Ohio State Basketball: Coach Holtmann gets his man, finally
A transfer will be joining the Ohio State basketball team in addition to the four talented young players in this year’s recruiting class.
Graduate transfer Keyshawn Woods has decided to join the Ohio State basketball team. He is the veteran guard Chris Holtmann was looking for, and one he had missed on previously.
According to an article by Steve Helwagen of 247Sports, coach Holtmann missed on Woods out of high school when he was coaching Gardiner-Webb. And then again when Woods transferred from Charlotte to Wake Forest when Holtmann was at Butler.
Mr. Helwagen interviewed Woods and his answer as to what swayed him towards playing for the Buckeyes was very encouraging to say the least.
"“It was the opportunity to be able to play point guard again. That was important to me and that was something Coach Holtmann said he was looking for. He wanted somebody to help lead a group of young guys. They were just coming off a nice run in his first year.“I had a relationship with Coach Holtmann because he tried to recruit me three times now. He tried to recruit me out of high school at Butler and then now here.”"
Coach Holtmann was in need of an experienced guard who can play the point when C.J. Jackson takes a breather, and share the responsibility when playing beside him. With the stats Woods put up during his two years playing in the ACC, he appears to be the combo guard coach Holtmann was looking for.
During the 2016-17 season Woods averaged 12.5 ppg and 3.5 assists. Last season it was 11.9 and 1.9.
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Woods has hit 47.4 percent of his field goal attempts during his career and 42.5 percent from beyond the three-point line. One thing that jumped out at me is how his foul shooting has progressed.
Woods’ free throw percentage has improved every year, from 67.6 percent while playing for Charlotte to 84.5 last year. That shows the young man has a strong work ethic. Anybody who has ever became a very good free throw shooter will tell you it only happens if you are willing to practice that 15 foot shot for many more hours than most.
It’s important for a player who handles the ball in crunch time to be able to knock down free throws. With Jackson shooting 79 percent last season that gives coach Holtmann two guards he can trust in that regard.
Coach Holtmann has a talented group of players returning, a very good recruiting class and now a seasoned veteran has been added to the mix. How things have changed since he took over as head coach last June.
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The turn around for the Buckeyes in a short period of time has been unbelievable. Chris Holtmann took over an Ohio State basketball program that appeared to be in dire shape and now it’s one that shows promise for the 2018-19 season and beyond.