seeds in the past two NCAA Tournaments. He averaged 3.9 points and 2.1 assists per game, and had 67 steals in 60 games.
He’s been described as a “gifted defender and passer” and was one of Baylor’s best on-ball defenders last season. Adding Bonner to a recipe that already includes Thornton, Gayle, Felix Okpara, and Scotty Middleton could help create Ohio State’s best defensive team in several seasons.
Bonner will likely be expected to play a similar role at Ohio State, as Bruce Thornton and Roddy Gayle are likely entrenched at the point and shooting guard spots after playing extensive minutes as freshmen — in Gayle’s case, mostly during the stretch run. Bonner will not be expected to carry a big scoring load with Thornton, Gayle, Jamison Battle, Zed Key, and others on the team, but they may lean on his shooting (37.2% from three last season) a bit more than Baylor did.
The sixth-year guard told the Columbus Dispatch on Monday afternoon that he was not set on playing in any particular conference or level of basketball, as he also had visits to Tulane, Minnesota, Notre Dame, and Akron scheduled for this month. However, Ohio State felt like “the right fit.”
“I was pretty open to all levels and all different coaches around the country,” he said. “It essentially came down to me getting on campus and seeing everything. I just felt comfortable and felt like it was the right fit for me and the right decision.”
Bonner will probably play a similar amount of minutes at Ohio State as he did at Baylor, barring any injuries popping up. Taison Chatman, a four-star freshman guard from Minnesota, will also mix into the Ohio State backcourt this season, but Thornton and Gayle will have the first crack at starting roles. It also would not be a shocker for Holtmann and staff to work in some three-guard lineups next season where it makes sense, with Thornton, Gayle, and one of Bonner or Chatman on the floor together.
While not a splashy addition, the Buckeyes had a need for an experienced guard who could work alongside a comparatively inexperienced backcourt cast. Ohio State’s other need this offseason — adding a dynamic forward who could score in bunches — was accomplished with the addition of Battle two weeks ago.
With Bonner on the roster, Ohio State is now one scholarship over the limit, with 14. However, Brice Sensabaugh is likely remaining in the NBA Draft, and there are rumors that Tanner Holden may opt to transfer as well. It goes without saying that if Holtmann was comfortable adding Bonner at this point, he and his staff are confident that one of Sensabaugh or Holden will not be on the team this fall.
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LGHL Softball: Home runs propel Buckeyes to series win over Illinois
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Softball: Home runs propel Buckeyes to series win over Illinois
meganhusslein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
@ohiostatesb Instagram
It was a weekend of the long ball against the Fighting Illini!
Last week Ohio State played five games, including a doubleheader against Penn State and a three-game series against Illinois. During that span, 11 home runs were hit. The team had a .610 slugging percentage and was averaging 8.4 runs per game. The offense certainly was not a problem.
Let’s take a look at the series dub against Illinois this past weekend.
Game 1
This game started off with a bang, as shortstop Kami Kortokrax smacked her sixth home run of the season in the first inning — a solo shot to put the Bucks up early. The next inning, catcher Hannah Church hit a two-run homer of her own, and then the runs would just continue to pile on from there.
Designated player Sam Hackenbracht obviously had to get in on the home run party, a two-run shot in the third to make it 5-0. After a bases loaded walk and a fielding error in the fifth, two more runs were scored before the top of the sixth, where Illinois pitching really struggled. As in, giving up three hits, walking three and hitting one, which resulted in four runs scored, making it 11-0 and the Buckeyes eligible for a run rule.
The pitching stayed strong in the bottom half of the frame, as it had all game to give Ohio State a six-inning win. Allison Smith was simply amazing this weekend, and this was just the beginning. She threw five innings while only surrendering two hits and three walks. Lexi Paulsen pitched the final inning, giving up just one hit and one walk.
This was an all-around amazing start to the series.
Game 2
In the first game of the doubleheader Saturday, the offense once again was not a problem, but the Buckeyes gave up 13 runs and only scored nine, which was a problem.
The first inning was big for both teams, as Kortokrax was the start of the barrage of hits again. Her RBI double, Hackenbracht’s RBI single and a fielder’s choice brought in four runs. As for the pitching, Emily Ruck got roughed up in this game pretty bad. She gave up three runs off five hits in the first inning to give the Illini a solid start.
However, the offense was not backing down as they scored two runs off two hits in the second inning to make it 6-3 Buckeyes. But then the bottom of the third happened, and this is where Ruck truly got shelled. The righty gave up four runs off five hits, putting Illinois ahead 7-6. Interesting to note, all six scoring situations were the result of singles. Ruck did not give up the long ball, which is what she usually struggles with.
Redshirt freshman Kennedy Kay came in for relief and immediately got a double play to end the inning. She gave up a run in the fifth, then Hackenbracht did what she does best and hit a solo homer put the Buckeyes within one.
The bottom of the sixth is when it all fell apart. Kay was pulled after the first batter, and Smith replaced her, only to give up a three-run home run. Next, freshman Julia Miller came in and loaded the bases, then gave up another walk to allow a run. Finally, Paulsen came in for relief and gave up one run, but worked out of the inning. Four pitchers were used and five runs were scored, making it 13-7.
Melina Wilkison hit a two-run home run in the top of the seventh to try and get a rally going, but ultimately they fell short, 13-9. This was the first time all season that all five pitchers on the roster were used in the same game.
