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Mickey Mitchell decommits from Ohio State

2015 forward Mickey Mitchell decommits from Ohio State months after his brother Mike left Ohio State for Texas Tech.

By Miles Joseph and Ian Cuevas
Mickey Mitchell is a tough loss for Thad Matta and company
Mickey Mitchell is a tough loss for Thad Matta and company

Thad Matta and his staff received some bad news late Thursday evening, when they learned Plano (TX) Prestonwood Christian forward Mickey Mitchell no longer had plans to play his college basketball in Columbus. Mitchell decommitted from Ohio State via Twitter, spurning the Buckeyes and reopening his recruitment.

This news is only slightly surprising, considering older brother Mike Mitchell left the Ohio State football team to transfer to a school closer to home earlier this year. The two brothers were considered to be a package deal and with Mike leaving the Ohio State football program, it became obvious that it was possible Mickey would no longer be a Buckeye.

The 6'7, 210-pound hardwood star, who is rated as a four-star prospect and the number 81 player in the nation, according to the 247Sports composite rankings, is a tough blow to Thad Matta's 2015 recruiting class, but still has talented members such as point guard A.J. Harris, shooting guard Austin Grandstaff, and center Daniel Giddens.

Mitchell will probably end up playing at a school in the state of Texas, along with his brother, so they can be closer to their father, who has some serious health problems right now.

Fortunately for Thad Matta and company, they have time to find a replacement for Mitchell (Esa Ahmad is one possibility), but it's still tough to lose an elite talent.

Mickey Mitchell didn't see much game action last year, as he was coming off ACL surgery coupled with a back problem that has given him some problems of late. It's unclear where he'll be attending school, but it apparently won't be Ohio State.

Some of the reactions from his coaches and former classmates were noteworthy as well.

A.J. Harris:

From his AAU coach:

Austin Grandstaff:

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