2011 Forward LaQuinton Ross Commits To Ohio State

• osu45804

  

  According to Bob Baptist (via Ross's AAU Coach) and Scout.com
  
  http://twitter.com/BBaptistHoops/status/21361744336
  
  http://scouthoops.scout.com/2/993114.html
• osu45804

  

  He just posted it on his twitter page too...
  
  http://twitter.com/qross2011/status/21358929742
• centralbucksfan

  Looks like the hiring of Dickerson is paying off already. His east coast ties are certainly going to help out in recruiting.
• Laley23

  

  I was very happy to see this last night. Not that it is for sure, but it looks like Crean has FINALLY beaten Thad Matta out for a recruit. Indianapolis forward/wing Jeremy Hollowell who was thought to be a strong OSU lean for over a year, with Indiana the only other school in the running. But this past week Indiana is said to be on the verge of another commit, and OSU has turned up the recruitment's of Gary Harris and D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera.
• centralbucksfan

  Laley23;454073 wrote:I was very happy to see this last night. Not that it is for sure, but it looks like Crean has FINALLY beaten Thad Matta out for a recruit. Indianapolis forward/wing Jeremy Hollowell who was thought to be a strong OSU lean for over a year, with Indiana the only other school in the running. But this past week Indiana is said to be on the verge of another commit, and OSU has turned up the recruitment's of Gary Harris and D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera.

  
  Finally beaten? Who knows. Both are 4 star players with similar builds and rankings. Matta doesn't seem to mess around. He may have taken the first one to commit, meaning Hollowell is now out. Anyway you look at it...if IU gets Howowell, thats obviously bigger for IU as he is an in state player. I am sure Matta got what he wanted as well. OSU had been recruiting Ross for some time. So its not like they settled on him. Win win for both coaches. We'll now see how each turns out.
• Laley23

  

  centralbucksfan;454344 wrote:Finally beaten? Who knows. Both are 4 star players with similar builds and rankings. Matta doesn't seem to mess around. He may have taken the first one to commit, meaning Hollowell is now out. Anyway you look at it...if IU gets Howowell, thats obviously bigger for IU as he is an in state player. I am sure Matta got what he wanted as well. OSU had been recruiting Ross for some time. So its not like they settled on him. Win win for both coaches. We'll now see how each turns out.

  
  Dont take this away from me!!!
  
  You are right, and in the same way Crean has other options for Hollowell. I didnt mean it in that sense, but it was a kid they were going head to head against. OSU and IU are the only two schools he is looking at/considering. So, this is the first time both have made the final "cut" and Crean (appears) to have finally got the recruit.
  
  Granted, I havent seen Ross play, but I truly think that Hollowell is underrated along with Gary Harris and Yogi Ferrell (who are both 5 stars, but still underrated).
• centralbucksfan

  Laley23;454376 wrote:Dont take this away from me!!!
  
  ).

  
  My bad, I'll give this one to you and Crean!! lol
• centralbucksfan

  Matta/OSU just got a verbal from 6'6" Sam Thompson out of Chicago in 2011 class. Pretty much a 4 star in most recruiting services. Picked OSU over Florida and Georgetown. Needs to put on some weight, but can never go wrong with a long, lean athlete.
  
  http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/sports/stories/2010/09/20/6-6-wing-commits-to-mattas-buckeyes.html?sid=101
• Wooball

  

  A big or 2 and that would be another great class. If the freshman from this year stick around that could be a fantastic team in 2011-2012. Young, but exceptionally talented.
• Writerbuckeye

  

  The three recruiting services have Thompson in the mid to upper 30s nationally, and most feel he has tremendous upside.
  
  Matta REALLY needs to get at least one big guy to complete this class -- and hopefully two. But I don't know if there are two out there still who (1) are interested in OSU and (2) meet the "big" requirement.
• centralbucksfan

  Writerbuckeye;491457 wrote:The three recruiting services have Thompson in the mid to upper 30s nationally, and most feel he has tremendous upside.
  
  Matta REALLY needs to get at least one big guy to complete this class -- and hopefully two. But I don't know if there are two out there still who (1) are interested in OSU and (2) meet the "big" requirement.

  A little info regarding some bigs OSU is interested in:
  
  Another big man off the board
  Robert Goff, a 6-foot-9, 230-pound sophomore at Hutchinson Community College in Kansas, was scheduled to make an official visit to Ohio State this weekend. Cancel that.
  
  Scout.com reports tonight that Goff has committed to Oklahoma.
  
  Coach Thad Matta told me Friday that he could take as many as five commitments for the class of 2011, which currently numbers three with Sam Thompson's pledge earlier today. Conceivably, Matta will take two big men in the class if he can get them since he has only one on the roster for 2011, Jared Sullinger, and his return may hinge on how good of a season he has as a freshman.
  
  Those Ohio State has an interest in who are still uncommitted are 6-8 Mikael Hopkins of Hyattsville, Md., who visited campus for the football game against Miami; 6-9 Amir Williams of Detroit, 6-9 Desmond Hubert of New Egypt, N.J., and 6-9 Greg Lewis of Baltimore.
• CinciX12

  

  Not so sure about Ross and how he will turn out. He will probably end up being pretty decent by the time he is a Junior or so.
  
