Busting Brackets
Fansided

Big Ten Basketball: Breaking down each program’s 2018 recruiting class

By Lukas Harkins

EAST LANSING, MI - JANUARY 26: General view of the Breslin Center. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - JANUARY 26: General view of the Breslin Center. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
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BOISE, ID – MARCH 17: Head coach Holtmann of Ohio State. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
BOISE, ID – MARCH 17: Head coach Holtmann of Ohio State. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

Ohio State Buckeyes

Class rankings: 6th in Big Ten, 23rd nationally

Commitments: Luther Muhammad (72), Jaedon LeDee (96), Duane Washington (156), Justin Ahrens (239)

Ohio State head coach Chris Holtmann has already gotten off to a tremendous start in Columbus. Despite low expectations for 2017-18, Holtmann led Ohio State to a 25-win season and a second-place finish in the Big Ten. In addition, he has been hot on the recruiting trail, locking up a top-25 class in the country.

Before jumping into the recruits he brought in, it is important to note that Andrew Dakich, Jae’Sean Tate, and Kam Williams are all graduating. In addition, star player Keita Bates-Diop is testing the NBA Draft waters without signing an agent. That decision seems to be 50/50 at this point and it would not be a surprise if he stayed in the draft.

Because of these potentially massive losses, it is great that Ohio State is bringing in such a talented recruiting class. There is a lot of scoring leaving the school and top recruit Luther Muhammad will try to fill that void. He is a high-scoring shooting guard who can find the bottom of the basket from anywhere on the floor.

In addition, incoming combo guard Duane Washington should provide some scoring while also help with the point guard duties. Even though he was not the starter this past season, Dakich was the only true point guard on the roster. The primary ball-handling and playmaking duties will have to be done by committee in 2018-19 and Washington will be a part of that group.

Jaedon LeDee, a top-100 recruit, will be extremely valuable in helping the Buckeyes replenish their frontcourt. Kaleb Wesson and Micah Porter are the main returning players up front for OSU and Lee will definitely see minutes either as a reserve or even a starter.

By percentage, Ohio State is likely losing four of their top five 3-point shooters from last season. The only returning player of that bunch is guard C.J. Jackson (37.9 3P%). After that grouping, nobody else shot better than 30% from beyond the arc. This is where incoming freshman Justin Ahrens will have his biggest impact. The 6’5″ in-state wing recruit is known as an above-average shooter and will find minutes because of that skill.

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