Thad Matta is quietly doing a fantastic job of keeping Ohio State a perennial power not just in the Big Ten, but in all of college basketball. Adding McDonald’s All-American‘s Shannon Scott and Amir Williams to the fold next season will only add to the Buckeye’s core and once again make them one of the top teams in the country.
(This is a Paul M. Banks/David Kay collaboration.)
Ohio State has built the reputation as Big Man U. the past few seasons with Greg Oden, Kosta Koufus, and B.J. Mullens all being one-and-done’s to the NBA. Jared Sullinger could have joined that group this summer but instead chose to return to Columbus for his sophomore season.
That lineage of successful big men is part of the reason the Buckeyes landed highly-touted 6-10 center Amir Williams of Detroit Country Day School in Michigan. “I just fell in love with the program,” Williams stated at the MAA media day. “It was between them and Florida and I just felt their system would fit a big man like me. Coach Matta does a really good job of putting his big guys in the NBA.”
6-2 point guard Shannon Scott turned down offers from his home state teams, Georgia and Georgia Tech, instead choosing to come to OSU. “I really got a good bond with Coach Matta,” Scott said. “He wanted me to come in and be a point guard, and be a coach on the floor. I really look forward to that.”
With Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year Aaron Craft likely to log the majority of the minutes at the point, it is uncertain as to how much opportunity Scott will get in running the point next season. He could see some time at the two but regardless of where he ends up playing, is excited to run alongside Craft and William Buford. “Having them on the wings will create a lot of open shots and make my job a lot easier.”
As for Williams, he should see time in the same frontcourt as Sullinger. “Jared told me early in the season that he was willing to come back another year and I’m excited for him to show me the ropes of college basketball,” Williams said. ” Going against him each and every day in practice will make me a better player.”
Sullinger figures to eat up a lot of minutes at the five, but Williams says he also feels comfortable playing the four alongside Sullinger if needed. “In high school I was playing a 4 and a 5 alongside out big men and I learned how to play both, so it doesn’t matter.”
Boston College transfer Evan Ravenel also becomes eligible after sitting out this past season while 6-9 freshman big man Trey McDonald gives Matta even more depth up-front; something the team has lacked the past two seasons.
Williams and Scott are not expected see major roles with the Buckeyes in their freshmen campaigns, but if they can provide Matta with solid contributions off the bench, they could help Ohio State compete with North Carolina and Kentucky in the national title hunt.
David Kay is a senior feature NBA Draft, NBA, and college basketball writer for the Sports Bank. He also heads up the NBA and college basketball material at Walter Football.com and is a former contributor at The Washington Times Communities.
You can follow him on Twitter at DavidKay_TSB.
Paul M. Banks is CEO of The Sports Bank.net He’s also a regular contributor to Chicago Now, Walter Football.com, Yardbarker, and Fox Sports
He does a regular guest spot each week for Chicagoland Sports Radio.com You can follow him on Twitter @thesportsbank