Ohio State Basketball: Derek Funderburk to transfer to Northwest Florida State
By Taylor Sturm
The Ohio State Buckeyes will lose one of their better recruits from the Class of 2016, as Derek Funderburk will transfer to Northwest Florida State.
The Chris Holtmann era at (the) Ohio State University started off with a bang, as he announced that redshirt freshman forward Derek Funderburk would be suspended for “failing to meet team expectations.”
This came as a shock to many because the expectation was that Funderburk would receive a bit of playing time during the 2017-18 season, and a new head coach needs all the help that they can get.
That being said, it could have been an early example of Holtmann attempting to set the tone of his program and the way he wants his program run. New coaches tend to try and make a statement that they are in charge as soon as they come into a program and, with the way that Ohio State basketball has performed recently, any change in program culture is a good one.
Less than a month after news broke of Funderburk’s suspension, it has been announced that he will transfer to Northwest Florida State Community College.
Former Ohio State forward Derek Funderburk is transferring to Northwest Florida, @CoachSteveDeMeo told ESPN.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) July 16, 2017
Funderburk was a 6’9, 210-pound power forward from the Class of 2016 from Lakewood, Ohio. He played high school ball at Hargrave Military Academy and was rated as the No. 66 player in the ESPN 100 and a four-star prospect by 247 Sports.
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Funderburk should shine with Northwest Florida State, making him one of the most sought after JUCO transfers in a year or so. Ohio State loses a good player, but it looks like this could be a move that is best for everyone involved.