Recruiting Update

Since we last posted a recruiting update a lot of stories have dropped in Ohio recruiting, particularly with several top prospects from the class of 2013 making their college decisions. Here are some Buckeye State ballers who are no longer on the board, and other stories….

Jack Gibbs

• Jack Gibbs: Ohio’s number two ranked point guard made the call on Monday afternoon when he verbally committed to play at Davidson. The Columbus Westerville North floor general should make a splash in Columbus this year when he returns from an ACL injury that cost him his junior season. Gibbs is one of the top pure winners in all of high school basketball, and brings scoring and passing abilities to the game. Gibbs chose Davidson over offers from Ohio University, Miami (OH), Bowling Green, Akron, Creighton and James Madison.

• DeMonte Flannigan: An athletic 6’7 forward with a ton of potential, the Cleveland Villa Angela-St. Joseph’s senior committed to Cleveland State on Sunday night, right after returning home from an official visit. Flannigan chose Cleveland State over Richmond, Duquesne and UNC-Wilmington.

• Dontonio Wingfield: The 6’5 versatile Cincinnati Walnut Hills wing, who is ranked by TDP as the top shooting guard in Ohio in 2013, committed to play at Ohio University. Wingfield chose Ohio U over offers from several MAC program, as well as interest from St. Bonaventure, Xavier, Manhattan and others.

• Findlay scores three: The Oilers, a perennial Division II powerhouse, have put themselves on the map in recruiting Ohio’s 2013 class by securing the pledges of three in-state prospects. Findlay started off by getting Columbus Worthington Kilbourne forward Tyler Stern to make the call. Just a few days later, Findlay got good news on back to back days as Toledo St. John’s PG Austin Gardner and Toledo Whitmer shooting guard Ricardo Smith both announced that they’ll be headed down the road to Findlay after wrapping up their high school careers. Gardner in particular was a major recruiting coup for the Oilers, as the top ten point guard prospect had Division I college offers that he chose to turn down to stay near home.

• More D2 commitments: In addition to the trio that Findlay landed, four other Ohio prospects committed to Division II programs in the last couple of weeks. Grove City forward Brandon Bapst chose Malone College (OH), Fredericktown forward Ryan Logan pledged to Stone Hill (MA), Elyria guard Kody Bender will be headed to West Liberty (WV) and Canton McKinley post player Mike Mills is now committed to Lincoln Memorial (TN).

DeMonte Flannigan

• Carlton Bragg: One of the hottest prospects right now in the entire country is 6’9 power forward Carlton Bragg, a 2015 prospect out of Cleveland Villa Angela-St. Joseph’s. After showing an ability to dominate inside and outside, including a much improved perimeter handle and jumpshot, at John Lucas Midwest Elite Camp, Bragg has received offers from Cincinnati, Illinois, West Virginia and Dayton; to match interest from Louisville, Missouri, Xavier, Texas and Michigan State. Now widely considered the state’s number one or two sophomore prospect, Bragg should continue to see his recruitment skyrocket during the season with Cleveland VASJ.

• MaCio Teague: The 6’3 pure shooting wing from the class of 2015 at Cincinnati Summit has also seen his recruiting stock improve over the fall, much like Bragg’s. About a week ago, Teague received his first high major scholarship offer as Seton Hall extended an offer Teague’s way. Reports have also said that Cincinnati and Xavier have expressed interest in the sophomore.

• Devin Williams: The 6’8 power forward from Cincinnati, who is spending his senior season at Montverde (FL) Academy is down to just three schools in West Virginia, Memphis and Ohio State. Williams has visited the first two, and plans on making a trip to Ohio State this weekend. Expect Williams to make a decision shortly after the OSU visit, and sign with his chosen school in the fall. A nationally ranked player in the top 100, Williams is one of the top big men in 2013 that has yet to choose a college.

• VJ King: The class of 2016 in Ohio is one of the deepest and most talented classes in recent memory, and will have a chance to produce several high major players. One freshman who is already receiving big time scholarship offers in 6’5 wing VJ King, out of Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary’s. During fall open gyms King has been viewed (and offered) by Ohio State, Wisconsin, Michigan and Michigan State. Considered to be one of the top ten 2016 prospects in the entire country, King (who just moved to Ohio in the summer from North Carolina) also is likely to make the USA 16u National Team after performing well at the tryout event three weeks ago in Colorado.