OSU signed 6 studs yesterday for the number one class in the nation for 2010. Just thought i'd let everyone know.

I hope this comes to be on the court and not just on paper.

let's hope some of the guys from this year's team stay for next year.... this team could have the most depth of any OSU team in history

A little pre-mature though, depending on where Harrison Barnes ends up.

I don't think he could go anywhere and knock OSU from the top team slot for 2010. JMO.

Either Buford or turner will leave, or I guess both. Or else osu is over the scholly limit with 6 guys coming in.

2010-2011

13 Scholarships

Jon Diebler (Sr)
Dallas Lauderdale (Sr)
David Lighty (R-Sr)
Evan Turner (Sr)

Nikola Kecman (Sr/Medical Redshirt-Jr)
William Buford (Jr)
Walter Offutt (Jr)
Zisis Sarikopoulos (Jr)

Jared Sullinger (Fr) -verbal
DeShaun Thomas (Fr) -verbal
Jordon Sibert (Fr) -verbal
Lenzelle Smith (Fr) -verbal
Aaron Craft (Fr) -verbal
J.D. Weatherspoon (Fr) -verbal

0 spots available, assumes APR improvement, 1 early departure

From buckeye planet. Someone has to leave early. I assume it has to be Turner, he will go top 10 in the draft next year IMO.

http://www.buckeyeplanet.com/forum/basketball-recruiting/22549-projected-scholarship-breakdown.html

I think had Andre Dawkins not early enrolled, and assuming Harrison Barnes goes to Duke,
both Duke and OSU would be locked together at #1.

Kyrie Irving
Joshua Hariston
Tyler Thornton
(hopefully Harrison Barnes)
(would have included Andre Dawkins)

I don't care if they end up number one or two, no matter how you look at it, this is a great recruiting class! And you have guys who you know are ready to come in and contribute from day one. Sullinger is going to be a monster, and likely will be at OSU for at least two years. He's that dominant interior scorer that is hard to match at the college level.

And I'm not really certain that Turner bolts. He returned for this year knowing that he's returning to the exact same team and he would have been a first rounder last year as well. I think he truly just enjoys college life, and the opportunity for a national championship might be too much to pass on.

I do think Buford is gone either way. But if both return, Matta will work something out. Someone will get kicked to the curb or someone will be willing to pay their own way.

Duke would be STACKED.. we do have Seth Curry coming in also.

The Thad Six.....can't wait

I think if somebody goes, its going to be one of the Europeans. let's face it, they haven't played a whole lot, and from what I've seen from them both they have a LONG way to go

Great class for OSU. I've been following their recruiting closely.

I think this class will get us a championship. 189-8 overall record in three years of AAU play, against some of the best HS basketball teams in the country. They obviously already have the chemistry. . .lets just hope for everything else to fall into place.

http://sports.espn.go.com/highschool/rise/news/story?page=risegames/aaupreviews/4348749

Not sure why people think Buford is leaving. He is not near ready physically, or skill wise. Yes, he is a GREAT shooter with great range, but his handles and strength are not yet there.
I really believe he is at OSU next year.
Turner is GONE, and should be if he is top 10 pick, which I think he easily will be.

As mentioned above....WHO CARES if Duke gets Barns...this OSU class is flat out good, period. And, all will be there at least two years, and most, 4yrs. Only two are possible early departures, Thomas and Sullinger. And I dont' see either leaving after one year.
All these guys know eachother well, and Craft, Sibert, Sullinger all played AAU together. All have at least made it to a state championship game, and 3 of these players have won state titles in high school. These guys KNOW how to WIN!
The next few years, including this year, is going to be fun and exciting for OSU basketball!! Matta is continueing to build a special program!

One thing I want to relay to people though...as great as this class is, its NOT on par with the Oden class. People need to realize that Oden was a once in a century recruit. Add in Conley, you have two TOP 5 NBA picks. 4 guys that played on that team, are in the NBA, Oden, Conley, Cook and Hunter.
Please BE PATIENT with this class and do NOT put unrealistic expectations on them.

I do disagree with the expectations. When you sign the #1 class in the country, you do expect them to win now. I wouldn't say that a National Championship are my expectations, but I think anything short of an Elite 8 appearance will likely to a disappointment.

And if Turner does for some reason decide to return, anything short of a National Championship would be a letdown, and I think that's something that might get Turner to consider it.

Although Oden was dominant, Sullinger might be even better. He's not the defensive stopper, but he can score and will dominate the paint of the Big 10. I don't know anything about Thomas, but from his rankings, he should contribute immediately.

