Ohio State virtually visits with four-star small forward

Chris Holtmann and the Basketball Buckeyes have shown no signs of slowing down when it comes to recruiting despite the Covid-19 pandemic.

Ohio State recently added its newest commitment when the No. 1 recruit in Ohio, Malaki Branham, became the third member of its 2021 recruiting class. The addition boosted the Buckeyes to the No. 4 team in the 247Sports Recruiting Rankings.

However, Holtmann and the Buckeyes coaching staff are not solely focusing on the 2021 class. Over the weekend, it was reported that the team virtually met with 2022 small forward Trae Clayton (DeSoto, TX/Waxahachie Faith Family Academy).

Despite just two seasons of high school ball under his belt, Clayton already holds scholarship offers from multiple schools, including Nebraska, Texas, TCU and others. The Buckeyes have not yet offered the 6-foot-5 hooper, but that could change following the recent virtual meeting.

Clayton would make for an excellent addition alongside three-star Ohio State SG commit, Bowen Hardman.

Ohio State has some groundwork to make up here, especially if it is serious about getting him to commit further from home than some of the more local schools that have already offered the Texas native. However, in his short time leading the helm of the basketball Buckeyes, Holtmann has proven to be just as good virtually recruiting as he is the more traditional way.

Clayton is the No. 22 SF in the 247Sports Composite Rankings and the No. 100 overall prospect in the 2022 class.

Future Buckeyes listed in MaxPreps top recruits list

MaxPreps recently released a list of the top high school football player from each state, and future Buckeyes were littered throughout. Below are the Ohio State commits representing the Scarlet and Gray as the top recruit in their perspective state:

Four-star CB Jakailin Johnson

Class: 2021
Hometown: Saint Louis, MO/DeSmet
Recruitment Status: committed to Ohio State

Five-star DE Jack Sawyer

Class: 2021
Hometown: Pickerington, OH/Pickerington North
Recruitment Status: committed to Ohio State

Five-star QB Kyle McCord

Class: 2021
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA/St. Joseph’s
Recruitment Status: committed to Ohio State

Five-star RB TreVeyon Henderson

Class: 2021
Hometown: Hopewell, VA/Hopewell
Recruitment Status: committed to Ohio State

Five-star WR Emeka Egbuka

Class: 2021
Hometown: Stellacoom, WA/Stellacoom
Recruitment Status: has Ohio State among top schools

Quick Hits:

• Recent Ohio State four-star DB commit Jordan Hancock announced he will opt out of his senior season of high school football. The nation’s No. 5 corner in the 2021 class cited family health concerns amid the COVID-19 pandemic as the primary reason for his decision.

• Late Monday night, Ohio State sent out a scholarship offer to five-star athlete Keon Sabb. The 6-foot-3 New Jersey native is the No. 1 athlete in the 2022 class, and the No. 8 player in the cycle overall. Already holding over 28 offers this early in the game, Sabb is clearly a highly sought after prospect. He projects as a defensive back at the next level, and so Kerry Coombs will likely look to work his magic in this recruitment.