NCAA Basketball: Top 5 Players that have Played for Ohio State Head Coach Chris Holtmann

5. Tashan Newsome – Gardner-Webb Bulldogs (2009-2013)

Career stats: 10.9 ppg 4.6 rpg 1.8 apg

I had to include the top player from Holtmann’s days at Gardner-Webb, and without a doubt, Newsome was his best player there. After spending two seasons with a limited role at Mississippi Valley State, he transferred to the Bulldogs, where he excelled.

Newsome led the team in scoring both years, including four straight games of 22+ points his senior year. If he didn’t play well, Butler may not have even been interested in Holtmann as an assistant, let alone a future head coach.

4. Kelan Martin – Butler Bulldogs (2015-2018)

Career stats: 15.1 ppg 5.2 rpg 1.2 apg

To be clear, Martin’s monster senior season doesn’t figure into account on this piece, since Holtmann was at Ohio State at the time. But his great sophomore and juniors years are, where he averaged around 16.0 ppg and 6.3 rpg.

Martin led the team in scoring in 2017 which included a pair of 20+ point games in back-to-back road wins against heavyweights Xavier and Villanova.

3. Roosevelt Jones – Butler Bulldogs (2012-2016)

Career stats: 11.0 ppg 5.9 rpg 3.3 apg

It’s been an interesting career for Jones, who played for three different coaches and three different conferences. The four-year starter helped lead the program through those times, including  Holtmann’s three years.

He was a “jack of all trades” type of player, filling up the stat sheet. Jones was able to get his only triple-double of his career at St. John’s his senior season.