Ohio State coach Thad Matta has completed his Fab 5 recruiting class and it’s none other than … Othello Hunter.
Othello Hunter?
Yep. The 6-foot-9, 225-pound Hillsborough Community College (Fla.) sophomore power forward, who has only been playing basketball for about three years, committed to the Buckeyes, rounding out perhaps the most highly touted recruiting class since the Michigan class back in 1991.
Matta received plenty of headlines with his stellar recruiting class that includes the nation’s top player, Greg Oden, and a trio of other elite kids – Mike Conley (No. 25), Daequan Cook (No. 16) and David Lighty (No. 29).
Hunter comes in with no reputation.
Hunter is a true power forward who barely played when he was teammates with North Carolina sophomore Reyshawn Terry at Reynolds High (N.C.).
``He’s a hidden gem,” Hillsborough coach Derrick Worrels said. “He’s only been playing for three years. He didn’t start for us until midway through last season.”
Worrels said the improvement in Hunter’s game is impressive – almost daily progress.
``He can play with his back to the basket and also knock down the 15-footer,” Worrels added. “He’s a shot-blocker who is extremely long. He runs the floor like a gazelle.” For someone whose only been playing the game for a little while, he’s got a high basketball IQ.”
Hunter averaged about 11 points and 6.5 rebounds per game as a freshman, but Worrel cautions people to be careful about the numbers. He put up 16 points and 11 boards per contest in conference play down the stretch as a starter.
Hunter was also looking at South Florida, Colorado, Oklahoma and USC.
``Ohio State had been pursuing him the longest and although he wasn’t the biggest name they were looking at, they had truly made a commitment to him and told him how important he was to them,” Worrels said.