Basketball Buckeyes pick up steam on recruiting trail
Dan Hessler 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
Ohio State basketball’s program spoke with several recruits in the past couple days.

Monday was a whirlwind for the 2022 college basketball recruiting class. Almost all of the nation’s top prospects heard from college basketball coaches from across the country. Chris Holtmann and Ohio State was not going to miss out on such a busy day.

Below is a handful of recruits in the 2022 recruiting class that the Buckeyes’ staff has spoken with in the past couple days. It is unknown if any scholarships have been offered, but expect a few to be announced in the coming days.

Four-star SG Roddy Gayle Jr.


Hometown: Youngstown, NY/Lewiston Porter Senior

Class: 2022

Size: 6-foot-4, 160 lbs.

247Sports Ranking: No. 9 SG/No. 44 overall

Four-star PG Paul McMillan


Hometown: Cincinnati, OH/Woodward Career Technical

Class: 2022

Size: 6-foot-1, 170 lbs.

247Sports Ranking: No. 10 PG/No. 47 overall

Four-star CG Jameel Brown


Hometown: Haverford, PA/Haverford School

Class: 2022

Size: 6-foot-4, 145 lbs.

247Sports Ranking: No. 6 CG/No. 71 overall

Four-star SF Prince Aligbe


Hometown: Minneapolis, MN/Minnehaha Academy

Class: 2022

Size: 6-foot-6, 185 lbs.

247Sports Ranking: No. 16 SF/No. 58 overall

Four-star SG Chance Westry


Hometown: Camp Hill, PA/Trinity

Class: 2022

Size: 6-foot-4, 190 lbs.

247Sports Ranking: No. 7 SG/No. 27 overall

Four-star SG Dillon Hunter


Hometown: Atlanta, GA/Westlake

Class: 2022

Size: 6-foot-3, 170 lbs.

247Sports Ranking: No. 8 SG/ No. 32 overall

Four-star C Dereck Lively II


Hometown: Bellefonte, PA/Westtown School

Class: 2022

Size: 6-foot-11, 200 lbs.

247Sports Ranking: No. 4 C/No. 40 overall

Four-star SF Ty Rodgers


Hometown: Grand Blanc, MI/Grand Blanc Community

Class: 2022

Size: 6-foot-4, 180lbs.

247Sports Ranking: No. 18 SF/No. 65 overall

Four-star SF Camden Heide


Hometown: Minneapolis, MN/Wayzata

Class: 2022

Size: 6-foot-5, 180 lbs.

247Sports Ranking: No.7 SF/No. 29 overall

SF Josiah Harris


Hometown: Cleveland, OH/Richmond Heights

Class: 2022

Size: 6-foot-5, 180 lbs.

247Sports Ranking: N/A

Quick Hits:

• The nation’s No. 1 tight end prospect and Ohio State target Hudson Wolfe committed elsewhere Monday, spurning the Buckeyes in favor of Tennessee.

• Ohio State five-star DE verbal commit Jack Sawyer spoke with Bleacher Report about Ohio State and his path to becoming the Buckeyes’ next great defensive end.

Continue reading...

Buckeyeskickbuttocks said:

That's alright, we didn't read it either.

Click to expand...

fify

all i know is, i hope he stays in the big ten. eastern facing purdue and ttun would make for some stimulating television. or at least as stimulated as one can be watching nojel's jumpers hit the opposite side of the backboard.

Buckeyeskickbuttocks said:

This is goddamned poetry, @Jaxbuck :
"a new tree of douchebaggery grows from the fertile soil of stupidity and arrogance"

Click to expand...

I agree with BKB.....pure literary genius.

mendensa said:

could end up being a steal for Bama. This kid is sneaky, under the radar good.

Click to expand...

Agreed. Reminds me of Jaylen Waddle, who is currently at Bama. I was hoping we’d get him and Egbuka to finish. But I’m super happy with the WR recruiting so I can’t complain. He would have just been a added luxury.

