The firing of Jim Foster and hiring of Kevin McGuff for the Ohio State women's basketball team has already made its mark when it comes to the recruiting trail this summer. The Lady Bucks have four commitments, three of which are ranked in the ESPN Super Sixty. The class is led by five star Kelsey Mitchell out of Princeton High School in Cincinnati, Ohio. Kelsey is ranked as the second best point guard in the class by ESPN and forth best overall. During her junior season when she was named the Southwest District player of the year, she averaged 22 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assist and 3 steals. To go along with Kelsey, McGuff has also received commitments from fellow five star Alexa Hart out of Africentric High School in Columbus. Hart will arrive in Columbus a top notch shot blocker and also as a player who can finish around the rim. Chelsea Mitchell, who is Kelsey's sister and daughter of new Ohio State assistant coach Mark Mitchell, will also be part of the Lady Buckeyes in 2014.
The rich got richer yesterday when Coach McGuff secured the commitment of Makayla Waterman out of Fairmont High School. She is ranked the 30th best player in the country and the seventh best at the forward position. Makayla took to Twitter to announcer her decision:
Proud to be an Ohio State Buckeye! Thanks everyone for all the support and love you showed me through… http://t.co/JawiwWTmIr
— makayla waterman (@M_H2OMan24) August 21, 2013
Last year in the state title game, Waterman dropped twenty four points in leading her team to a 52-48 victory over Twinsburg. Although Waterman is the leader of her team, she isn't the only star that plays for Fairmont; her teammate Kathryn Westbeld is also a 6-2 forward and ranked as the thirty-first best recruit in the Super Sixty. Some believe Westbeld will end up a Buckeye as well.
Shifting gears to the world of football, the season is right around the corner and some of the top recruits are starting to narrow down their top schools and schedule official visits. With only one Saturday left before the season starts, 247Composite four star Myles Autry will be trimming his list down to seven. The Buckeyes offered Autry back in October of 2012, during his junior season, and just a few months later Autry named Ohio State his leader. But oh how the times have changed for the senior out of Norcross, Georgia. Autry's Crystal Ball Predictions read 100% across the board for Florida State. I believe the Buckeyes will make Autry's top seven, but that's about it. The numbers are just too tight for the 2014 class to include him.
It's Official That I Will Have My Top 7 On Saturday Before The Game!
— Myles Autry5⃣ (@KingCinco_) August 21, 2013
Two future Buckeyes moved up in the recruiting rankings as Rivals continued to released revised ones yesterday. Stephen Collier, who was a two star, is now ranked a three star in the latest round of rankings. Collier and his Lee County teammates open the regular season on August 30th. Collier is entering this season as the full time quarterback for Lee County, unlike last season when he didn't take over the starting job until Week 4.
Also on the rise is speedster Terry McLaurin, out of Indianapolis, Indiana. As many of you know, Terry had a coming out party at The Opening 2013 in July where he finished with the second best overall SPARQ score. McLaurin jumped up from being a three star to a four star in the latest Rival Rankings. Terry and his Irish teammates open up their regular season this Friday at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Back on August 2nd, 247Composite five star RB Joe Mixon named his top ten and the Buckeyes made the list. But will they be able to get him to campus for an official visit? Mixon, who has already scheduled three of his allowed five officials, will be visiting Cal when the Buckeyes make their trip out west. As of now, Mixon will also take official visits to Oklahoma and Big Ten rival Wisconsin.
QUICK HITS:
- Ohio State target Dwayne Bacon will be play for the Reebok Breakout All-Stars in the EBC held at the famous New York City Rucker Park tonight.
- LGHL's Zach Fleer learned that '16 basketball recruit Derek Funderburk Jr. visited Ohio State this past weekend.
- 2015 basketball recruit Carlton Bragg was offered by the University of Kansas last night.