Thad Matta and the Ohio State Buckeyes continued their run of success in Chicago-area recruiting on Sunday when they received an oral commitment from Whitney Young senior, Sam Thompson. Thompson officially visited the campus last weekend and stated that he loved the university and the city.
It’s safe to say that the “forgotten player” is officially back on the scene. Thompson saw his stock take a slight hit last season when an ankle injury caused him to miss some time on the court and be less effective when he was there. Some teams that had been attempting to recruit Thompson turned their interests elsewhere.
The ankle has healed and Sam has seemingly picked up where he left off. Receiving an offer to play for one of the top college basketball programs in the nation is proof of that. His club coach Mike Irvin even compares him to fellow Chicagoan Evan Turner. Who shined for the Buckeyes and went to the Philadelphia 76ers with the second pick in the 2010 NBA draft.
The comparison isn’t based solely on demographics and taste in schools. Irvin believes that the 6’7 forward boasts a skill set similar to Turner’s with his versatility. Only time will tell, but the stage is certainly set for Thompson to be just as successful.
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