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'17 OH C Derek Culver (West Virginia Verbal)

there aren't too many times I'd be torn on whether our staff should offer a T50 in-state player. this is one of them.

which is to say nothing against Culver, I think he will be a great college player. but he's your prototypical POWER forward moreso than the type of 4 Matta's system typically employs (Funderburk doesn't fit that role perfectly, either, but as more of a finesse player than Derek he does fit it better than Culver does and is probably our 4 of the future once Tate and KBD are gone), but he also probably wouldn't play much at the 5 here given I don't think he wants that and we'd have Thompson, Bell, Potter, Wesson...

I also don't get the sense that Derek, despite being an Ohio kid, has ever really dreamed about playing for OSU or anything, and we saw what happened with AJ Harris. unless Thompson or one of our forwards unexpectedly leaves before then, I'd say Derek would be a long shot to have more than a back-up role as a frosh, and he might not be happy with that when he could go to a number of great programs and play a huge role right away (and probably would be better utilized in a system like Louisville's, for instance).

I don't know, it's just not a good fit right now, unfortunately. at the same time, with the Giddens transfer, the staff might be thinking real hard about Culver. it made no sense before Daniel left, now it makes some sense.
 
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I'll never understand why Ohio State stayed clear of Culver, especially considering the timing of their offers to their incoming big men for 2016 & 2017. Hopefully for the Buckeyes, they'll "get it right" with Kyle Young of Massillon Jackson. Different position, but was well deserving of an offer. I was glad to see him get it. Potential "stretch four" IMO.
 
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I'll never understand why Ohio State stayed clear of Culver, especially considering the timing of their offers to their incoming big men for 2016 & 2017. Hopefully for the Buckeyes, they'll "get it right" with Kyle Young of Massillon Jackson. Different position, but was well deserving of an offer. I was glad to see him get it. Potential "stretch four" IMO.
I am sure that there must have been a reason that Matta did not recruit Derek and I think after last year it might be something beyond basketball.
 
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Litl, I hope that is true. Matta has shown a pretty good eye for staying away from kids from OH who are "red flags". And it does seem like a fair amount of them end up with Thuggins at WV. :wink: They sure didn't show any signs of going after Culver - despite his being pretty well regarded by most scouting services out there.

We do have a glut of frontcourt guys right now as well. Though they recently offered that Sims kid from Minnesota.
 
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