By Jeff Rapp, Senior Writer
jeffrapp@bucknuts.com
Story Link http://www.nbc4i.com/cmh/sports/college/college_basketball/ohio_state_basketball/article/weatherspoon_ill_be_able_to_wait/19482/
J.D. Weatherspoon has a lot on his basketball agenda right now, which is a big reason he might be farther away than ever from making a concrete decision concerning his future.
A freakishly gifted leaper and 6-6 wing forward, Weatherspoon has been a hot commodity throughout the offseason after decommitting from Xavier and registering 43 total points and 15 combined rebounds in two state tournament games while helping Columbus Northland to the Division I championship.
A rising senior-to-be, Weatherspoon pulled out of his commitment to XU when head coach Sean Miller left to take the head coaching job at Arizona, although the Musketeers remain in his considerations. So do a number of other schools.
In fact, Weatherspoon continues to add schools to a widening list that appeared to have the words “Ohio State” affixed at the top back in April.
“UConn and Oklahoma State are new ones,” he told Bucknuts.com Thursday. “Make sure you get those on there.”
Weatherspoon also is listing Maryland, Miami (Fla.), Florida, Missouri, VCU and Cincinnati along with Xavier and Ohio State. Many analysts still believe his choice eventually will come down to XU and OSU, but he doesn’t know what to think at this point.
“I have no idea,” he said. “A lot of people say that but I couldn’t even tell you right now. There’s a lot of good choices out there and I still want to take my visits.”
Weatherspooon can do that officially as soon as he returns to Northland for his senior year, which begins Aug. 26. He said he has no need to make an official to Ohio State or Xavier since he’s been on those campuses many times and instead plans to visit Connecticut, Oklahoma State, Maryland, Miami (Fla.) and Florida.
For now, though, there is more homework to do and more basketball to be played.
J.D. said he hears from all of his suitors but that his father, James, handles quite a bit of the calls.
“My dad talks to them and he tells all of them that I’m wide open,” he said. “Whatever the best choice is, that’s where I’ll go. I’m not in a hurry to figure it out. And some people think it’s going to go down to playing time, but that’s not it. I want to win.”
When asked what Ohio State head coach Thad Matta is selling, Weatherspoon admits the school’s close proximity is a factor.
“They are like right down the street, so I’m sure I’ll go in there again sometime soon,” said the 16-year-old Weatherspoon, who has one brother and two sisters. “Coach Matta, he likes to remind me that I’m only 15 minutes away. He says if I come there I can eat with my family and get a home-cooked meal. I have to admit that sounds real nice when he says that.”
Also working Weatherspoon is high school and AAU teammate Jared Sullinger, a 6-9 post player who is already committed to OSU and the headliner of the program’s 2010 class. However, Sullinger has toned down his enthusiasm of late,
“He does talk about Ohio State sometimes but he hasn’t said much about it lately,” Weatherspoon said. “We’ve talked about it and he has said he’s going to respect my decision no matter what. I’m still not in a hurry. I think I’ll be able to wait.”
Weatherspoon spoke via cell phone while he, Sullinger and the rest of their All-Ohio Red teammates returned from the Nike Peach Jam in North Augusta, S.C. That group, which also contains 6-2 guard Aaron Craft (who is committed to Ohio State,) 5-11 point guard Juwan Staten (Dayton) and 6-10 center Adreian Payne (uncommitted, OSU and others in heavy pursuit), won the event in style, taking down Team Final 62-53 on Wednesday.
Among the standouts was Craft, a product of Findlay Liberty-Benton.
“He’s playing great right now,” Weatherspoon said. “He’s doing better at creating his own shot. He can make a move and get right by you.”
Meanwhile, all indications are that Sullinger was absolutely dominating.
“You know, he played great, but I’ve played with Jared for a long time and it wasn’t anything new to me,” Weatherspoon said. “It was the same old Jared I’ve seen for years.”
Weatherspoon also gave himself a positive review.
“I played real good, man,” he said. “I just tried to use my athleticism and got a lot of rebounds and putbacks. I was making jump shots, just doing what the team needed from me. It was great getting back out there with all the guys. They’re like my brothers.”
A left-handed slasher who excels at finishing at the rim with authority, Weatherspoon said he is working on his outside shooting every day.
“My AAU coach, Coach Q (Quentin Rogers), takes me out of the court and we do a lot of stuff,” he said. “I’ll shoot and move around to all the spots, I shoot off the dribble, pull-ups off the catch-and-shoot, whatever. We put cones out there and I make a move around them and then shoot. It’s good for me.”
