Ohio State adds four-star pledges in both football and basketball

It was a big weekend on both the gridiron and the hardwood in Columbus. The Buckeyes secured a pledge from an in-state linebacker on the football side of things, and Chris Holtmann followed that up by welcoming a high four-star standout from Kansas.

Reese stays home, chooses Buckeyes

Ohio State went back to familiar territory for their latest pledge on the gridiron when 2023 four-star linebacker Arvell Reese of Glenville (OH) announced his commitment to the program on Saturday.

The Cleveland native now joins a long line of former Tarblooders to ultimately pick the Buckeyes including Ted Ginn Jr., Cardale Jones, Marshon Lattimore, Troy Smith, Donte Whitner, and many more.

Reese secured 25 offers from programs across the nation but ultimately would chose Ohio State over the likes of Alabama, Kentucky, Michigan, and USC, according to Hayes Fawcett of On3.

The in-state standout becomes the first prospect from Glenville High School to commit to Ohio State since the 2014 recruiting class when the Buckeyes were able to land three-star offensive guard Marcelys Jones, the aforementioned four-cornerback Marshon Lattimore, and four-star safety Erick Smith. Fortunately for Ohio State, Reese is currently teammates with another top target for the program in 2024 four-star cornerback Bryce West.

Reese currently slots in as the No. 277 over prospect in this year’s recruiting class. The 6-foot-3, 212-pounder also comes in as the 20th highest graded linebacker this cycle and is a Top 10 player from the state of Ohio.

Holtmann lands Middleton

Ryan Day wasn’t the only head man in Columbus that picked up good news this weekend. Hoops coach Chris Holtmann also had himself quite a weekend when he landed 2023 four-star small forward Scotty Middleton of Sunrise Christian (KS).

Middleton, a Wichita native, chose the Buckeyes on Sunday over Connecticut, Kansas, Seton Hall, and Texas A&M — the four other programs that were named finalists for Middleton just one month ago.

The latest addition for the Buckeyes gives them the No. 3 recruiting class in the country for the time being. Ohio State’s four man 2023 class that now includes Middleton, four-star center Austin Parks of Memorial (OH), four-star small forward Devin Royal of Pickerington Central (OH), and four-star combo guard George Washington III of Chaminade Julienne (OH) ranks behind only Duke and Kentucky.

Middleton, who is just outside of five-star status, is currently positioned as the No. 34 overall prospect in the class. The 6-foot-6, 180-pounder additionally comes in as the sixth best small forward in the class and is the third highest graded prospect from Kansas in the cycle.

Quick Hits

• After a near handful of predictions in favor of Ohio State landing 2023 four-star safety Jayden Bonsu on Thursday, another came about on Friday. 247Sports’ Sean Scherer, a Michigan State insider, also casted a crystal ball forecast on Friday that pegged the No. 4 player from New Jersey to the Buckeyes.
• Despite one addition to the linebacker room this weekend in the aforementioned Reese, Ohio State also saw 2023 four-star linebacker/defensive end Derion Gullette of Teague (TX) make his pledge to the Longhorns. According to Hayes Fawcett of On3, Gullette chose Texas over Ohio State and Texas A&M.
• According to Garrick Hodge of Eleven Warriors, the Buckeyes are likely to get a visit from 2024 four-star linebacker Edwin Spillman of Lipscomb Academy (TN) this fall. Hodge notes that the visit from Spillman, a Top 100 prospect, is likely to be for the Michigan game near seasons end.