At long last, Ohio State has added another big man.
Joey Brunk, a former Butler and Indiana center, has decided to transfer to Ohio State, he announced on Saturday night.
The 6-foot-11, 255-pound post player in his sixth year of college basketball joins a frontcourt also set to feature E.J. Liddell, Zed Key, Kyle Young and Ibrahima Diallo. He sat out last year with a back injury but is now said to be healthy, per a source.
Embrace your journey #gobucks pic.twitter.com/fctSouTBxN
— Joey Brunk (@JoeyBrunk) April 18, 2021
Brunk averaged 6.8 points and 5.2 rebounds in 19.6 minutes per game as a starter with the Hoosiers during the 2019-20 season. The year prior, he put up 7.6 points and 3.6 boards per game as a part-time starter for Butler. He has shot 56.1 percent from the field and 57.6 percent from the foul line across his four years in college – three at Butler, then one at Indiana. He's viewed as somebody who can come in and immediately help as a post defender and rebounder.
The Brunk File
- Year: Senior (6th Year)
- Size: 6-foot-11, 255 pounds
- Pos: C
- Previous School: Indiana/Butler
- Stats: 6.8 points, 5.2 rebounds per game in 2019-20
The bruiser down low will be counted on as a center, along with Key, who'll aid the Buckeyes through a Big Ten schedule that has recently been heavy on post players. It will allow Liddell to play power forward more often.
In adding Brunk, Ohio State has effectively taken itself out of the race for Efton Reid, who delayed his commitment after late pushes from LSU and Florida State. Brunk becomes the 14th scholarship player on the roster.
Notably, Brunk's relationship with head coach Chris Holtmann – and assistant coaches Ryan Pedon and Terry Johnson – goes back to when they all recruited him to play for them at Butler. They landed a commitment from the Indianapolis native, coached him for one season, then left for jobs at Ohio State.
Four years later, Brunk will join them in Columbus.