BuckBackHome said:

The zoo is great. I would recommend heading there in the morning. Our experience is the animals are more active at that time and the crowds are usually smaller.

Click to expand...

Login to view embedded media
Jungle Jack Hanna Retirement Announcement: Honoring a Legacy of Inspiration and Passion For People and Wildlife

Powell, OH –- Jungle Jack Hanna has called the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium home since 1978, serving tirelessly as both director and director emeritus over his 42 years in Central Ohio. He has not only delighted and educated international television audiences during his countless media appearances but has also changed the role zoos play in their communities and globally.

And now, Jack Hanna is channeling his energy into a new role. The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and the Hanna family are announcing Jack’s retirement at the end of the year, with his last day on December 31, 2020. Out of respect for the many people whose lives the Hannas have touched, this news is being shared now to give the community ample time throughout the rest of the year to celebrate and thank Jack and Suzi. Jack’s career and leadership transformed the Zoo and set it on the course to be one of the world’s most successful and influential zoos. The Zoo celebrates its shared history with Jack and the wonderful memories of the positive impacts made for wildlife, people working to help endangered species and members of our local and global communities.

“As I approach my mid-70s with more than four decades at the Columbus Zoo, I believe it is time to wind down and officially step back while CEO Tom Stalf and the Zoo’s great leadership team continue to guide the Zoo into the future. Together with many friends and partners, we’ve come a long way to make the world a better place for people and wildlife!” said Jack.

Jack first arrived in Ohio in 1965 to attend Muskingum University—always the animal lover, he even brought his pet donkey with him to live in the fraternity house. While at Muskingum, Jack met his wife, Suzi, and they married in 1968.

Just 10 years later, Jack was asked to serve as director of a little-known zoo in Columbus, Ohio. The Hannas never anticipated the adventures ahead but, together, they were perfectly positioned to lead the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and the entire zoological world into the 21st century.

Jack served as the Columbus Zoo’s director from 1978 to 1992 before becoming Director Emeritus. He has authored 15 books, hosted several televisions series, has been the media’s “go to” wildlife correspondent and permeated pop culture while sharing amazing animals with audiences nationwide. He is beloved by his wife, daughters, grandchildren, the zoo community and millions around the world, whose hearts he has touched with his genuine enthusiasm, superhuman energy and passion for making a difference for wildlife.

While Jack will be stepping back from a public role and official duties to spend more time with his family, he will retain the title “director emeritus” and he maintains that he will always be the Zoo’s #1 fan.

“Suzi and I couldn’t be prouder to be a part of the Central Ohio community and Columbus Zoo and Aquarium family. Our 42 years at the Columbus Zoo have been the best of our lives—we’ve raised our daughters here and had the honor of revitalizing our Zoo alongside a great team while being advocates for wildlife worldwide. We look forward to supporting the Columbus Zoo for many years to come—while taking some much needed down time with our family along the way!”

Tom Stalf, who became the Columbus Zoo President/CEO in 2012, said he proudly carries on the Zoo’s legacy of global and local wildlife conservation that Jack and Suzi Hanna built.

“I am honored to work for the Columbus Zoo and The Wilds and to lead an incredibly dedicated team of people, who continue to embody Jack’s passion for wildlife,” said Stalf. “I’ve worked with Jack for over 25 years, and witness how he engages people from around the world as they travel to meet him and hear his stories. He has created so many memories and smiles for people with his authenticity and down-to-earth (and larger-than-life!) personality. Jack is a true celebrity and professional. I’ve never met any who is as true, real, wholesome, honest and loving as Jack and Suzi Hanna,” he said. “Jack has inspired many people to learn and care about a variety of species around the world, resulting in positive impacts on wildlife and wild places. For Jack, that is the best legacy of all. I’m grateful to Jack for giving me and so many others the opportunity and vision to focus on conservation, animal welfare and people. The Columbus Zoo will always be the home of Jack Hanna. Thanks to the impact he has made on all of us, we continue to work to ‘touch the heart to teach the mind’ as we fulfill our mission to ‘lead and inspire by connecting people and wildlife.’”

