Ohio State makes the top 5 for 2020 defensive end

As spring football keeps on going and Ohio State basketball begins the focus for 2019-20, both sports had some good news on the recruiting trail.

A Big Ten (and Mountaineer) race

An Ohio State recruit for 2020 has narrowed down his top-5, and the Buckeyes have made the cut. Aaron Lewis (Williamstown, NJ / Williamstown) announced on Wednesday that he has trimmed his list down to Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan, West Virginia and Wisconsin, which is certainly not a bad list to choose from for a high school recruit.

Lewis is currently ranked as a three-star strong side defensive end, the No. 12 ranked recruit in the state of New Jersey and the No. 21 strong side defensive end, according to the 247sports composite.

Lewis is a 2020 recruit, so he is only a junior in high school. With his 6-foot-5, 235-pound frame, he has good size that he can build upon throughout his final year of high school and has speed and agility that helps him burst off the edge. With schools like Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State offering him, his senior year will be interesting to watch as he will likely move up the rankings even more.

He is a fantastic recruit that will benefit from one more year of high school. He can play inside and outside and has a great motor and speed. He would be a solid addition to the Buckeyes already outstanding 2020 class.

EJ Liddell has been named Mr. Basketball in Illinois for the second straight year

Ohio State men’s basketball is coming off their second straight Round of 32 exit in the NCAA Tournament, and they are going to look to their 2019 recruiting class to get over the hump. EJ Liddell will be a key factor in that class, and has just been named Mr. Basketball of Illinois for the second straight season.

Liddell had such a great year for Belleville West High School in Belleville, Ill., that he won the award in historic fashion, garnering 506 voting points. This was more than the rest of the candidates combined voting points. Liddell also managed 95 of the 114 possible first place votes. The second highest point total was Terrence Hargrove of East St. Louis High School with 107.

Liddell is one of three Buckeye commits in the 2019 class. He will join Alonzo Gaffney and DJ Carton, but there’s a chance that Ibrahima Diallo could join at some point. Diallo is set to make his decision sooner rather than later. This is currently the top class in the Big Ten, and one that will help put Chris Holtmann and the Buckeyes back in contention in the Big Ten.

According to 247 sports, Liddell is currently ranked as the 45th best player in the 2019 class, the eighth best power forward and the No. 1 player in the state of Illinois.

The 6-foot-6, 220-pound forward will look to make an immediate contribution for the Buckeyes and Chris Holtmann when he starts his collegiate career next season. He committed to Ohio State on Nov. 20 of last year over Illinois and Missouri, and has stayed firm in his commitment ever since.