Weatherspoon will rejoin his brethren for a pair of events in Orlando later this month – the Nike Super Showcase and the AAU Nationals as All-Ohio Red will try to finalize its claim as the undisputed best 17-and-under outfit in the country.
jeffrapp@bucknuts.com
Story Link http://www.nbc4i.com/cmh/sports/college/college_basketball/ohio_state_basketball/article/weatherspoon_ill_be_able_to_wait/19482/
J.D. Weatherspoon has a lot on his basketball agenda right now, which is a big reason he might be farther away than ever from making a concrete decision concerning his future.
A freakishly gifted leaper and 6-6 wing forward, Weatherspoon has been a hot commodity throughout the offseason after decommitting from Xavier and registering 43 total points and 15 combined rebounds in two state tournament games while helping Columbus Northland to the Division I championship.
A rising senior-to-be, Weatherspoon pulled out of his commitment to XU when head coach Sean Miller left to take the head coaching job at Arizona, although the Musketeers remain in his considerations. So do a number of other schools.
In fact, Weatherspoon continues to add schools to a widening list that appeared to have the words “Ohio State” affixed at the top back in April.
“UConn and Oklahoma State are new ones,” he told Bucknuts.com Thursday. “Make sure you get those on there.”
Weatherspoon also is listing Maryland, Miami (Fla.), Florida, Missouri, VCU and Cincinnati along with Xavier and Ohio State. Many analysts still believe his choice eventually will come down to XU and OSU, but he doesn’t know what to think at this point.
“I have no idea,” he said. “A lot of people say that but I couldn’t even tell you right now. There’s a lot of good choices out there and I still want to take my visits.”
Weatherspooon can do that officially as soon as he returns to Northland for his senior year, which begins Aug. 26. He said he has no need to make an official to Ohio State or Xavier since he’s been on those campuses many times and instead plans to visit Connecticut, Oklahoma State, Maryland, Miami (Fla.) and Florida.
For now, though, there is more homework to do and more basketball to be played.
J.D. said he hears from all of his suitors but that his father, James, handles quite a bit of the calls.
“My dad talks to them and he tells all of them that I’m wide open,” he said. “Whatever the best choice is, that’s where I’ll go. I’m not in a hurry to figure it out. And some people think it’s going to go down to playing time, but that’s not it. I want to win.”
When asked what Ohio State head coach Thad Matta is selling, Weatherspoon admits the school’s close proximity is a factor.
“They are like right down the street, so I’m sure I’ll go in there again sometime soon,” said the 16-year-old Weatherspoon, who has one brother and two sisters. “Coach Matta, he likes to remind me that I’m only 15 minutes away. He says if I come there I can eat with my family and get a home-cooked meal. I have to admit that sounds real nice when he says that.”
Also working Weatherspoon is high school and AAU teammate Jared Sullinger, a 6-9 post player who is already committed to OSU and the headliner of the program’s 2010 class. However, Sullinger has toned down his enthusiasm of late,
“He does talk about Ohio State sometimes but he hasn’t said much about it lately,” Weatherspoon said. “We’ve talked about it and he has said he’s going to respect my decision no matter what. I’m still not in a hurry. I think I’ll be able to wait.”
Weatherspoon spoke via cell phone while he, Sullinger and the rest of their All-Ohio Red teammates returned from the Nike Peach Jam in North Augusta, S.C. That group, which also contains 6-2 guard Aaron Craft (who is committed to Ohio State,) 5-11 point guard Juwan Staten (Dayton) and 6-10 center Adreian Payne (uncommitted, OSU and others in heavy pursuit), won the event in style, taking down Team Final 62-53 on Wednesday.
Among the standouts was Craft, a product of Findlay Liberty-Benton.
“He’s playing great right now,” Weatherspoon said. “He’s doing better at creating his own shot. He can make a move and get right by you.”
Meanwhile, all indications are that Sullinger was absolutely dominating.
“You know, he played great, but I’ve played with Jared for a long time and it wasn’t anything new to me,” Weatherspoon said. “It was the same old Jared I’ve seen for years.”
Weatherspoon also gave himself a positive review.
“I played real good, man,” he said. “I just tried to use my athleticism and got a lot of rebounds and putbacks. I was making jump shots, just doing what the team needed from me. It was great getting back out there with all the guys. They’re like my brothers.”
A left-handed slasher who excels at finishing at the rim with authority, Weatherspoon said he is working on his outside shooting every day.
“My AAU coach, Coach Q (Quentin Rogers), takes me out of the court and we do a lot of stuff,” he said. “I’ll shoot and move around to all the spots, I shoot off the dribble, pull-ups off the catch-and-shoot, whatever. We put cones out there and I make a move around them and then shoot. It’s good for me.”
Weatherspoon will rejoin his brethren for a pair of events in Orlando later this month – the Nike Super Showcase and the AAU Nationals as All-Ohio Red will try to finalize its claim as the undisputed best 17-and-under outfit in the country.
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