Ohio State added some much-needed depth to its frontcourt Wednesday when the school announced Derek Funderburk and Micah Potter each signed National Letters of Intent to play basketball for the Buckeyes.
We can now officially welcome @BigJam_23 & @TooEvsy4 to the Buckeye Basketball Family - with us for 16-17 #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/maorkp7Nc9
— OSU BASKETBALL (@OhioStateHoops) November 11, 2015
“These two signees bring versatility, size and rebounding to our program,” Ohio State head coach Thad Matta said in a press release. “With Micah, we get a big who can play with his back to the basket as well as stretch the defense and face-up. With Derek we are getting an athletic, high energy guy who can impact both ends of the floor. I'm excited to have two high quality kids who have a deep appreciation for The Ohio State University.”
The pair of big men are currently Ohio State's lone commitments in the 2016 class, however Matta and the Buckeyes are still recruiting five-star guard Kobi Simmons, who recently decided he wasn't going to commit anywhere until the spring. Ohio State is now currently at the allotted number of 13 scholarships with the signings of Funderburk and Potter, but will continue to recruit Simmons.
A 6-foot-9, 210-pound forward, Funderburk is a four-star prospect out of Lakewood, Ohio, where he starred for three years at St. Edward High School. He is currently playing his senior season at Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Virginia.
Funderburk is rated as a four-star recruit by 247Sports and is listed as the No. 62 overall player in the 2016 class. He chose Ohio State over offers from Indiana, Iowa, Penn State and Xavier. As a junior, Funderburk averaged 14.2 points and 6.7 rebounds per game for St. Edward.
Funderburk verbally committed to the Buckeyes on April 1, becoming Ohio State’s first commit in the 2016 class. He was later joined by Potter as a commitment. Potter pledged to the Buckeyes on April 20.
A 6-foot-10, 245-pound center, Potter is a three-star prospect out of Mentor, Ohio. He is currently playing his senior season at Montverde (Florida) Academy.
Potter is rated as a three-star recruit by 247Sports and is listed as the No. 169 overall player in the 2016 class. He chose Ohio State over offers from Clemson, West Virginia, N.C. State, Iowa and others. Potter averaged 20.2 points and 9.1 rebounds per game last season as a junior at Mentor High School.
Matta is scheduled to meet with the media 2:45 p.m. Thursday to discuss Ohio State’s 2016 recruiting class.
The Buckeyes open up their 2015-16 season Sunday at home against Mount St. Mary’s.
