Buckeyes make the cut for 2022 DB, Basketball recruiting continues to stay active

With the summer months approaching, the Ohio State football staff is prepping for an action-packed month of June. With those four weekends sure to be some of the busiest times the staff has probably ever seen, it’s a huge opportunity not only to impress the numerous top players coming in to visit, but to hopefully grab a few commitments to both their current 2022 class and even possibly in the 2023 class. With only a couple of weeks to go until bedlam breaks loose, the countdown is on for recruiting to finally get back to the way it’s done best, which of course is in person.

Ohio State cracks the top six for 2022 DB

It’s almost a rarity to see an Ohio State offered player not include the Buckeyes in their final schools list. Ohio State finds themselves on a top schools list weekly it seems and sometimes even more than that. It’s obvious why the Buckeyes recruit so well and are constantly in it until the end for their targeted players. Whether it’s the allure of the NFL Draft success or the ability to compete at a national level, Ohio State’s formula on the recruiting trail is bringing them to the top over and over again.

On Thursday, the Buckeyes once again saw their name in the final running for another player they have offered. Taking to his Twitter to announce, Jayden Bellamy has trimmed his offer list down to a final six schools. The Bergan Catholic prospect out of New Jersey currently holds over 20 offers from the likes of Notre Dame, Penn State, Clemson, LSU, and several more of course including Ohio State. Narrowing it down to six now though includes Clemson, Notre Dame, Penn State, Rutgers, Oklahoma, and Ohio State.

A 6-foot-1, 175 pound cornerback, Bellamy’s inclusion of the Buckeyes in his top schools list doesn’t come as a total surprise, as he will be one of the many players set to visit Columbus in June. Currently, Bellamy checks in as a three-star product, and the 39th-best cornerback in the 2022 class. After adding two defensive back commits in the last week, the recruitment of Bellamy may not be one you would think is highly pursued, but with the program having offered, they’re clearly interested. Regardless, until he makes a final decision, the Buckeyes are in great shape moving forward as they take no days off when it comes to the pursuit of elite talent.

Basketball Buckeyes seeing recruiting momentum

Ohio State’s football team isn’t the only program on campus to have a big time recruiting priority. Chris Holtmann and his staff have the basketball recruiting trail littered with Ohio State influence, and talent is well on its way to Columbus given the notion that Holtmann has this team heading in the right direction. Whether it’s in-state guys or even nationally, the Buckeye brand is being taken seriously on the hardwood.

Hoping for some good news later today, five-star center Efton Reid is scheduled to make his commitment public at noon. Having already backed off from a commitment date once, hopefully today the decision does take place as he will be choosing mainly between Florida State, Pitt, LSU, and Ohio State. There’s been some thought that maybe Reid is thinking elsewhere due to potentially fewer minutes out of the gate if he were to choose the Buckeyes, but the staff would love to add the nation’s third-best center and 24th-best player overall to their 2021 class this late in the game.

Staying on the hardwood, Ohio State saw some good news yesterday thanks to AJ Casey securing an official visit to see the Buckeyes this coming June 6-8. A Chicago native, Casey is a 6-foot-8, 180-pound power forward and one of the best players in the entire country for the 2022 class. Ranked as the fifth-best player at his position and the No. 21 player overall, Casey would be a huge addition to this Ohio State roster. Here’s to wishful thinking this official visit is just what Holtmann and crew need to seal the deal and bring another star Illinois native to Columbus.

Quick Hits

• Per 247Sports Director of Recruiting Steve Wiltfong, the site will be updating their class of 2022 player rankings this coming July. With the addition of the latest two commits Kye Stokes and Ryan Turner having a bit of under-the-radar grades, it’s likely that both of these players see an increase in their stock after committing to the Buckeyes and being re-evaluated. Currently, Stokes checks in as the 49th-best athlete in the class while Turner is the 34th-best cornerback. July’s update should change that.
• Current Ohio State commit Tegra Tshabola added another commitment to his name when he announced via his Twitter that he would playing in the annual All-American Bowl as one of the honorees on the receiving end of the prestigious invite. Ranked as the 20th-best offensive tackle in the class and the No. 183 player in the country, Tshabola has earned this chance to suit up with many of the nation’s top prep prospects.