Ohio State Recruiting: 5-Star point guard commits to Buckeyes

The 2019 Ohio State recruiting class just got even better with the addition of the #2 point guard in the country, D.J. Carton.

When 2019 PG D.J. Carton announced his top 3 schools a week ago, most assumed that Ohio State was at the bottom of the heap.

Michigan had received all the 247Sports crystal ball predictions for the 5-star prospect out of Bettendorf, Iowa. Meanwhile, Carton was coming off what he called a “great” visit to Indiana.

But then he came to Columbus and that changed everything.

https://twitter.com/DJCarton/status/1018211848330588160

Here is what Carton had to say about his decision to play for the Buckeyes as reported by Evan Daniels of 247Sports.

"“I got that gut feeling,” Carton told 247Sports. “That’s what it came down to.”“It actually hit me on my way home,” he added. “It hit me just being there. The team, I felt like apart of the family. I just came so close with those guys in a short amount of time. I was close with the coaching staff, they have a big future. I feel like overall the relationship was there. I just got that gut feeling in my stomach that it was the place for me.”"

More from Ohio State Basketball Recruiting

Carton joins Cleveland’s Alonzo Gaffney and Florida State transfer C.J. Walker in the class, which is shaping up to be coach Chris Holtmann’s best. Gaffney, a 6’9″ small forward, is the #30 player in the country for 2019. Walker averaged 8 points and 2.4 assists as a point guard for the Seminoles last season.

Carton and Gaffney alone put the Buckeyes at #4 in the 2019 recruiting rankings, behind only USC, UCLA, and Kentucky.

Carton is the #2 point guard in the 247Sports composite rankings. His commitment gives Holtmann his highest rated recruit, and an elite player at a position of need. While on the small side at 6’1″, Carton possesses the elite athleticism and scoring ability you’d expect from the #21 player in the country.

Strange to think that just a year ago, coach Thad Matta was fired in part because of his inability to land top recruits. Holtmann’s star acquisition should join a loaded 2018 class led by top-100 prospects Jaedon LeDee and one-and-done candidate Luther Muhammad.

All that remains is for Holtmann to finish out the class with a big. The top target on the board is Illinois’ E.J. Liddell, a 6’7″ power forward who is deciding between Ohio State and Missouri.

Next: Urban building 2 strong classes simultaneously

Landing this top-50 prospect would put a cherry on top of a class that could lead the Buckeyes back to the top echelon of college basketball.

Home/Ohio State Basketball Recruiting