Thad Matta received some good news tonight when David Bell, a 6-foot-10 baseliner from Garfield Heights, gave his oral commitment to join Ohio State's 2014 class.
Bell is just a three-star prospect according to Scout and considered the country's 20th-best center, though Ohio State assistant Dave Dickerson is said to be very high on the kid's athleticism and potential.
So far this year, Bell is averaging 17 points, eight boards and four blocks per outing for the Bulldogs. He chose the Buckeyes over Kent State, DePaul, Dayton and Cleveland State, among others.
Bell's stock picked up some steam after Dickerson came away impressed with Bell's performance against other elite prospects at the Flyin To The Hoop tournament in Dayton. Bell adding two inches in the last year didn't hurt, either.
Ohio State's 2014 class now sits at three members. Kieta Bates-Diop became the first member of the class when he pledged last November, giving Matta a wing that can score. A few days later, Pickerington's Jae-Sean Tate joined the fold. Tate, a 6'5" wing and the son of former OSU basketballer Jermaine Tate, picked the Buckeyes over Michigan, Iowa, Purdue, West Virginia, Dayton and Xavier.
Comments
Its been a good week and its only Monday...
Nothing like dancing on the field in 02...
Not sure if I like this commit. Anybody watch him play before?
nevermind, watching a couple highlights I am a fan.
Does he have a post move or a jumper? Or can he just dunk?
not sure we really need a project big man. hopefully there is another big guy he thinks he is going to get
Just read Bob Baptist tweeted that Bell has grown 2 inches in the past year. We could use an athletic big man
Looks like he moves well. Good height. Never know about these guys. Could be a star.
An athletic 6'10" and still maybe growing? We need better post play for sure. I'll take it!
Carrie Keagan is my favorite. Thanks ATX.
Keep Calm and Ignore the Trolls.
Bell is way underrated. He plays in a highly competitive area/level of Northeast Ohio and didn't even play his freshman year. At 6'9"/6'10" he may not even be done growing.
I think Matta just got a steal!
"Attack the Strong, Trample the Weak, Hurdle the Dead!"
-Former OSU S&C Coach Lichter
everybody should go to the garfield and bedfors hts BB game,hell of a rivalry
knucklehead
I hope there's some development left in his game, because at first glance, it looks like he's going to be inheriting the Trey McDonald role on this team. I'm sorry, but winning a recruiting battle with Kent isn't going to make me break out the champagne.
Fortunately, the first two recruits in the 2014 class are looking like legitimate big timers, and given that that season's eventual seniors have been an enormous disappointment to this point, we're going to need some by then.
The most "loud mouth, disrespect" poster on 11W.
he looks like he has shawn kemp potential i like it
I love it. So freaking happy. He should have at least one year to get up to speed before Amir and Trey are gone.
Pretty sure Anthony Davis only had an offer from DePaul before blowing up on the AAU circuit before his senior year. I'm in no way saying Dave is Anthony Davis but I'm saying he might be vastly underrated and largely overlooked. Summer evaluations could be huge for him.
I hope this is correct. When you see true late bloomers in basketball, they're almost always big men. Sometimes the light just goes on. But I don't know that the Bucks have had a true example of this sort of development since Ken Johnson.
The most "loud mouth, disrespect" poster on 11W.
Anthony Davis was a heavy Cleveland State lean just before he hit that growth spurt. If only that spurt had come a couple years later...
"Attack the Strong, Trample the Weak, Hurdle the Dead!"
-Former OSU S&C Coach Lichter
I'd hold off on that comparison. Anthony Davis grew 7 inches, not 2.
yea buddy! Welcome David!
He's far from polished, but he's still young. Looks pretty coordinated and athletic for a big man. Just because he isn't highly touted as a junior means nothing.
I think he can develop into a top player. He has another year of high school plus top AAU play. OSU is still in the hunt for 2013 #1 rated player Andrew Wiggins.
What are our chances on Wiggins?
"Attack the Strong, Trample the Weak, Hurdle the Dead!"
-Former OSU S&C Coach Lichter
Dont think Wiggins plans on visiting osu, so unelss we can get him to visit, zero chance.
Favorite Buckeye: Obviously BJ Mullens
sorry but there really is no chance for Wiggins.
At this point, I don't know if we could claim to be in the hunt for Wiggins. I suppose we could say we are watching the hunt and trying to get a shot. I am curious to see if we add anyone else in 2013 or if we'll focus on 2014 from this point. As far as bigs go, we absolutely NEED to get all hand on deck for Okafor.
Twitter: @conquestnorman
I hear Wiggins is a big FSU lean. Both his parents are alums. I'd be surprised if he doesn't end up there.
Another big man whooooo
Nice pickup!!! Looks very athletic!!
This kid might not be the next great center for OSU but he will bring good size to a team that is starting to look very nice in 2014. Not only is he tall at 6'10'' but he looks big too. If he becomes a legit 7 footer by next year and keep his weight to around 265, he would be a force. Plus I am someone who doesn't think you need a center who is very highly rated. I think it will be more important to get a PG that is. Someone like jaquan Lyle out of Indiana would be nice.
I am really high on Keita Bates-Diop. The kid will very likely grow another inch or 2 putting him at 6'9'' or so. With his long arms and ability to score, he could be very Kevin Durant like.
add in the skill of Kameron Williams coming in this year and the lack of scoring that we see with the team now will definitely not be a problem in the future.
You all can say what you want about Thad this year but this wasn't supposed to be a stellar year after you lose Sully. In 2014, get your expectations up! This could be a class to rival Oden/Conley/Cook/Lighty.
I was looking at the big men Thad was in on and I thought this guy would be perfect. Not a one and done type. Best case scenario, Okafor and T.Jones pick tOSU, they win the national title, Okafor is probably gone after the season along with seniors Amir and McDonald.
OSU needs big bodies and hopefully Bell will be ready to start 2015 along side Bragg and any other bigs Coach Matta can get in 2015
Wish Matta would sign some guys that can shoot the ball instead of athletes with potential.
Kameron Williams next year is a very good shooter. Has a tear drop runner that is probably the best I have seen coming out of High School. Plus he can shoot from the outside very well also.
you should also read up on Marc Loving who is a scorer and definitely Keita Bates-Diop who will be an unstoppable scorer.
Scoring will not be a problem in the future. but a post up center would be helpful if this kid can be that and a PG that can be elite is what this team will need more. Don't take Craft for granted.
Looks more mobile and explosive than Amir. Good get.