NCAA Basketball: Analyzing 2021 5-star C Charles Bediako’s top 10 teams

Ohio State Buckeyes

Much like the coaching transition of Buckeye rival Michigan, the coaching transition from Thad Matta to Chris Holtmann has not drastically changed the on-court tendencies for post-players. Reliant on only one big-man for most of the last decade, Ohio State has not prioritized the position much. Only Jared Sullinger and Kaleb Wesson have commanded a significant share of the team’s offense, as centers, in that time.

Instead guards and athletic forwards with stretch ability have typically dominated the offense under Holtmann. The glass-half-full viewpoint for Bediako committing to the Buckeyes is there will be a lot of roster flux in the offseason prior to his arrival. Ohio State stands to lose much of it’s offensive production in the way of departing seniors Seth Towns, CJ Walker, Abel Porter, Justice Sueing and potentially Duane Washington Jr.

Bediako can enter the program at a time where his viability and impact on the offensive and defensive end will pay dividends in his freshman season. The Buckeyes will be strongest in the frontcourt, based on current roster projections, and can offer a safety net for both Coach Holtmann and inexperienced guards entering the program. There’s definitely room to grow and become an outlier in the recent history of Ohio State basketball.