Is a commitment coming from 2022 center Tarris Reed?

As the visits come to an end and we move into August, it is a big time for college basketball coaches and 2022 commitments. Last week, Ohio State basketball lost 2022 center target Donovan Clingan to UCONN. This was the expected outcome, but nevertheless that is one big man that is definitely off the board now for the Buckeyes in 2022.

One recruit that might be heading to Columbus is Tarris Reed Jr. Reed is a four-star center from Link Year Prep in Branson, Missouri and is currently listed as the No. 71 ranked recruit in the 2022 class, the No. 14 center and the second-best player in the state of Missouri in the cycle.

Reed stands at 6-foot-10, 230 pounds and can make a real difference immediately down low for whoever lands his commitment. He can play the four or the five and can be a rim protector or play on the perimeter and stretch the offense out, showing real versatility, especially for his age and size.

Reed played for Chaminade high school in St Louis for two years and then left for the prestigious Link Year Prep once he started to see he was becoming one of the more coveted big men in the 2022 class. He was the All-Metro boys basketball player of the year as just a sophomore.

Ohio State offered Reed a while back and since then, more Big Ten teams like Iowa, Michigan and Michigan State have prioritized the 2022 forward. While it did not look like there was a favorite at the time, Michigan State, Michigan and Ohio State seem to have emerged as the favorites for Reed. He visited Michigan State on June 3, and just recently visited Michigan as the Wolverines and Spartans have ramped up their recruitment of Reed.

Back earlier this year, Reed commented that he really liked the way the Buckeyes utilize EJ Liddell and that he has a friendship with the star forward. He also said that, “I can see myself fitting well inside their program”, speaking about Ohio State.

We all know Ohio State fans love their centers and this will be a month to watch for Reed. Many feel a commitment and announcement is inevitable, with it possibly coming as soon as the end of the month.

Reed was just recently in Omaha, Nebraska, where Michigan head coach Juwan Howard was in attendance, and Reed showed out. He played with his travel team, the Mokan Elite 17U EYBL (Elite Youth Basketball League) team. Reed has been playing great basketball in the travel circuit and against other elite teams, raising his profile and stock in the college basketball recruitment world.

The 2022 hoops recruiting class is already shaping out to be one of the best ones for the Buckeyes in a long time. It is currently the No. 1 recruiting class in the country with four-star guards Roddy Gayle and Bruce Thornton as well as three-star guard Bowen Hardman. In addition, Thornton could be in line to become a five-star anytime now.

With a pretty veteran team currently donning the Scarlet and Gray, the Buckeyes will have no shortage of scholarships to fill next season. Top guys like Chris Livingston, Jarace Walker, AJ Casey, Kyle Filipowski, Dillon Mitchell and Julian Phillips all still have yet to commit and have all shown interest in Ohio State. With just a couple of these guys, the 2022 class has potential to be a historic one. A commitment from Reed would certainly add to that for the Buckeyes.

They will also have to look for one or two big men with Joey Brunk, Kyle Young and (probably) EJ Liddell leaving Columbus after this season and having all three commits in the 2022 class so far listed as guards. Chris Holtmann and his staff will start to prioritize bringing in some guys to play the paint in the coming weeks and months.