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Buckeye futures: Stock on the rise for 2010

By VR Bryant

It's a risky proposition, talking about next year's recruiting class, when we're hardly a fraction into the current season. Karmically speaking, I'm pretty sure I'll finish in the red for having written this. Nonetheless, the wave of incoming talent is impossible to ignore. Without a single senior starter, it's perfectly conceivable that the 2010 Buckeyes could look startlingly similar to this year's squad.

Yet, on the horizon is a class that, on paper, is every bit as heralded as the famed "Thad Five" (Greg Oden, Mike Conley, et al). In fairness, nobody is tripping over themselves like they were with G.O. - the mystique of the "true center" is unrivaled in its potency. So as much as it pains me to do so with the Buckeyes already on the floor for the 2009-10 season, we here feel compelled to consider the uncommon influx of funk. Six strong, here they are:

F - Jared Sullinger (6'8", 262)
Ah, the Sullingers. A veritable wellspring of basketball goodness. Only, not until Jared has the clan seen so massive a talent. Older brother James (J.J.) laid the groundwork at Ohio State as a three-year starter, posting consistent numbers over what was ultimately a very solid career. Jared, with about four inches and 50 pounds on his side, is expected to be much more than solid. The knock on the young man is that he's not a freak athlete, and has been a bit out of shape at times. But the coach's son boasts a serious motor and willingness to do the dirty work. Buckeye fans may not love the comparison, but Sullinger has been favorably compared to Tyler Hansbrough. I smell another Final Four.

G - DeShaun Thomas (6'7", 221)
Imagine if Evan Turner posted up more and had a crisper jump shot. Say hello to DeShaun Thomas, the 12th-ranked player on ESPN.com's top 100. Thomas turned down a bevy of elite suitors (Duke, Indiana and Michigan State, just to name a few) to join Sullinger in this class, forming what could wind up being the deadliest front-court combo in the country. Thomas is the classic picture of a mismatch guard-forward: too big for most twos, too fast for most fours. When you watch video of him, he sometimes looks like Sullinger in the way he posts guys up, but he has NBA range. Downside? Could be another one-and-done, and if Turner and Lighty stay, how many minutes will he really get?

G - Jordan Sibert (6'4", 185)
As long as we're comparing these guys to current players, Sibert is closer to Will Buford than probably anybody else. He's not super tall and he's a little streaky with his shot, but he's got a basketball body and can jump out of the gym. Strong around the rim, he'd present yet another match-up issue for a lot of average-sized shooting guards. The big draw is his athleticism. We're talking 360-degree dunk kind of athleticism. Playing off a more versatile back-court companion, Sibert would have free reign to make the SportsCenter Top 10. Now, he is coming off a broken leg, which has slowed him a bit, but he'll be long since back to full strength come next summer.

G - Lenzelle Smith Jr. (6'4", 205)
Like Thomas, Smith is a left-handed, ball-handling combo guard-forward. He's not quite as tall, but he's equally stout-bodied, and has the skills necessary to play the point. The early word is that he'll need to slim down some and gain quickness to survive on the defensive end at that position, though fortunately he won't ever have to deal with MSU's Kalin Lucas. Like everyone else in the class, Smith is a good rebounder - especially for his size. So far, all four of these players could be on the floor at the same time and thrive off one another's talents.

G - Aaron Craft (6'2", 190)
Craft is not a one-and-done type talent. And no, that is not a knock. Described as an "ultimate glue guy," Craft projects as a Jamar Butler kind of player that could easily be around all four years, and be a super-crafty senior starter that gives other guys fits. Now, he's not all heart - he's plenty quick and athletic and I hear tell he is a crazy good on-ball defender. A little bit bigger, and I'd liken him to a Dane Bradshaw (Tennessee), but I admittedly haven't seen a ton of tape on him. Nevertheless, he's going to make a name for himself here. It just might not be for a couple years.

F - J.D. Weatherspoon (6'6", 200)
Weatherspoon was a late add, but that's not to say he's just a toss-in. The high school teammate of Jared Sullinger (Northland) is ranked 30th at the small forward position by ESPN.com, and was being hounded hard by heavyweight programs like Arizona, Maryland, Wisconsin and Georgia Tech. He actually de-committed from Xavier to join the 2010 class, and - like Craft - will probably be most noticeable come his junior season after taking some time to develop behind the marquee names. He's a little bit of a tweener, like a lot of these guys, but is way too athletic to be overlooked.

100 points in the season opener. Evan Turner's historic triple double. The sharp-shooting of Jon Diebler and William Buford. The healthy return of Dallas Lauderdale.

There was plenty to get excited about during the Buckeyes' 2-0 start to the 2009-2010 basketball season.

But, from here things get a little dicey for an under-the-radar OSU team, as they face North Carolina tomorrow at 9:30 p.m.

See uweekly.com/buck for an in-depth preview of the first big test of the season against the No. 4 Tar Heels.

Originally Published: November 18, 2009

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