With the potential to land back-to-back top-10 nationally ranked classes, Chris Holtmann and the Buckeyes are on an undeniable recruiting run.
Ohio State never reaped the benefits that a top-five class would suggest, though, as Daniel Giddens, Austin Grandstaff, A.J. Harris and Mickey Mitchell all transferred after their first year. JaQuan Lyle was the lone player of the bunch to remain by the start of the 2016-17 season, but even he left Columbus after his sophomore year.
It took until Holtmann’s second full recruiting cycle as head coach for Ohio State to even come close to another top-10 haul. Theranked 14th in the nation with three top-50 prospects and four signees overall. That group produced E.J. Liddell, a two-time first-team All-Big Ten selection and the face of the Buckeye program for the past two seasons. But much like 2015, the three other members of the class all eventually transferred out – including two after just one season.
That result may have threatened to stall momentum on the recruiting trail for Holtmann and company. Ohio State’s next two classes ranked 48th and 49th in the country, respectively, as the Buckeyes brought in just five total high school recruits between those two years. But by landing Malaki Branham in 2021, Ohio State got a one-and-done talent and first-round NBA draft pick whose immediate success is sure to help attract future recruits hoping for a similar trajectory.
Even before Branham became the Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2021-22, Holtmann and assistant coaches Ryan Pedon and Jake Diebler – both instrumental in Ohio State’s recent recruiting success – had already constructed the Buckeyes’ best class on paper since the Matta era., includes a quartet of four-star prospects who were ranked among the top 65 players in the country: Roddy Gayle , Bruce Thornton , Felix Okpara and Brice Sensabaugh .
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