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Many of the nation's top prospects will be in Columbus in the coming weeks to get more familiar with not just the Ohio State campus, but the football program as a whole. In fact, over the weekend, a number of the top recruits in the 2016 class announced they will be making the trek to the 614 later this month.
On July 19, Nate Craig, one of the most elite wide receivers at the high school level, will travel from Tampa, Florida to check out OSU. A five-star recruit, Craig has held an offer from Urban Meyer and the Bucks for quite sometime. He has many around the scene believing when it is all said and done, that the 6'3 205 pounder could very well head to Central Ohio to play his college ball.
Some of the top teams in country are trying to make sure that doesn't happen. Alabama, Auburn. Clemson, Tennessee, and Michigan State are just a few of the over 40 programs to offer Nate during his recruiting process so far.
Two days later, four-star Georgia defensive back Nigel Warrior, the son of former Kansas City Chief Dale Carter, will make his way north to visit Ohio State. Like Craig, the 6'1 180-pound Warrior has a long list of impressive coaches trying to add him to their respective rosters.
The Buckeyes, Georgia, Tennessee, Clemson, Kentucky, Louisville, North Carolina State, and Wisconsin are just a few of the schools currently after the Atlanta native. With the Bulldogs and Vols currently labeled as his leaders, Nigel's upcoming visit to Ohio State will give Meyer and company a chance to climb towards the top.
Heading down to Columbus on July 24 and staying through the 26th, four-star Michigan offensive tackle Thiyo Lukusa will be one of the many recruits participating in the Friday Night Lights camp held at Ohio State on the 25th:
Stoked to visit OSU on the 24th through the 26th going to be sweet #buckeyes #FridayNightLights
— Thiyo Lukusa (@BigblacK4420) July 13, 2014
The 6'5 and 300 pound Lukusa received his offer from the Buckeyes last month after impressing the coaching staff at the Sound Mind Sound Body camp in Detroit. A four-star prospect, the Buckeyes are joined by Michigan, Michigan State, Illinois, and Wisconin as teams who have offered the Traverse West (MI) junior.
Keep checking back, as the Land-Grant Holy Land recruiting team will have much more on these three, and their visits in the coming weeks.
Commits shine at LeBron James Skills Academy:
OSU commits AJ Harris, Mickey Mitchell, Austin Grandstaff, Daniel Giddens, and key targets Esa Ahmad and VJ King were just a few of the 100 class of 2015 and 2016 prospects to participate in the LeBron James Skills Academy in Las Vegas over the last few days.
The now annual camp put on by Nike gives the top prospects in the country a chance to compete against one another in many different drills, and also the opportunity to be around some of top basketball minds in the game.
Our friends over at Student Sports covered the event, and put together a list of the top 40 prospects who stood out. Of course, a few recruits with OSU ties made the cut:
10. VJ King
12. Daniel Giddens
17. Esa Ahmad
19. Jayson Tatum
28. Noah Dickerson
39. Austin Grandstaff
You can see who else made the Student Sports top performers list here.
Coaches hit the road:
With the July live period kicking off on Friday, not only did members of the Buckeyes coaching staff have a chance to watch all the recruits at the James Academy, but also many other hoopers on the AAU circuit.
With tournaments spread out all across the country, Thad Matta, Jeff Boals, and the rest of the staff kept a close eye on quite a few recruits over the weekend.
The following prospects are just some of the many that had Buckeye coaches scouting in the stands:
- 2015 forward Carlton Bragg
- 2015 forward Noah Bramlage
- 2016 wing Willie Jackson
- 2016 power forward Matt Moyer
- 2016 wing Seth Towns
Bucks offer 2016 power forward:
Omari Spellman, a 6'8 270-pound four-star big man received a scholarship from the Buckeyes on Sunday evening. Adding the offer from Ohio State to a list that already consists of Indiana, Villlanova, Cincinnati, Iowa, and many others, the former North Royalton baller is going to have a tough decision ahead of him.
Last season as a sophomore, Omari, who has since transferred to MacDuffie School in Massachusetts, was named second team All-Ohio after averaging 22 points, and nine rebounds a contest.
After watching these highlights of Spellman in action, it shouldn't take you very long to see why Matta and the Buckeyes offered him a scholarship:
Quick Hits:
- Three-star North Carolina running back Tre Harbison is hoping to earn an offer from the Buckeyes at Friday Night Lights on the 25th.