I agree... Oden and Conley willed us to the Natl Champ game through tough defense, offensivly it was a struggle sometimes. This thad six is going to be the opposite I think they will be filling it up like non other and will be tons of fun to watch. I will wait 4 years to say if this class is better than oden's class, I think they have a good chance.

thedynasty1998 wrote: I do disagree with the expectations. When you sign the #1 class in the country, you do expect them to win now. I wouldn't say that a National Championship are my expectations, but I think anything short of an Elite 8 appearance will likely to a disappointment.

And if Turner does for some reason decide to return, anything short of a National Championship would be a letdown, and I think that's something that might get Turner to consider it.

Although Oden was dominant, Sullinger might be even better. He's not the defensive stopper, but he can score and will dominate the paint of the Big 10. I don't know anything about Thomas, but from his rankings, he should contribute immediately.

Well, then you have unreal expectations IMO. When was the last time a #1 class got to the finals? OSU probably. Being #1 recruiting rarely equates to a final four the first year unless they were exceptional, like the Oden class was.
Sullinger is NO ODEN. He has better offensive skill....but you have to realize, Oden was 7'1", 270lbs pounds of pure domination on both ends. Sullinger is 6'8", 250. He will be an undersized post player. He will do just fine. But He will NOT be near the dominate force that Oden was on both ends of the court, especially defensively. Oden presence alone was a 5-10 pt swing.
The other PART, maybe a BIGGER PART that will be missing, is at the PG position. There is NO Conley with this class. Craft is good solid player. And "in time", will be very good IMO. But he is NOWHERE near the caliber of player that Conley turned out to be. And, Conley was the SURPRISE player that year. NO ONE expected Conley to do what he did.
Thomas will be the best of the class in terms of overall skill and scoring ability. He is a flat out stud. He can step outside, post up, take it to the basket. If anyone has the ability to be one or two and done...it would be Thomas.
Again, this class is great, but its not a national title contender in year one.
WITH Turner, YES. With out Turner, no way.

I disagree with you. The landscape of college basketball has obviously changed. In recent years past, the best players always went to the pros. In today's game, the best players have to go to college, so for many teams, those freshmen are program changers, and the top programs are relying on freshmen to take them to that elite level.

And yes, Oden was a 5-10 point swing, but so is an offensive interior player.

I agree with the PG position, but they should be able to overcome that.

Look at years past and the freshmen on those teams:
Memphis with Derrick Rose
Syracuse with Carmelo
UCLA with Kevin Love

Many times the top recruiting class is going to bring those high expectations. That's why UNC is hoping for another National Championship even with the losses they had from last years team.

thedynasty1998 wrote: I disagree with you. The landscape of college basketball has obviously changed. In recent years past, the best players always went to the pros. In today's game, the best players have to go to college, so for many teams, those freshmen are program changers, and the top programs are relying on freshmen to take them to that elite level.

And yes, Oden was a 5-10 point swing, but so is an offensive interior player.

I agree with the PG position, but they should be able to overcome that.

Look at years past and the freshmen on those teams:
Memphis with Derrick Rose
Syracuse with Carmelo
UCLA with Kevin Love

Many times the top recruiting class is going to bring those high expectations. That's why UNC is hoping for another National Championship even with the losses they had from last years team.

First of all, as good as this class is, there is NO Rose, No Carmelo and No Kevin Love. No one that good in this class. Again, your talking about EXCEPTIONAL one and done players. This class does not have that. Which IMO, isn't a bad thing, because I see most of them staying 3,4yrs.
And often times, those above players, HAD some experience WITH them to help get them get to where they went. Those teams also had great point guards.
UNC is always in the mix, because they don't just have 3,4 studs, they typically have 6, 7 and 8 studs on their roster! And, they typically are able to keep a couple/few to stay longer...ala last year with Hansbrough, Lawson and Ellington. The last TWO UNC titles...had experience.
Again, I ask, when was the last time a team, with a majority of freshman, won a title? How often do we see a team loaded with freshman, at the Final Four?
Its not as often as you and others think. It happens, but not often.

I hope i am wrong. But I am not going to set next years team up for failure when they are still in high school right now. I have seen most of these guys play. They are good, no question. But again, they are NOT Oden, Conley, Cook good. Not many are!

All that said, if Turner happens to return, then you add all the rest of returning players...then that completely changes things. Turner is the key between a potential final four team...and one that makes the sweet16/final 8.

We can agree to disagree I guess.
But I highly doubt Turner comes back.

Is Sullinger not the top ranked or one of the top ranked players in his class? So I would say Sullinger is in that class with the others. Maybe not as far as NBA potential, but certainly college.

Folks Turner is gone after this year. He is one of the top juniors in the country and really too good of an all around player to not go.

Likely top-10 pick. But this 2010 class has me excited.

Not the Thad Five (nothing will ever be), but certainly a bright bright future for OSU basketball.

Wouldn't North Carolina have the top class with 3 top 20 players signed?

Not that it matters, but the future looks bright for OSU and all of college basketball!!