U Weekly. Serving The Ohio State University in Columbus Ohio

Energetic Hill could be latest JUCO steal

By VR Bryant

There have been a few articles, a few press releases. A handful of people have heard the story of how he came to be a Buckeye, but by and large, P.J. Hill is still an unknown commodity to Columbus fans.

 
       

Even after last Wednesday’s media day, the information is reasonably thin. You see, even though Hill isn’t technically a freshman, he has yet to log official floor time with the team. Therefore, like the five incoming freshmen and Vanderbilt transfer Kyle Madsen, Hill is off-limits to the press.

But while Hill was with the rest of the new kids on the block, having his picture taken and shooting around, the returning players and coaches were more than happy to heap praise on the little man, who’s not quite so little anymore.

For some perspective, Hill — a Minneapolis native — went out of high school to Midland Junior College in Midland, Texas. He had very little NCAA interest, purportedly because of his size at the time (5-foot-10, 130 pounds.). Since high school, Hill has shot up three inches and put on 35 pounds.

Not satisfied with his options, Hill opted for junior college, knowing that if he played well, he would have the opportunity again to test the NCAA waters. Last March, while Greg Oden and Mike Conley, Jr. were helping pen Ohio State’s championship game story, Hill was busy writing his own fairy tale.

At the end of his freshman season, Hill was helping hoist an NJCAA Div. I Championship trophy for the Midland Chaparrals, recording ten points and five boards in the title game.

Come July, he was driving through the night from Minnesota to Tulsa, Oklahoma to attend a scouting camp for junior college players. Arriving at five in the morning and playing at nine, Hill caught the eye of a number of coaches.

One of them was OSU assistant John Groce. One week later he was a Buckeye.

Now, for anyone who wasn’t sure, Hill is more than just an extra piece. For starters, he represents real depth at the point behind senior Jamar Butler, who will slide back to lead guard after tag-teaming with Conley a year ago.

Prior to Hill’s commitment, the only other pure point guard on the team was walk-on Danny Peters, who says Hill has the tools to start at the college level.

“He’s a good leader,” said Peters. “He came in and picked things up very quickly, and made sure he fit in with us. He’s just an all-around nice guy, and it’s great in practice to have another point guard in there getting reps.”

Hill certainly has the respect of his back-up, but what about Butler, who will be relying on Hill to step in and maintain while he rests up? Butler summed it up in two words:

“He’s fast. Very fast. He does everything at 100 miles per hour. Even in the weight room — you’ve got to tell him to slow down.”

Fast, he says. Just how fast?

“He’s just as quick as Mike [Conley, Jr.],” Butler said. “There’s just some little things he needs to learn now, and the good thing is he wants to learn. He’ll ask questions, and wants to know what he’s doing wrong.”

The praise didn’t stop there, as Coach Thad Matta was quick to laud the new addition.

“He showed up with a smile on his face, and he’s done everything and more than we’ve asked him to do,” commented Matta. “He came in and bench pressed 185 pounds two times. Five weeks later he did it nine times. He’s got the work ethic you look for.”

While taking comments on Hill, the young guard could be seen hamming it up with the other new faces, clearly exercising what is already a very strong rapport. He is constantly smiling, and seems to make his energy contagious.

It was right around the time he was being lifted up to the basket by freshman forward Dallas Lauderdale for a dunk that you had to wonder if you were looking at the future leader of the team.

Asked his opinion, Matta said, “I think he will [emerge as a leader]. He’s accustomed to winning, and I think he knows what it takes to win. ... I think the fact that he comes from a winning program is something you can never put a price on.”

Junior college players have certainly had their ups and downs in recent years with Ohio State. It’s easy to forget a guy like Sylvester Mayes, and Shun Jenkins — while talented — never quite set the world on fire.

Then again, the more recent play of Je’Kel Foster and Othello Hunter, both JC guys, is proof positive that there is not only serious talent to be harvested from the junior ranks, but valuable leadership as well.

Hill continues the new tradition of junior college players at Ohio State, and so far, he has everyone smiling right along with him.

Originally Published: October 17, 2007

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