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Board Chair Chad Jester said he admires the meaningful impacts that Jack’s dedication and passion have made both locally and globally.

“Anyone who has had the opportunity to meet Jack, or see one of his television shows, knows he cares about people every bit as much as he does wildlife. His tireless efforts to develop and nurture community relationships and share educational opportunities provided the strong foundation on which the Columbus Zoo’s programs were built. The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium leadership, as well as the dedicated teams at the Zoo and its properties, will continue to honor Jack’s legacy for years to come,” said Jester.

Entire article: https://www.columbuszoo.org/home/ab...spiration-and-passion-for-people-and-wildlife

I kind of know about the torrents BP provides which is awesome. I just looked through that thread in the torrents forum so that seems the best bet for solving my issue. That said...

I normally keep the entire previous season on my DVR until the following season begins, but my DVR died a few months ago. I can easily go back and search for full games for TOSU all the way back to 2001 for full games on YouTube for example. But there is nothing for the 2019 season at all except the Clemson game. Does anyone happen to know why this is the case? Is there some legal thing I'm not aware of or I'm crap at searching for things (very likely) or....?

Jaxbuck said:

Oh you just hate to see it

Click to expand...

Re: A 6-foot-2, 200-pounder, Johnson was expected to fight classmate Ta'Quan Roberson for the Nittany Lions’ third-team job in the spring, behind junior Sean Clifford and sophomore Will Levis. A four-star prospect out Sheldon High in Eugene, Ore., Johnson was a member of Penn State’s 2019 recruiting class but did not register a snap last season while redshirting.

It appeared as if he was going to head into spring practice slightly behind Roberson in that battle for the third-team job. That, of course, was before spring ball was called off due to the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

In early April, PSU strength coach Dwight Galt expressed concern about Johnson’s ability to work out from home while social distancing. Johnson spent his time with his parents in Mississippi.

“His parents came up from Mississippi and picked him up and took him back down there when (the hiatus) got prolonged for the rest of the semester,” Galt said at the time. “So he's down there right now. He's got some dumbbells down there, too, with his dad's equipment stuff. And we're currently trying to find somebody for him to throw to down there.”

Around the same time, new offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca said he was looking forward to working with all of PSU’s backup QBs.

“Well, I really have not seen (Johnson and Roberson) throw,” Ciarrocca said. “Because Will (Levis) only played in the Ohio State and Rutgers games, I don't have a great baseline on him, either. … But the one thing I can tell you is all three of the guys have a great work ethic and the ability to learn. That's what I've been able to do. Our time has really been spent in the classroom, so I've got a feel for them as people; how they learn. They're very intelligent guys and well-trained. Looking forward to continuing to work with them, but I'm anxious to get the field with them and watch them throw and watch them process stuff in real time.”

Getting Johnson on the field apparently is not going to happen now.

Besides Clifford, Levis and Roberson, the PSU QB roomed will be joined by incoming freshman Micah Bowens of Las Vegas this summer. The Lions also have a QB commit for the Class of 2021 in Canadian prospect Christian Veilleux.

Just sayin': Yeah, I really do. The article says he was competing for the 3rd string QB position. He wasn't going anywhere at Penn State and now that frees up a scholarship for someone else.

DiamondBuck said:

“We had a long conversation on that,” Herman said according to the Austin American-Statesman. “Every time in my 45 years on the planet when a player gets in a fight with an inanimate object, usually the inanimate object wins.” ...

Click to expand...

Mensa-level insight there.


[/QUOTE]
Wonder if Tom fogs himself in Sex Panther before heading to the Jiggly Room.

Keep at it big Mack

NJ-Buckeye said:

The science behind what will happen when Yellowstone/Yosemite goes is pretty uncomfortable

Click to expand...

Here in Denver, I won't be worrying about the long-term consequences ...

LordJeffBuck said:

Fullback Ollie Cline, who set many OSU rushing records, was an All-American in 1945.

Click to expand...

