With Kosta Koufos guaranteed to be a first round selection and Othello Hunter hoping for a late second round miracle, Ohio State is looking at back to back years with at least one player being drafted for the first time since 2000 and 2001.
The 2000 NBA Draft saw Michael Redd drafted by the Bucks and Scoonie Penn scooped up by Atlanta in the second round while Ken Johnson (Heat) was the lone Buckeye selected in 2001.
In fact, since Jim Jackson was the #4 pick in the '92 draft, OSU has produced just seven other draft picks with Oden, Conley and Cook accounting for three of those selections last season.
It's been well documented that many in Buckeye land aren't exactly enamored with Koufos after he supposedly surprised Matta by dropping out of school to prepare for the draft which could end up costing OSU a scholarship but the Buckeye in me still hopes he does well.
Chad Ford and others have commented that Koufos more than held his own in workouts against the supremely overrated Kevin Love who is projected as a top 7 pick.
It would be great to see Hunter drafted but it's pretty much a lock that both he and Jamar Butler will have to go the free agent tryout route in an effort to land in the league. Butler was named MVP of the Portsmouth camp but had to pull out of the Orlando pre-draft camp after pulling a hammy while Hunter has done nothing but show his upside in Portsmouth, Orlando and individual team workouts.
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Comments
he's a bum. dofus will never be anything at the next level and whoever is unfortunate enough to draft him will be pissing the money away.
Call me a bitter fan, but I just can't pull for Koufos. I don't wish him ill will, but he kind of dicked Thad and the program.
Matta is in a tough spot he is going always have to go after guys he knows that will stay 3 to 4 years and he is always have to get one or two premier players which translate to one and done guys. He will get the right mix some years aka final four, or elite eight and other years he will somewhat suffer aka NIT Champs or bounced in the first or second round of the tourney.
Caption for this photo: "Get your own *$%&#* rebounds!"
We should all add our own. I don't wish him ill, but I won't follow his career much. I just don't have that sense of connection I seemed to have developed with Conley and Oden.
"Don't you ever throw me the ball in the paint again!"
KK IS A PUNK. SHOULD HAVE TO PAY BACK HIS SCHOLIE FOR DROPPING OUT. I HOPE HE GETS DRAFTED BY TORONTO.
Joe is right, I wish Koufos all the best, but I was drawn to Oden and Conley more. Koufos was simply to inconsistent and didn't lead this team until the NIT. It still blows my mind he is going to be a lottery pick. He must not have had too many rebounding drills during his workouts.
I think it speaks to how diluted the talent pool is this season as much as anything.
That's an interesting point Skinner, because most of the "experts" are claiming this is the deepest draft in years. It may go hand in hand with how bad NBA general managers are though.
only time will tell but I also struggle with believing this is a deep draft...if it is, it certainly appears to lack a high volume of potential stars / impact players...
FYI Lady Shaq is not as hot as Alyssa Dehaan.
Koufas is slipping a little, eh?
looks like young kosta should have stayed in school.
Those Mormons finally got what they deserved.
KK to the Jazz.
Utah= Mormons= no caffeine= limited availability of Red Bull= no wings= same shitty rebounding from Gyro Softinthepaintopodopolous.
In all seriousness, I wish him the best.
[...] quick departure caused some animosity towards him by loyal OSU fans because he has caused OSU some serious APR problems by leaving during the quarter, [...]