Chris Holtmann and his Buckeye program just polished off another over-achieving season by making the NCAA Tournament and getting an unexpected win. It’s now two years in a row that Ohio State has done the unexpected and set the foundation for the future.
That future should arrive next year.
Holtmann recruited extremely well and signed one of the best 2019 classes in all of college basketball and the best in the Big Ten. In fact the program is bringing in three of the top thirty-six recruits in the country according to the ESPN Top 100 — the only program to do so.
So, forgive us for already looking ahead to next year, just barely after the ink has dried on Houston being advanced into the Sweet Sixteen instead of Ohio State.
Now, to caveat all of this, it’s hard to project what blue-chip freshman are going to do, but you have to figure all three will factor into some significant game experience if the hype is real and if they hit the ground running.
Next … The projected starters (subject to change)
Ohio State likely starting five
Point Guard
D.J. Carton — Freshman, 6-1, 190 lbs.
Carton is a talent you just can’t keep off the court. Depending on what the coaching staff does, he could slot in immediately at point guard, or slide over to the shooting-guard spot to take advantage of his athleticism. He’s shown he’s best when he has the ball in his hands though, and you have to think eventually he’s the guy here as a true point guard that can score.
Shooting Guard
C.J. Walker — Junior, 6-1, 195 lbs.
Walker is a little bit forgotten because he had to sit out a year as an undergraduate transfer from Florida State. He took part in all the practices and has the seasoning and skill set to plug right into the offense. Whether he’s at the No. 1 or No. 2 guard position remains to be seen, but he’ll most likely be one of two mainstay’s in the backcourt.
Small Forward/Guard
Andre Wesson — Senior, 6-6, 220 lbs.
The elder Wesson really made leaps in improvement from his sophomore to junior season. He’s at his best when surrounded with a natural five and can play either the four or three position. His veteran presence, ability to defend and ability to add another player with length makes him a good choice at the small forward position.
Power Forward/Stretch Four
E.J. Liddell — Freshman, 6-6, 220 lbs.
Like Carton, Liddell is a piece Ohio State is missing. He’s a matchup nightmare because he can play outside or inside and has a knack for blocking shots at just 6-6. He’s an athlete and as long as he acclimates himself, I think he provides a presence that’s needed for the Buckeyes. He might be one of the first off the bench, but I say he’s in the mix when the roster is finalized. Look for him to be swapped out and even paired with fellow 2019 recruit Alonzo Gaffney.
Center/Forward
Kaleb Wesson — Junior, 6-9, 270 lbs.
Of anyone on the roster, Wesson is probably the safest lock to be penciled in as the starter down on the blocks. He took a step forward this year and needs to develop even further in the offseason to continue his rise. If he can learn to play without committing silly fouls and work on his conditioning, he could be an All-Big Ten First Teamer in 2019-20.
Next … Key bench players
Deep and talented reserves for Ohio State
Alonzo Gaffney — Freshman, 6-9, 190 lbs.
Gaffney has a ton of upside. He’s long and lanky and get his shot off against almost anyone. He can shoot from the outside or drive to the rim to take advantage of mismatches. Depending on how he hits the ground running, he might be a bigger part of things than initially thought. He’ll get playing time, just how much remains to be seen.
Musa Jallow — Junior, 6-5, 200 lbs.
Jallow cracked the starting lineup towards the tail-end of last year, but he’ll need to develop to stay in that spot. He’s still an athletic player that’ll factor in, but will need to cut down on some poor decision making that struck at times this season.
Kyle Young — Junior, 6-8, 205 lbs.
Young is one of those guys you want on your team. He plays with heart effort and goes to get the ball — cleaning up messes at times. He was hampered a bit by a leg injury this year but look for him to make some improvement in his game for next year as well.
Duane Washington — Sophomore, 6-3, 190 lbs.
Washington was an enigma this year. He played great at times and possesses an athletic ability not seen often from the two-guard spot. He tried to do too much at the end of this year though. If he stays within himself, he’s the long-range bomber that can keep defenses honest.
Luther Muhammad — Sophomore, 6-3, 185 lbs.
Muhammad is the defensive stopper at the guard position. He struggled to find his own shot, but he’ll be a big part of things in 2019-20 as well.
Justin Ahrens — Sophomore, 6-5, 180 lbs.
We saw flashes of what Ahrens can do against Iowa in a pivotal game for Ohio State coming down the stretch this year. He needs to work on his defense and be more consistent on the offensive end, but yeah, he’s going to be called upon as well.
Jaedon LeDee — Sophomore, 6-9, 230 lbs.
LeDee could be a good change of pace at the four or five position. He’s got the brawn and work ethic to be a monster on the boards. He could use some polish on his offensive skills to crack into what’s starting to look like a deep and talented front-line.
