Ohio State Basketball

Let’s be perfectly honest—Thad Matta and his Ohio State basketball program would be absolutely fine if it didn’t land another recruit from now until national signing day.

That may not be what fans who are always looking for the next star or a No.1 class want to hear, but the Buckeyes currently have the No. 7 class in the country, according to 247Sports, for 2015 and just landed the No. 8 class in 2014, according to 247Sports. Between the 2014 and 2015 groups alone, the Buckeyes have eight different players.

That is a lot of young incoming talent, and that’s not even mentioning Marc Loving and Trevor Thompson, who will both have multiple years of eligibility remaining after the 2014-15 basketball season is over.

Yes, the Buckeyes have some seniors this year, including Shannon Scott, Sam Thompson and Amir Williams, but between Loving, Thompson, D’Angelo Russell, Jae’Sean Tate, Keita Bates-Diop, Kam Williams, David Bell and the four 2015 commits, the immediate future looks rather bright.

With that in mind, it is hard to justify the idea that a remaining prospect or two could “make or break” the 2015 class.

However, you could make the argument that losing out on Carlton Bragg, Esa Ahmad and Luke Kennard was a significant blow. Kennard is a 5-star shooting guard, according to 247Sports’ composite rankings, who committed to Duke, Ahmad is a 4-star power forward who committed to West Virginia and Bragg is a 5-star power forward and potential superstar who will go elsewhere as well.

That is some significant in-state talent leaving Ohio’s borders, which is difficult for Buckeyes fans to see after Ohio natives Trey Burke and Adreian Payne made life particularly difficult for them in the Big Ten the past few years.

Ibby Ahmad, Esa’s father, discussed the decision, via Bill Landis of Cleveland.com, “[Ohio State] wasn’t there as long as Maryland and West Virginia, but when they did come on they showed a lot of love. Ohio State came in, gave it their shot.”

Matta may have lost out on that significant in-state talent, but he has responded with a potentially dominant class that includes two Texans, a Georgian and one Ohioan. It is more important that he keeps those verbal pledges intact than actually signing anyone else at this point, especially since Mickey Mitchell already de-committed once before joining the group again.

Shooting guard Austin Grandstaff, center Daniel Giddens, point guard A.J. Harris and small forward Mitchell are all 4-star prospects, according to 247Sports’ composite rankings, and give Matta an elite option at basically every position on the floor. Sure, there’s no power forward, but there are a number of versatile young guys already on the roster who could take care of that if needed.

These four recruits are the ideal complement to each other because Harris is always looking to set up teammates to score, Grandstaff can light it up from behind the three-point line, Mitchell can both shoot and slash to the rim and Giddens is capable of anchoring a defense down low with his strength, rebounding ability and shot-blocking athleticism.

Pairing this class with the loaded 2014 group down the road should have Buckeyes fans thrilled about the future.

Even though Matta’s class can’t really be “broken” if he strikes out on any remaining outside prospects, there are a few remaining players who would solidify this class as one of the nation’s best.

However, it is important to note that it is looking all the more likely that Matta and his coaching staff may be done adding 2015 commits. At one point or another, they were in on the recruitment of Ivan Rabb, Jaylen Brown, Cheick Diallo, Thomas Bryant and Isaiah Briscoe.

Considering all five of those players are 5-star recruits, according to 247Sports’ composite rankings, landing even one of them would be a significant boost to the 2015 class. Still, they are all listed as “cooled” on Ohio State on 247Sports and will in all likelihood be taking their collective talents elsewhere.

Of course, if any of them came knocking on Matta’s door saying he wanted in, the coach would be happy to take him. But Ohio State is likely turning its attention toward laying the foundation for the future with the 2016 class already.

The Buckeyes are targeting small forward Braxton Blackwell, point guard Kobi Simmons and center Derek Funderburk, which would give them some depth across different positions yet again.

It is also worth keeping an eye on prospects like Tyus Battle, V.J. King, Mario Kegler and Omari Spellman, who are all listed as potential Ohio State targets for 2016 on 247Sports. Buckeyes fans should be quite encouraged that every single one of the 2016 prospects mentioned here is either a 4- or 5-star recruit, so it is clear Matta is looking for a dominant class for a third straight year.

Ultimately, it is difficult to say a given player or two will make or break the Buckeyes’ 2015 class because it appears to be as close to set in stone as it can be at this time of year. Ohio State landed an impressive 2014 group and has another formidable one coming down the pipeline next season. 