Game 3
Who else but Wilkison?! The right fielder hit yet another first-inning home run this season to put the Bucks ahead early. First baseman Mariah Rodriguez added one of her own in the third inning. In the fifth inning, Ohio State got crafty with its scoring as Wilkison hit a sacrifice fly, Kortokrax’s ground out allowed a run and Hackenbracht reaching on a throwing error allowed another.
A HBP, double and yet another fielding error costed Illinois four more runs in the sixth, making it 9-0. Its only run was scored in the bottom half of the frame on a wild pitch, but the game ended after the inning because of the run-rule.
Smith shined again in this one, throwing another complete game, only giving up one run on four hits and two walks.
Overall, what a fun weekend for the Buckeyes! Yes, they fell apart for one inning in their loss which costed them, but the truly impressed in their wins. In their two wins, they scored 20 combined runs, hit six home runs and allowed just one run. Smith was the winning pitcher in both Buckeye victories, going 11 innings on the weekend with a 1.27 ERA and .189 batting average against.
After going 4-1 away from home this past week, Ohio State returns to Columbus to begin a seven-game homestand today when it hosts Youngstown State. The game starts at 6 p.m. and will be streamed on BTN+.
Continue reading...
meganhusslein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
@ohiostatesb Instagram
It was a weekend of the long ball against the Fighting Illini!
Last week Ohio State played five games, including a doubleheader against Penn State and a three-game series against Illinois. During that span, 11 home runs were hit. The team had a .610 slugging percentage and was averaging 8.4 runs per game. The offense certainly was not a problem.
Let’s take a look at the series dub against Illinois this past weekend.
Game 1
This game started off with a bang, as shortstop Kami Kortokrax smacked her sixth home run of the season in the first inning — a solo shot to put the Bucks up early. The next inning, catcher Hannah Church hit a two-run homer of her own, and then the runs would just continue to pile on from there.
Designated player Sam Hackenbracht obviously had to get in on the home run party, a two-run shot in the third to make it 5-0. After a bases loaded walk and a fielding error in the fifth, two more runs were scored before the top of the sixth, where Illinois pitching really struggled. As in, giving up three hits, walking three and hitting one, which resulted in four runs scored, making it 11-0 and the Buckeyes eligible for a run rule.
The pitching stayed strong in the bottom half of the frame, as it had all game to give Ohio State a six-inning win. Allison Smith was simply amazing this weekend, and this was just the beginning. She threw five innings while only surrendering two hits and three walks. Lexi Paulsen pitched the final inning, giving up just one hit and one walk.
This was an all-around amazing start to the series.
Game 2
In the first game of the doubleheader Saturday, the offense once again was not a problem, but the Buckeyes gave up 13 runs and only scored nine, which was a problem.
The first inning was big for both teams, as Kortokrax was the start of the barrage of hits again. Her RBI double, Hackenbracht’s RBI single and a fielder’s choice brought in four runs. As for the pitching, Emily Ruck got roughed up in this game pretty bad. She gave up three runs off five hits in the first inning to give the Illini a solid start.
However, the offense was not backing down as they scored two runs off two hits in the second inning to make it 6-3 Buckeyes. But then the bottom of the third happened, and this is where Ruck truly got shelled. The righty gave up four runs off five hits, putting Illinois ahead 7-6. Interesting to note, all six scoring situations were the result of singles. Ruck did not give up the long ball, which is what she usually struggles with.
Redshirt freshman Kennedy Kay came in for relief and immediately got a double play to end the inning. She gave up a run in the fifth, then Hackenbracht did what she does best and hit a solo homer put the Buckeyes within one.
The bottom of the sixth is when it all fell apart. Kay was pulled after the first batter, and Smith replaced her, only to give up a three-run home run. Next, freshman Julia Miller came in and loaded the bases, then gave up another walk to allow a run. Finally, Paulsen came in for relief and gave up one run, but worked out of the inning. Four pitchers were used and five runs were scored, making it 13-7.
Melina Wilkison hit a two-run home run in the top of the seventh to try and get a rally going, but ultimately they fell short, 13-9. This was the first time all season that all five pitchers on the roster were used in the same game.
Game 3
Who else but Wilkison?! The right fielder hit yet another first-inning home run this season to put the Bucks ahead early. First baseman Mariah Rodriguez added one of her own in the third inning. In the fifth inning, Ohio State got crafty with its scoring as Wilkison hit a sacrifice fly, Kortokrax’s ground out allowed a run and Hackenbracht reaching on a throwing error allowed another.
A HBP, double and yet another fielding error costed Illinois four more runs in the sixth, making it 9-0. Its only run was scored in the bottom half of the frame on a wild pitch, but the game ended after the inning because of the run-rule.
Smith shined again in this one, throwing another complete game, only giving up one run on four hits and two walks.
Overall, what a fun weekend for the Buckeyes! Yes, they fell apart for one inning in their loss which costed them, but the truly impressed in their wins. In their two wins, they scored 20 combined runs, hit six home runs and allowed just one run. Smith was the winning pitcher in both Buckeye victories, going 11 innings on the weekend with a 1.27 ERA and .189 batting average against.
After going 4-1 away from home this past week, Ohio State returns to Columbus to begin a seven-game homestand today when it hosts Youngstown State. The game starts at 6 p.m. and will be streamed on BTN+.
Continue reading...