Login to view embedded media

As a tribute to Tibor75 (aka Guy Incognito), on this day in sports history in 1999......



6/09/1999 - Bobby Valentine goes undercover

When Mets manager Bobby Valentine got ejected for arguing an interference call on Mike Piazza, he did something a tad unusual. Most managers stand in the hallway and relay strategies to their assistants when they get kicked out. Valentine went a step further, returning to the dugout in a pair of sunglasses, a Mets t-shirt, and a mustache made of eye black tape.

Despite leading the Mets to the Subway Series in 2000, Valentine was constantly hounded by the press in his tenure with the Mets. It was this stunt that would be referenced the most in their attempts to paint him as a joke.

Valentine didn't exactly help himself out when he denied allegations and visual proof that it was him. ''It was somebody else who didn't look like me,'' he told reporters. Baseball officials were not amused and gave Valentine a two-game suspension and $5,000 fine.

''It was an incident that occurred that I can't take back,'' Valentine said a few days later. ''It's one of those things that happened. If I had known what the responses would be and how seriously the outside world would take it, I never would have done it." ''Let's not kid anyone. I knew where the camera was. If I thought this was punishable by death, the camera never would have seen me. I didn't think it was that big a deal. But again I was incorrect."

Login to view embedded media
However, the Boulder Daily Camera is reporting that there is an opportunity for Alfano to return. From the report:

Head coach Karl Dorrell told BuffZone, however, that Alfano remains indefinitely suspended and there is a path for him to return to active status if he chooses to take it. Dorrell declined to specify the steps Alfano needs to take in order to return.

According to a source close to Alfano, he received a medical withdrawal from school for the spring semester.

Scootersexual??????

LovelandBuckeye said:

You gotta ask @Jaxbuck I don't like to kink shame.

Click to expand...

Do unto others...

Edit: May I suggest your last post be considered for your sig? It’s worthy.

Login to view embedded media
On Twitter late last week, the linebacker announced that he will be transferring to FCS Tennessee-Martin. And also offered up a mean culpa to his two previous programs.

“I would like to say thank you to everyone who has been on this journey with me,” Anoma wrote. “It has been very draining emotionally, physically and mentally. However, I would like to apologize to the staff and my teammates at the University of Alabama as well as at the University of Houston for my actions prior to today. I am learning [every day] that every action has a consequence, and it is my responsibility to decide whether or not my actions will be positive or negative. As a young man, I can only take things one day at [a] time and continue to transition into the man [God wants] me to be.

“I want to say thank you to my supporters and family for not giving up on me when things started to get difficult.”

SONG OF THE DAY. Management requested the daily tune be moved to the end of each Skull Session, and I see no reason why not.

Here's "Carmen Ohio" sung by the Ohio State Men's Glee Club – virtually.

Login to view embedded media
Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/skul...-host-the-modified-tbt-and-treveyon-henderson

Akron Rick said:

Sorry if this 2x posted. Just wanted to ask if anyone else thinks the tight end position..at least in this offense..is going the route of the fullback? With 4-5 wrs on every play do they really need 3 more TEs next year I f they're only used for 4th and 1 situations?

Click to expand...

Been wondering the same myself. Ruckert is a beast, and I still don't see him being top 5 in any receiving category

Yep good luck to him! We will hear his name called in a buckeye game either way I'd imagine

Buckeye Bits: Cam Martinez as a two-way player, Meyer picks Lawrence over Fields, NBA Draft in October, more
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
All of the latest Ohio State news from around the beat and beyond

Welcome to Buckeye Bits — our daily news roundup on everything happening at Ohio State and around the sports world. We’ve been without sporting events for quite some time now, and while things like the KBO and the Bundesliga have attempted to fill the void, its just not quite the same as the action we have been stripped of these past few months. With that being said, its looking like there is a ton of positive momentum for these sports to return, especially so when it comes to college football.

Without further ado, let’s check out today’s headlines.

From around Land-Grant Holy Land...