Now it’s time for the Buckeyes to turn their attention toward even more 4- and 5-star prospects in 2016.

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As the 2014 early signing period approaches in college basketball (Nov. 12-19, according to nationalletter.org), the Ohio State basketball program may not land another target in the 2015 recruiting class.

Considering where the Buckeyes stand, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

Ohio State sports the seventh-ranked Class of 2015, per 247Sports, thanks to an impressive collection of talented commits. Shooting guard Austin Grandstaff, center Daniel Giddens, point guard A.J. Harris and small forward Mickey Mitchell are all 4-star prospects, per 247Sports’ composite rankings, and on their way to Columbus.

The future is clearly bright for the Buckeyes, especially after Thad Matta landed such a highly regarded 2014 class to pair with these incoming players. The 2015 class also gives Ohio State options everywhere on the court with a center, forward and two guards.

The Buckeyes are still interested in a handful of 2015 prospects with the early signing period around the corner, but they likely won’t be securing any additional commitments.

Ivan Rabb is listed on 247Sports as a potential target. As an elite power forward who can finish in the lane with formidable footwork and soft touch, or from mid-range with a gradually expanding offensive arsenal, Rabb would give the Buckeyes the one position they don’t have in the 2015 class. He would also be a potential lockdown defender and rebounder. 

It needs to be noted, though, that Rabb has apparently “cooled” on the Buckeyes, per 247Sports’ recruiting page. As College Basketball Talk noted, Rabb’s list of schools is getting smaller, and it likely isn’t going to include Ohio State:

Five-star power forward expected to cut list to five this weekend http://t.co/agqbrA8IBm

— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) October 16, 2014

There are some other guys, such as small forward Jaylen Brown, power forward Cheick Diallo, power forward Thomas Bryant and point guard Isaiah Briscoe, who are listed under the "Interested" section on 247Sports that would give Matta some additional positional diversity. However, like Rabb, all four have also “cooled” on Ohio State.

There is a very realistic possibility that Matta is done with the 2015 class, which would not really be a problem at all. He already has a top-10 class and a plethora of young talent on campus in the form of D’Angelo Russell, Marc Loving, Jae’Sean Tate, Keita Bates-Diop, Trevor Thompson and Kam Williams. Throw the four 2015 pledges into that group, and the Buckeyes are set for the next couple of years.

That means Matta can turn his attention toward recruiting the 2016 class in the early signing period and laying the foundation for a future core, even if he doesn’t get any actual commits in November.

Braxton Blackwell and Kobi Simmons both went on unofficial visits to Ohio State and took in a football game in the fabled Horseshoe.

Simmons’ father, DeMond Stephens, discussed the visit, via Brian Snow of Scout.com:

We really liked the whole visit. Kobi and my wife liked it a lot, and the whole coaching staff was great. The coaches are very family oriented people and treated us first class. Also the facilities were great.

I really liked the specifics they were talking about how they want him to not just play right away, but make an impact right away. They said they need him to come in and make an impact immediately like a Michael Conley or someone like that. They made it clear that they don’t care who is a freshman or who is a senior, they want to let the best players play.

Simmons is a 5-star point guard, per 247Sports’ composite rankings, from Georgia who checks in at 6’5” and has drawn the interest of powerhouses like Kentucky and Kansas. His length, athleticism and explosiveness immediately jump out and help him attack the basket off the bounce like a Derrick Rose or Russell Westbrook.

Simmons is also capable of hitting from behind the three-point line and is more than comfortable setting up teammates with crisp passes. That length and quickness also help on the defensive side, which is critical if he wants to be a Buckeye.

As for Blackwell, he is a 4-star small forward, per 247Sports’ composite rankings, from Nashville who stands at 6’8” and has drawn interest from local Vanderbilt and Indiana, among others. His versatility is what immediately jumps out because he can drive the lane from the perimeter, shoot from the outside and find teammates with pinpoint passes.

Blackwell has the ball-handling skills of a point guard and enough height to get involved in the rebounding game.

Between the 2014 recruiting class and the 2015 group, the foundation is set at Ohio State. It is certainly noteworthy that Matta and his staff are trying to parlay their recent momentum into a quick start for the 2016 class with visits from elite prospects Blackwell and Simmons. 

Landing either one would be a major coup for the program, so it is worth keeping an eye on their recruitment in what may otherwise be a quiet early signing period for the Buckeyes.

