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Across The Hoop Scene: Ahrens commits to Michigan State and much more

In a busy basketball news week, Michigan State made headlines by landing a commitment from Versailles (OH) shooting guard Kyle Ahrens on Thursday.

By Zach Fleer
Versailles shooting guard Kyle Ahrens becomes Michigan State's second member of the 2015 class.
Versailles shooting guard Kyle Ahrens becomes Michigan State's second member of the 2015 class.
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While LeBron James' cramps have taken over the sports world in the last 16 hours or so, quite a bit has been going on across the hoop scene in Ohio. With Michigan State dominating the Ohio scene in the last day or so, let's take a look at everything making headlines this week.

On the second day of an official visit, 2015 Versailles shooting guard Kyle Ahrens committed to Michigan State on Thursday night. Ahrens joins four-star forward Deyonta Davis in coach Tom Izzo's 2015 class, choosing the Spartans over the likes of Boston College, Butler, Dayton, Iowa, Tennessee and Xavier.

In addition to Ahrens' commitment, Michigan State made another splash on Thursday, offering a scholarship to 2016 Gahanna Lincoln big man Nick Ward. Ward, who has been one of the top breakout players on the AAU scene this spring, picks up his first high-major offer roughly a month after Miami (OH) became the first program to offer the 6-foot-8 junior-to-be.

ESPN, Scout release new rankings

Earlier in the week, ESPN released new rankings for the 2015 and 2016 basketball classes. Not far behind, Scout released its own updated ranking list for 2015.

In ESPN's updated 2015 rankings, Ohio State commits Austin Grandstaff (No. 43), AJ Harris (No. 62) and Mickey Mitchell (No. 87) each appear in the top 100. In regards to the rest of Ohio, Carlton Bragg (No. 14) heads the class, followed by Duke commit Luke Kennard (No. 31), and Buckeye target Esa Ahmad (No. 42).

In the 2016 class, five Ohio prospects appear in the top 60. Dropping in the rankings, Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary guard VJ King tops the Ohio class at No. 18, followed by North Royalton forward Omari Spellman (No. 24), Lakewood St. Edward center Derek Funderburk (No. 49), Lima Central Catholic point guard Xavier Simpson (No. 52), and Cleveland Central Catholic wing Tervell Beck (No. 59).

On the Scout side of things, Bragg again heads the class at No. 11, followed by Kennard at No. 19, Ahmad at No. 64, and Harris at No. 75. While Oakland center Ivan Rabb tops ESPN's class of 2015, Scout selected a new No. 1, vaulting Milwaukee big man Diamond Stone to the top spot. In a class dominated by big men, Jackson (MS) shooting guard Malik Newman is the only player under 6-foot-7 to appear in the top ten of both rankings.

Frederick chooses Owens

One of two remaining unsigned power forwards in Columbus, Franklin Heights 6-foot-7 big man Akiean Frederick committed to Owens Community College on Friday. Owens, a consensus top ten Division II junior college, offered the late blooming big man on Tuesday during Frederick's official visit, in which he matched up with Ohio State forward Marc Loving in an open gym session. With Frederick's commitment, Northland 6-foot-7 power forward Jaylen Tucker is the last remaining post player in Central Ohio left unsigned.

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