• Two Ohio State targets expected to commit in June
  (Tia Johnston, LGHL)

Despite already having the nation’s top class, Ohio State is still in on some of the top remaining unsigned prospects in the country. A pair of four-star recruits plan on making their college decision sometime later this month, and both of them have included the Buckeyes among their top schools. Definitely something to keep an eye on.

• Trey Sermon’s move to Ohio State the most impactful transfer of 2020
  (Brett Ludwiczak, LGHL)

A bunch of college football players traded in their jerseys for one of a different color this offseason, and maybe none of these transfers will have a bigger impact on the landscape of the sport as a whole than Trey Sermon’s move to Ohio State. With a beat up running back room, Sermon adds much needed depth and experience to the roster.

• How will Ohio State replace the production of Chase Young?
  (Gene Ross, LGHL)

One of the biggest hurdles Ohio State faces heading into 2020 is replacing a ton of star power on defense. No star shined brighter in 2019 than Chase Young, and now Ryan Day and his staff must find a way to replace his massive production by use of a committee of talented pass rushers.

• Yesterday’s Buckeye Bits
  (Tia Johnston, LGHL)

Ohio State announced it’s new university president on Wednesday, C.J. Saunders and Tuf Borland spoke out in support of social justice, and much, much more in yesterday’s news roundup.

From around the gridiron...

• Jack Miller not shying away from competition for Buckeyes
  (Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row)

Ohio State QB Jack Miller has weathered a ton of adversity before even stepping foot on campus. Committing to the Buckeyes back in the summer of 2018, he watched his school go through a huge coaching change, watched his recruiting ranking slip due to injuries in his last two high school seasons, and then saw OSU recruit another QB with a higher rating in his same class. Still, Miller did not waiver in his commitment, and now he is ready to fight for the backup job behind Justin Fields this season.

• Two-way athlete Cameron Martinez “mainly preparing” to play defense
  (Colin Hass-Hill, Eleven Warriors)

Ohio State hasn’t had too many players adept at playing both sides of the ball. Guys like Zach Boren, who played both fullback and linebacker, and most notably Chris Gamble, who played both wide receiver and corner, are the guys who first come to mind. Cam Martinez could be the next guy in line to hear his name called on both offense and defense, however the former high school QB is mostly preparing to be a defensive back at the next level.

• The top two QBs in college football in 2020 are pretty obvious: it’s Justin Fields and Trevor Lawrence. The order in which you rank those two, however, are very much up in the air. The Fox CFB guys ranked their preseason top five QBs heading into the season, and both the fans and Reggie Bush had Fields as their No. 1. Everyone else had Trevor Lawrence, including former OSU head coach Urban Meyer.

• Ohio State doesn’t have any plans to test all of its student athletes for COVID-19 upon their return to campus, but maybe they should re-consider given what’s going on in the south.

• If Chase Young says he ready, he ready.

From around the hardwood...

• David Lighty signs two-year contract extension with ASVEL
  (Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts)

As Murphy explains, it’s rare that basketball players remain on one team for long periods of time in the pros, let alone overseas. That has not been the case for former Ohio State small forward David Lighty, who just signed a contract extension with AVSEL Basketball in Lyon, France, keeping him with the team through 2024. Having played for AVSEL since 2017, Lighty was originally a member of the “Thad Five” in the famed Buckeye recruiting class of 2006.

• It looks like former Ohio State forward Kaleb Wesson will have to continue to wait to hear his name called in the 2020 NBA Draft, as the league has pushed the Draft Lottery to Aug. 25 and the draft itself to Oct. 15, according to NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski.

From everywhere else...

• Ohio State student-athletes from across multiple sports continue to speak out for social justice and racial equality as the country as a whole fights for change.

• If you ever wondered why players seem to like Ryan Day so much, this is why.

• The NBA is BACK.

• While I have a ton of questions as to why a punter would declare early for the NFL Draft, it will be interesting to see if this sets a precedent for student-athletes moving forward. The NBA and college basketball already allow players to test the draft market and then return to school, could the NFL and college football be next?

Continue reading...