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The Ohio State basketball program has been far too impressive over the years under Thad Matta to lose a round of 64 game to Dayton in the NCAA tournament. That means the 2014-15 season is something of a bounce-back campaign.

The only way the Buckeyes will contend for a Big Ten crown and deep postseason run in March is if they take care of a few things that didn’t necessarily go their way last year. 

With that in mind, here is a look at three factors in particular that could make or break Ohio State’s 2014-15 season.

Willingness to Run

Ohio State’s willingness to get out in transition this year will be critical based on the roster personnel alone.

Shannon Scott is a speedster at the point, and Kam Williams, Sam Thompson, D’Angelo Russell, Keita Bates-Diop, Jae’Sean Tate, Marc Loving and even Anthony Lee are all capable of running the floor. That is some serious depth for Matta to work with (whether he actually does remains to be seen), which means Ohio State can wear some opponents out by instituting more of a fast-break approach.

While there is certainly plenty of talent in place, especially if the freshmen deliver on their potential, this is not exactly a roster built to pound the ball in half-court sets.

Scott still isn’t a great perimeter shooter on the outside, Thompson is better suited to slash to the basket in transition and Lee is not exactly a traditional post-up center. Loving and Williams can also maximize their production by spotting up as trailers on the fast break.

What’s more, the pressure defense may take a small step back without Aaron Craft, but Scott, Russell and Thompson will create a number of turnovers. The Buckeyes have to convert them into easy opportunities on the other end, which will improve their No. 128 ranking in Ken Pomeroy’s pace-adjusted offense efficiency ratings from last year by default. 

As Ari Wasserman of Cleveland.com pointed out last season, the Buckeyes just didn’t get out in transition enough:

Sometimes I wonder why Ohio State passes on good looks in transition to set up its halfcourt offense.

— Ari Wasserman (@AriWasserman) March 20, 2014

More fast breaks will lead to more easy baskets and a much better offensive squad. It could even lead to a chance at the Big Ten title.

Amir Williams’ Continued Development

Complaining about Amir Williams is almost as much of a favored pastime in Buckeye Nation as singing "Hang On Sloopy" or laughing at what a disaster the Michigan football program has become. However, fans need to come to reality a bit here when it comes to Williams.

He is never going to be Jared Sullinger or Greg Oden, and that’s perfectly fine.

Williams has improved every season since he arrived in Columbus, as the numbers below indicate.

	Freshman Year	Sophomore Year	Junior Year
Points per game	1.7	3.5	7.8
Rebounds per game	2.1	3.9	5.8
Blocks per game	0.8	1.4	1.8
Field-goal percentage	52.8	55.6	59.8
Free-throw percentage	35.7	55.7	65.1

While those are still not incredible statistics for a starting center, the improvement is certainly encouraging. Matta recognized that the Buckeyes are going to need more of that from Williams this year, via Daniel Rogers of The Lantern:

We need Amir to play well. We need Amir to play consistently on both ends. We gotta get him back to tracking the ball, we gotta get him back to blocking shots more actively around the rim in terms of challenging shots … When he’s played well, we’ve played well. I know that.

Ohio State is a guard- and small forward-oriented team, even with Lee in the fold, so Williams must control the boards and protect the rim.

A productive Williams gives Matta much more flexibility with his lineup as well because it will allow him to play Lee at the power forward spot at times, which will prove critical in Big Ten play when rebounding is the lifeblood to victories. Matta can also go small at times with four guards and forwards around either Williams or Lee when the team needs a boost, but only if he trusts that the middle is not going to get exposed. 

Williams needs to be a viable member of the rotation this year. If he continues to improve, he will be just that.

Rebounding

This goes hand in hand with Williams’ continued improvement, but you just can’t survive in the physically demanding Big Ten and rebound like Ohio State did last year.

The Buckeyes finished a lowly 216th in the nation in total rebounding per game and need to be much more effective on the glass this season.

The defense, which is how the program has won games the past few years, will be even better with improved rebounding because the easy second-chance opportunities won’t be there anymore. The offense would also improve if it was the Buckeyes and not the opposition converting those same second chances.

It is reasonable to expect better numbers in 2014-15 now that Temple-transfer Lee joins Williams down low.

We touched on Williams’ projected improvement, but Lee was a double-double machine for the Owls who averaged 8.6 boards a night last year. When he and Williams play together, Ohio State should be able to control the glass. 

Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports certainly thinks Lee will help in the rebounding department:

My big question for Ohio State? Will the Buckeyes' front court be able to regularly rebound and finish at the rim. Anthony Lee a key here.

— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) July 29, 2014

That is a lot of height on the floor, and Lee is versatile and athletic enough to chase rebounds down all year. A major weakness from a season ago could be a strength for the Buckeyes in 2014-15.

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The Ohio State basketball program may actually have some interior depth during the 2014-15 season, thanks largely to the addition of Anthony Lee.

The 6'9" Lee decided to transfer to the Buckeyes from Temple after considering the likes of Indiana, Louisville and Notre Dame along the way. This was one of the most important developments for Thad Matta and his coaching staff in what can only be described as an offseason of transition.

Aaron Craft, Lenzelle Smith Jr. and LaQuinton Ross all left the program via graduation or early declaration for the NBA draft, which put plenty of pressure on the Buckeyes’ loaded 2014 recruiting class. Adding a tested veteran like Lee to the mix provides stability and a critical piece in an area of need.

Lee scored 13.6 points and grabbed 8.6 rebounds a game last season for the Owls, which are numbers that would have made him the leading rebounder and second-highest scorer for the 2013-14 Buckeyes. He also tallied 11 double-doubles and had three more games where he was just a single point or rebound away from adding to that total.

Considering the departed Ross was the leading rebounder on a team (5.9 boards per game) that finished a lowly 216th in the country in total rebounds a game, Lee's presence on the boards is probably the best part of this addition for Matta and company.

Jon Rothstein of CBSSports.com certainly suggested as much:

My big question for Ohio State? Will the Buckeyes' front court be able to regularly rebound and finish at the rim. Anthony Lee a key here.

— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) July 29, 2014

How Lee will fit in alongside the rest of the Buckeyes is ultimately more important going forward than the numbers he put up at Temple, though.

Matta has a team built on speed and athleticism with Shannon Scott, D'Angelo Russell, Sam Thompson, Kam Williams, Keita Bates-Diop, Jae'Sean Tate and Marc Loving. With so many quick guards and explosive forwards, it will be important for Ohio State to get out in transition and apply pressure defense all year.

Lee is more than capable of running the floor from the low block, and his ability to rebound and kick it out on the outlet pass could start some of those fast breaks as well. He will also open up some of the perimeter shooters if he draws some extra defensive help down low.

That is not to suggest that Lee will be a back-to-the-basket center who simply patrols the paint and scores around the rim.

Center Amir Williams has been the target of criticism from Buckeye Nation, often fairly, throughout his career. However, we have to give credit where it's due, and Williams has shown improvement since he arrived in Columbus. In fact, Williams' per-game points, rebounds, free-throw percentage, blocks and field-goal percentage have all increased every single season since he arrived on campus.

Matta is not just going to relegate the senior to the bench just because he has Lee in the fold now.

That works just fine for Lee, who suggested he would rather be on the floor at the same time as Williams as a power forward, via Doug Lesmerises of Cleveland.com: “I prefer the 4, that's what I came here for, but I can play the 5 if I need to because I've been doing it the last three years. If I had to play the 5 and the 5 has to guard me, I'd just be a mismatch."

That type of positional versatility is absolutely critical on a team that could go nine or 10 deep this season.

Matta can mix-and-match Lee and Williams depending on the opponent or who has the hot hand. When they are on the floor together, Ohio State should theoretically rack up plenty of blocks and control the glass. What’s more, when the Buckeyes need some type of spark, Matta can put Lee in as a center in a small, athletic rotation that looks to get out in transition.

In terms of playing time, Lee's presence ultimately means more for Trey McDonald than Williams.

McDonald saw action last year largely because Ohio State didn't really have another big man behind Williams. Now that the Buckeyes have both Lee and Williams, McDonald will likely only see significant minutes when foul trouble or a dreaded injury becomes an issue.

Ohio State also has freshman David Bell at the center position, but he is a redshirt possibility and a long-term project more than an immediate contributor.

Lee's overall athleticism is appealing with so many fast-break-oriented players on the roster, and his ability to control the glass better than any Ohio State big man since Jared Sullinger will be a relief and welcome change for fans tired of watching opponents rack up the offensive rebounds. 

Lee is on the shortlist of reasons why the Buckeyes should improve on last season's disappointing finish.

