Chris Holtmann, Buckeyes land top Ohio recruit

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The impact Chris Holtmann has had on the Ohio State basketball program since arriving in Columbus in June cannot be understated.

Holtmann lead the Buckeyes, predicted by many to be one of the bottom teams in the Big Ten this season, to a 25-9 record, a 2nd-place finish in the Big Ten (15-3), and an NCAA Tournament appearance, where they defeated South Dakota State in the first round.

And after just two days ago landing a commitment from Florida State transfer C.J. Walker, Holtmann and his staff landed an even bigger commitment in 2019 prospect Alonzo Gaffney.

According to 247Sports, Gaffney is the top recruit in the state of Ohio for the class of 2019. Gaffney, a power forward, is listed at 6-foot-9, and 190 pounds. He’s also ranked the number-18 recruit in the entire country, and number-3 power forward.

Gaffney, a student-athlete at Garfield Heights in Cleveland, averaged 18.2 points per game this past season, while be being named to the Division-I All-Ohio first team.

Despite being recruited by college basketball “blue-bloods” like Kansas, North Carolina, and Michigan State, Gaffney will stay in the Buckeye state to play for Holtmann and the scarlet in gray, according to his head coach Sonny Johnson, who announced the commitment Tuesday morning.