In the heart of the offseason for Ohio State football and basketball, who doesn't appreciate an update on Buckeye legend Aaron Craft?
The beloved former Ohio State point guard retired from the EuroLeague in 2019 after a run of success in the NBA's then-known-as D-League to enroll in medical school. That journey finally came to fruition this week when Craft graduated from The Ohio State University College of Medicine.
What an amazing day yesterday the end of a long, unusual journey to becoming Dr. Craft!
— Aaron Craft (@ACraft4) May 4, 2024
Grateful to so, so many that helped along the way. Residency, here we come! pic.twitter.com/l0DePylYjh
Craft — now 33 — would have been 13 years old when the Friends finale aired 20 years ago next Tuesday. Some of the underclassmen on Ohio State's football team weren't even alive yet.
The product of running around with a VHS camera over the last year. pic.twitter.com/gPWZhrD8yZ
— Michael Good (@michaellgood) April 30, 2024
Elsewhere on the roster, TreVeyon Henderson spoke very candidly this week about how injury impacted his mental health and how his faith and experience strengthened him into becoming the person he is now in preparation for his fourth season in the Buckeye backfield.
TreVeyon Henderson shares how his faith in Jesus Christ saved his life!
— thewalk (@accessthewalk) April 30, 2024
Full Interview: https://t.co/8GrlVUP5CG pic.twitter.com/pLwGLZgNr3
Meanwhile, Jeremiah Smith is already making the most of his ascent to star status before playing a down in an Ohio State uniform by giving back to his high school athletics program.
Today, Jeremiah Smith & his Twenty9Eleven Foundation presented a $5,000 donation to Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory. Thank you, Jeremiah, for giving back to your #LionPride! We appreciate your generosity in helping fellow Lions continue to succeed on & off the field. pic.twitter.com/31vc14iUjN
— C-M Lions Athletics (@CMLions_Sports) April 30, 2024
The anticipation of Smith's debut in scarlet and gray helped the Buckeyes achieve the highest attendance at any spring game across college football this offseason, and one of only four — three in the Big Ten — to break the 60k fan threshold.
Four (4) FBS programs reported a 2024 spring game attendance of more than 60,000 fans:
— Ben Stevens (@BenScottStevens) April 28, 2024
1. Ohio State - 80,012
2. Alabama - 72,358
3. Penn State - 67,000 (approx)
4. Nebraska - 60,452
Passionate fan bases.
Congratulations are also due to former Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer this week, who won the Southern Company Peach Bowl Challenge golf outing this week in a pairing with current Florida State head coach Mike Norvell. Meyer and Norvell defeated Shane Beamer and Houston Nutt in a four-hole playoff on their way to helping raise $300,000 for charity.
2024 CHAMPS
— Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl (@CFAPeachBowl) April 30, 2024
After a tournament-record, four-hole playoff, @Coach_Norvell and @CoachUrbanMeyer come out on top at the Southern Company Peach Bowl Challenge
: https://t.co/6ElRO1GE8L pic.twitter.com/SKbDMcX68x
As for the professional Buckeye athletes, C.J. Stroud continues to make noise across the NFL offseason in his long-running competitive feud with former Penn State and current Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons.
cj stroud gets it pic.twitter.com/B24W3X51aA
— smalls (@StephieSmallls) May 1, 2024
The duo have made appearances all over the map in recent months as their arguments continue to go viral, including earlier this week at Game 4 of the NBA Playoffs series between the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers.
AI, Micah Parsons, C.J. Stroud and Michael Rubin courtside in Philly pic.twitter.com/ZTWc9ZD2fF
— NBA (@NBA) April 28, 2024
Shortly afterwards, the tandem flew overseas for a quick tour of Asia that included teaching football to aspiring young athletes in China.
CJ Stroud & @MicahhParsons11 are teaching football in China @NFL_China
— NFL (@NFL) May 1, 2024
(via @CJ7STROUD, treylens/IG) pic.twitter.com/oyociDmk5X
Later in the week, they hopped over to Japan for an earth-shattering sumo wrestling match, invoking a clash of titans that even Godzilla and King Kong would appreciate.
Micah Parsons and C.J. Stroud sumo training in Tokyo pic.twitter.com/GLw0V7iAqc
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 4, 2024
Stroud and Parsons even took the field together at a Tokyo Giants game to throw out the first pitch(es). If you can believe this, the quarterback threw a perfect strike while the defensive juggernaut skipped the dirt.
###
— (@TokyoGiants) May 4, 2024
NFL# #CJ
# #
#GIANTS_TVhttps://t.co/FofwTRWprD# #giants_90th # pic.twitter.com/rz4yVtJyT6
In more peaceful news surrounding the OSU to NFL pipeline, Terry McLaurin dined with all-time great point guard Magic Johnson yesterday — also a part owner of the Washington Commanders. Given Johnson's success in business following his own professional sports career, Scary Terry appeared to savor the opportunity!
I took Commanders star receiver Terry McLaurin to lunch today in Los Angeles to talk about the Commanders, life after football, and his entrepreneurial aspirations! pic.twitter.com/ABFcvb0OFd
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) May 4, 2024
Speaking of great NBA point guards, Mike Conley continues to play a key role in the Minnesota Timberwolves' achievements of late and had his contributions reflected as such this week by earning the association's Teammate of the Year award.
The 2023-24 Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year is... Mike Conley!
— NBA (@NBA) May 1, 2024
Conley receives the honor that recognizes the player deemed the best teammate based on selfless play, on & off court leadership as a mentor & role model to other NBA players, & commitment & dedication to team. pic.twitter.com/jU0iPdKXAW
Back on campus, congratulations to the Buckeye men's golf team for clinching a trip to the NCAA Regionals in two weeks. Ohio State's new athletic director Ross Bjork felt compelled to celebrate the conception of the squad's postseason run.
Lets go fellas
— Ross Bjork (@RossBjorkAD) May 2, 2024
Congrats on post season birth https://t.co/gSY5pYFZek
We conclude This Week in Twitter by checking in on Jake Diebler's predecessor. You best watch what you say in the Eleven Warriors forum about Chris Swoltmann.
— matthew blum (@matthewfblum) May 2, 2024