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Head coach Thad Matta and the Ohio State basketball program landed the versatile forward they needed in the class of 2015—for the second time.

Mickey Mitchell, who originally committed to Matta and the Buckeyes early in the recruiting process before decommitting, announced that he was back in the fold on Twitter.

After short consideration, The Ohio State University is the only place for me, staff & players are family. Can't wait to get back! GO BUCKS!

— SOMI JaMITCHELL (@MickeyMitchell0) September 12, 2014

He decommitted to be closer to his family in Texas, but he still took a visit to Ohio State's campus to watch the football game against Virginia Tech. The combination of the more than 107,000 people in the stands, being on campus with his fellow classmates and future teammates, spending time with the coaching staff and even seeing LeBron James in scarlet and gray must have made an impact.

Now that Mitchell is once again part of the Buckeyes' 2015 recruiting class, it is worth delving into what he brings to the table.

There is a reason why this is such a critical commitment for Matta. Per 247Sports' composite rankings, the 6'7", 210-pound Mitchell is a 4-star prospect who is rated as the No. 103 player nationally, No. 16 small forward and No. 10 recruit from the state of Texas. Teams like SMU, Baylor and Florida were all in on his recruitment at some point.

When discussing what Mitchell brings to the Buckeyes for the 2015-16 season, we have to look at the rest of the 2015 class that will be hitting campus with him and the roster as a whole.

Matta has accumulated the No. 5-ranked class, according to 247Sports, that features a 4-star commitment at every position except for power forward. While the touted overall class ranking is certainly nice, that type of positional depth in a single class is critical as Matta tries to reestablish Ohio State among the nation's elite programs.

The foundation is really starting to come into place after Mitchell's commitment. His future teammates even suggested as much, via Jeremy Birmingham of Eleven Warriors.

"It's really an honor to have him back," A.J. Harris said. "He's a great player and we need him."

"It's a blessing for our class," Daniel Giddens said. "But we know once you're a Buckeye, there's no going back."

When Mitchell arrives on campus, he will be joined by his own classmates in point guard Harris, shooting guard Austin Grandstaff and center Giddens, but Ohio State will have the members of the loaded 2014 class entering their sophomore years and Marc Loving and Kameron Williams on the roster as well.

Presuming nobody leaves early for the NBA, the Buckeyes will suit up D'Angelo Russell, Jae'Sean Tate, David Bell, Williams, Keita Bates-Diop, Trevor Thompson and Loving, plus the 2015 recruits, for the 2015-16 campaign. That's an incredible amount of talent on that list even if the core players are particularly young.

But Mitchell is a small forward. Only Bates-Diop and possibly Loving and Tate could theoretically fill in there, although it would be somewhat out of position for Loving. Tate is also comfortable playing around the basket and could play power forward in a smaller lineup. That means Mitchell fills an area of needed depth as a true small forward on a team that has a ton of guards and three centers.

His athleticism allows him to get out in transition, which will be critical if he plays alongside Russell and Harris.

Mitchell is also capable of hitting shots from behind the three-point line if defenders drift off him or double down on the block, and he is a prolific attacker of the basket. He can beat people off the bounce with an array of moves and a quick first step, and he is then strong enough at 6'7" to finish at the rim through contact.

Those same traits help Mitchell on defense because he is quick enough to stay in front of guards or small forwards but lengthy enough to help in the rebounding department, dart into passing lanes or contain bigger forwards.

Perhaps Mitchell's best ability on the offensive end is his passing. He possesses great court vision and a high basketball IQ that would allow him to fill in at point guard if needed. He is more than comfortable running an offense and creating for himself or others.

Mitchell is a versatile player who can score in a variety of ways at a position that Ohio State needed more depth for heading into the 2015-16 season. This is a critical addition to a young roster that is talented enough to make a run at a Final Four or two in the next few years. 

Once again, Matta delivered on the recruiting trail.

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College basketball prospect Mickey Mitchell has decided to take his talents to Columbus, Ohio.

Again.

Mitchell, who is a 6’7” and 210-pound small forward and 4-star prospect according to 247Sports’ composite rankings, announced the news via Twitter on Thursday:

After short consideration, The Ohio State University is the only place for me, staff & players are family. Can't wait to get back! GO BUCKS!

— SOMI JaMITCHELL (@MickeyMitchell0) September 12, 2014

Mitchell originally committed to Thad Matta and the Ohio State basketball program early in the recruiting process. However, he decommitted to be closer to his family in a similar fashion to his brother Mike, who actually transferred out of the Buckeyes’ football program in the past to be closer to the family in Texas.

