Thad Matta landed one of the best freshmen in America a year ago, in D’Angelo Russell. With Russell leaving for the NBA, Ohio State now must find a way to replace its most influential, and productive player.
Thanks to one of the best recruiting classes in the nation, the Buckeyes look like they’ll be alright.
Key Losses: D’Angelo Russell (NBA Draft), Shannon Scott (graduation), Sam Thompson (graduation)
Possible Losses: No announcements made
Key Returners: Marc Loving
Key Newcomers: Daniel Giddins (four-star, power forward), Austin Grandstaff (four-star, shooting guard), A.J. Harris (four-star, point guard), Mickey Mitchell (four-star, small forward), JaQuan Lyle (five-star, shooting guard)
Breakdown: For the second half of the year, there was a legitimate argument to be made saying that Russell was the best player in America. Without him, it’s hard to picture the Buckeyes making any real noise at all, let alone making the NCAA Tournament. Thad Matta will be in complete reboot mode next season, with only junior Marc Loving returning. Lucky for him, he’s got one of the top few recruiting classes in the country. Giddins is an athletic monster who terrorizes would-be finishers at the rim. Grandstaff is one of the best shooters and perimeter scorers in the country, hands down. Harris is a bulldog at the point guard spot who, while undersized, plays as hard as anyone you’ll watch at the prep level. Mitchell is a versatile wing who can create off of the dribble, finish athletically and step outside to knock down shots from deep. The real kicker here is Lyle, who recently picked the Buckeyes over Maryland. He is a lights out shooter from deep, and can get to the spots he wants off the bounce. Simply put, he’s a dynamic prospect for OSU.