  Thompson on the other hand will be very good right away if he lives up to some of the things that are said about him.
• centralbucksfan

  Matta pulls out a recruit from state of Michigan, Trey McDonald. 6'9", 225lb power forward/center. Sounds like a late bloomer as he was flying under the radar until this past summer. Had offers from Marquette, West Virginia and Wake Forest. 3 star player by most recruiting services. And it Sounds as though his AAU teammate is interested in OSU as well. 6'10", 220 Amir Williams will be taking an official visit to OSU in few weeks. Amir is a 4 star player who is getting looked at by a number of big time schools. Rated #2 center in class of 2011. Sounds as though he has a huge upside. Both of these guys sound like promising prospects! Hope Matta can reel in Williams!
  
  http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/sports/stories/2010/10/19/michigan-forward-commits-to-osu.html?sid=101
• thedynasty1998

  

  Have to be excited by someone with that size! I've heard he's pretty raw and is sort of a project, but that's fine. If Matta brings another in on scholarship, it means he's counting on someone leaving early, and IMO chances are it will be Kecman.
  
  FYI, the Dispatch said he was down to those three schools along with Oakland, so that might be a little telling.
• centralbucksfan

  thedynasty1998;525614 wrote:Have to be excited by someone with that size! I've heard he's pretty raw and is sort of a project, but that's fine. If Matta brings another in on scholarship, it means he's counting on someone leaving early, and IMO chances are it will be Kecman.
  
  FYI, the Dispatch said he was down to those three schools along with Oakland, so that might be a little telling.

  
  If WVU was recruiting him, then I would think he has some nice upside. Huggins always seems to bring in some freak athletes who can rebound and defend. Many are a bit raw. But they seems to end up pretty good before its said and done.
  
  As for someone leaving year, scholarship numbers:
  
  "McDonald filled the last of the program's 13 available scholarships for next season if all underclassmen return. But the Big Ten allows its men's basketball coaches to take one more commitment than they have room for each year to protect themselves against players leaving early for the draft."
• OneBuckeye

  

  I watched this highlight video on youtube from AAU and it is a painful watch.
  
  [video=youtube;2sOBlMCVHLc][/video]
• thedynasty1998

  

  centralbucksfan;525889 wrote:"McDonald filled the last of the program's 13 available scholarships for next season if all underclassmen return. But the Big Ten allows its men's basketball coaches to take one more commitment than they have room for each year to protect themselves against players leaving early for the draft."

  
  That's basically what I said.
  
  He is the definition of "raw" in that youtube video. Hard to imagine bringing in Sullinger one year, followed up by this guy. Ouch.
• centralbucksfan

  thedynasty1998;525916 wrote:That's basically what I said.
  
  .

  
  The way I read it, is that OSU filled their scholarships With McDonald, but are allowed to bring in one extra in case someone leaves. Meaning they still have one left to give out if they choose to. Hopefully the Williams kid.
• thedynasty1998

  

  centralbucksfan;525989 wrote:The way I read it, is that OSU filled their scholarships With McDonald, but are allowed to bring in one extra in case someone leaves. Meaning they still have one left to give out if they choose to. Hopefully the Williams kid.

  
  Yes, and what I was saying is that they are still recruiting him and are planning on bringing in one more guy.
• CinciX12

  

  *This post has racial overtones, if you are offended it is important to realize I do not care*
  
  After more thought, what is with black women thinking that every name is okay with 'La' put in front of it. It isn't.
• Wooball

  

  The dispatch is reporting that LaQuinton Ross has received a qualifying score on his SAT, and is planning a visit to Columbus over the weekend of Nov 12th/13th. That is the same weekend that Amir Williams is supposed to be in town. Hopefully they both will sign during the early signing period which starts on the 10th. If they can lock up Williams, this years class will be a great paired with the 2010 class. If Sullinger stays for more than 1 year, then OSU should be competing for a championship with this group as they would have depth at all positions, instead of just at the wing.
• osu45804

  

  Ross, a versatile 6-8 win player who’s ranked as the nation’s No. 53 senior by Rivals.com, verbally committed to Ohio State in August. Ross reiterated his commitment to the Buckeyes on Monday but also indicated he may wait until the spring signing period that begins next April to make his choice official.
  
  “It’s a long way til the end of the season,” Ross said. “I feel like Ohio State is the best school for me right now.”
  
  Coming back to Mississippi for college had been a thought before, Ross acknowledged.

  http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=PluckPersona&U=f62bf0856652408b80ebd9615e0b6d05&plckPersonaPage=BlogViewPost&plckUserId=f62bf0856652408b80ebd9615e0b6d05&plckPostId=Blog:f62bf0856652408b80ebd9615e0b6d05Post:042e7cf2-0ffb-431b-a200-6b953d8be3dc&plckController=PersonaBlog&plckScript=personaScript&plckElementId=personaDest
• Writerbuckeye

  

  Ross signed his LOI today, so he is officially a Buckeye!
  
  Now Matta needs to convince Amir Williams that Columbus is the best place for him. That would put this class easily in the top 10, and close to top 5.
• centralbucksfan

  Writerbuckeye;557782 wrote:Ross signed his LOI today, so he is officially a Buckeye!
  
  Now Matta needs to convince Amir Williams that Columbus is the best place for him. That would put this class easily in the top 10, and close to top 5.

  
  Thats great news! There was speculation he wanted to head back home. I saw him at the game Friday nite. Looks like his visit solidified his choice. Matta closes the deal. Now if OSU can get Williams, that would be HUGE ! Keeping fingers crossed!
• Wooball

  

  centralbucksfan;558325 wrote:Thats great news! There was speculation he wanted to head back home. I saw him at the game Friday nite. Looks like his visit solidified his choice. Matta closes the deal. Now if OSU can get Williams, that would be HUGE ! Keeping fingers crossed!

  
  Williams is supposed to be signing his LOI on the last day of the early signing period, which I believe is Wednesday. From what I have read on another website, they believe he will be committing to OSU over Florida and Michigan. Florida being too far away, and he has worries that scUM can not develop bigs under Beilein. Like others, I will be keeping my fingers crossed on Amir.