Despite the decommittment, Mitchell took a visit to Ohio State’s campus to take in the football game against Virginia Tech. The atmosphere with more than 107,000 people packing the stands and even LeBron James on the sidelines must have made an impression, because he is back in the fold.

The Texas native is ranked as the No. 104 overall player, No. 16 small forward and No. 10 prospect in the state, per 247Sports’ composite rankings, and strengthens what is already a loaded Ohio State 2015 class.

Mitchell is incredibly versatile and athletic and can play multiple positions. He will attack the rim off the dribble and can hit from beyond the three-point line, but his most appealing trait on the floor may be his ability to hit teammates with precise passes. He can even play point guard if needed.

Matta now has point guard A.J. Harris, shooting guard Austin Grandstaff, center Daniel Giddens and Mitchell on board for 2015. It was a top-five class on 247Sports before Mitchell committed again, so look for the Buckeyes to challenge for the No. 1 spot.

Grandstaff actually commented on the visit Saturday that included Mitchell, via Jeremy Birmingham of Eleven Warriors:

“I spent a lot of time with the guys on the team. Everyone was really cool, really great guys. I'm happy I got to spend a lot of time with AJ too, because he's going to my point guard, so we need to get on the same page starting early.”

Mitchell clearly enjoyed spending some time with the guys on the team as well.

With an announcement by 4-star small forward recruit Mickey Mitchell, Ohio State Basketball found out the hard way that a verbal pledge is meaningless in college sports until the prospect puts pen to paper on national signing day.

Per 247Sports' composite rankings, Mitchell was originally elected to be part of head coach Thad Matta's impressive 2015 recruiting class as an early member.

He decommitted via Twitter on August 21:

I have officially decommitted from The Ohio State University and I would like to thank their coaching staff for recruiting me.

— SOMI JaMITCHELL (@MickeyMitchell0) August 22, 2014

While Mitchell seemed rather definitive in his statement—even taking the time to thank the coaching staff—all hope may not be lost for the Buckeyes.

Mitchell visited its campus Saturday for the football game against Virginia Tech with Ohio State commits A.J. Harris and Austin Grandstaff, and logic would dictate that if he made the trip from Texas, there is still some lingering interest.

While the outcome on the field wasn't ideal for the Buckeyes, you would be hard-pressed to find a more impressive recruiting atmosphere in all of sports.

From the pregame pep rally and skull session—which draws thousands more fans than some schools get at their actual football games—to Ohio Stadium's record crowd of 107,517, Ohio State likely made an impression on Mitchell.

What's more, none other than LeBron James himself was on the sidelines, decked out in scarlet and gray gear.

Grandstaff commented on the experience, per Jeremy Birmingham of ElevenWarriors.com:

It was great. What really stood out to me was the fan support. It was incredible. I've never seen a school have that many fans. They were everywhere.

It was pretty cool to see (LeBron James) there to support the university. Unfortunately we didn't get to talk to him.

Perhaps the experience would have been better for all Buckeyes fans if any of the basketball recruits could play offensive line.

It is no wonder Ohio State is still pursuing Mitchell as part of its 2015 class: He is versatile and athletic enough to play multiple positions and a relentless rim attacker off the bounce, and he can hit from the outside.

He is also a terrific passer—especially for the small forward position—and if needed, he could even fit in as a point guard because of his overall court vision.

The Texas native is ranked by 247Sports' composite rankings as the No. 85 overall player, No. 14 small forward and No. 10 prospect in the state.

Outside the impressive recruiting atmosphere a football Saturday creates in Columbus, the 2015 group Matta has already put together should help in the pursuit of Mitchell.

Even without the small forward, it is still ranked as the No. 5 class in 247Sports' composite rankings thanks to Harris, Grandstaff and center Daniel Giddens—they are all 4-star prospects according to 247Sports and give the Buckeyes options at point guard, shooting guard and center.

Harris and Grandstaff will get out in transition, and Giddens should be able to open up teammates if he draws double-teams down low.

Now Matta needs a versatile forward who can excel on both ends of the floor to complete the group, making Mitchell the ideal candidate.

Matta also landed a top-10 class in 2014, so this is a young, talented team that likely to see a championship window open by 2016.

If nothing else, the chance to be a part of a winning group with so much raw talent and playing time available should appeal to Mitchell as he makes his college decision.

All that is working in the Buckeyes' favor, which is why fans should not give up hope just yet.

Still, the reality is that Mitchell's brother—linebacker Mike Mitchell, a former 5-star recruit—transferred from Ohio State to Texas Tech to be closer to their family, and now Mickey Mitchell has backed out of his verbal pledge.

Understandably, the pull of family is often stronger than that of sports, and Ohio State is fighting something of an uphill battle there. 

Bob Baptist of the Columbus Dispatch actually seemed to foreshadow this when the former announced his decision to transfer in February:

https://twitter.com/BBaptistHoops/status/432644146877046784

Schools like SMU, Baylor and Texas Tech are all in on Mitchell's recruitment, so the lure of home is very real in this case.

Ohio State definitely still has a chance to have Mitchell as part of its 2015 class, but the prospect will ultimately decide to do what's best for him and his family. 

It's hard to argue with that.

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It seemed like Thad Matta and the Ohio State basketball coaching staff could do no wrong when it came to the recruiting trail for the class of 2015, but they received their first bit of bad news recently.

Mickey Mitchell, a versatile forward who can play multiple positions, attack the rim off the bounce and shoot from the outside, decommitted from OSU. His brother Mike was once a part of Ohio State’s football team but transferred to be closer to his family.

Interestingly, this isn’t the first time Matta has been on the wrong end of some football movement, as Brian Snow of Scout.com pointed out:

Rather than wallowing in what could have been, it’s worth looking at the current state of the Ohio State 2015 recruiting class.

It is still ranked as the No. 4 group in 247Sports’ composite rankings even without Mitchell, which is a testament to the class Matta was and still is putting together. Point guard A.J. Harris, shooting guard Austin Grandstaff and center Daniel Giddens are all 4-star prospects according to the composite rankings at 247Sports and give the Buckeyes depth at multiple positions.

Harris is a speedster in the open floor who can dart past defenders and finish at the rim with a soft floater. He is also an effective passer and will help Ohio State consistently get out in transition.

Grandstaff is a lethal outside shooter who can create his own looks off the dribble, use pick-and-rolls or launch attempts off passes. He is also an underrated passer who can play some point guard if needed.

Giddens is a physical post presence who swats shots with ease and controls the boards on both ends of the floor. His strength and athleticism make him an incredibly difficult matchup, and he will give the Buckeyes the rim protector they need going forward.

Even if Ohio State doesn’t receive another commitment for the 2015 class, it should be fine. After all, there is plenty of young talent on campus already, and Matta’s group is still ranked in the top five. However, there are three scholarships left to distribute among the next two classes, so look for the Buckeyes to hit the recruiting trail hard in the coming months.

Unfortunately for the scarlet and gray, superstar Cleveland prospect and recruiting target Carlton Bragg recently trimmed his recruiting list to five schools on Monday—Kentucky, Kansas, Illinois, Arizona and UCLA.

Ohio State is noticeably absent from that group.

The Buckeyes could use an elite power forward considering the three commitments already in tow are a point guard, shooting guard and center. That won’t be Bragg though.

Still, big man Doral Moore, power forward Ivan Rabb and power forward Esa Ahmad are all listed among the Buckeyes targets for 2015 on 247Sports and could fill that gap immediately.

Rabb is an athletic specimen who uses his versatility and speed to block shots, contribute on the boards and spin past defenders on the block. Moore can stretch his offensive attack with a mid-range jumper, but he has a lethal hook down low and controls the boards because of his athleticism and size.

Ahmad is an Ohio product who is versatile enough to score down low or get out in transition with the guards. He would be an ideal fit alongside Grandstaff and Harris because the two guards will likely look to push the tempo once they arrive on campus. Ahmad will fill the lanes accordingly.

Grandstaff has not given up hope that Mitchell will once again decide to rejoin the Buckeyes, saying as much recently, via Eleven Warriors:

"Mickey's one of my best friends and I still think we have a shot at getting him, for sure. I'm still going to recruit him and hope to bring him to Ohio State, but it's his choice and I respect him doing what he needs to do for himself."

It may be a long shot, but Mitchell would certainly give the Buckeyes recruiting group a boost yet again. However, even if he decides to look elsewhere, Matta and Ohio State will still be in a prime position to finish among the best recruiting classes in the country for 2015. 

That’s not a bad position to be in two months before the 2014 season starts.

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