Landing Young big fi rst step for program

When Kyle Young followed coach Chris Holtmann from Butler to Ohio State, he provided more than just a new body to bolster roster depth for this season.

The Massillon Jackson small forward gave the new Buckeyes coach a building block upon which to start putting his men’s basketball program in order.

“Kyle was important for this year,” Holtmann said on June 23, four days after Young signed with the Buckeyes. “Kyle is really important for the future, because we’re losing some good players here the next couple of years.”

Before Young’s flip from the Bulldogs to the Buckeyes,

Holtmann inherited a roster with two freshmen, one of whom — point guard Braxton Beverly — would ultimately ask for and receive a release from his scholarship.

Ohio State has no commitments for the class of 2018 and nearly as many available scholarships (six) as recruited players (seven) for next year. Adding Young to the mix brought Holtmann a four-star talent who had previously developed a close relationship with the coaching staff.

Still, it wasn’t an easy decision for the forward.

“It was super tough because my head was going both ways,” Young said. “I was thinking about how much I loved Butler and the program and the people around, but then again I was thinking about how good of a relationship I had with coach (Ryan) Pedon and coach Holtmann, and then with Ohio State being my hometown school.”

Listed at 6 feet 8 and 205 pounds, Young committed June 19, moved in three days later and began practicing on June 23. Although he said he only really knew fellow freshman Kaleb Wesson, owing to their time on the AAU circuit, he already has made an impression on his new teammates.

“He’s a tremendous, tremendous rebounder and he’s a great shooter and he brings a lot of energy no matter what he does,” fifth-year senior guard Kam Williams said on Thursday. “He’s a great offensive rebounder. He crashes. Even if it’s a wide-open shot, he still crashes. He goes up for tip-slams. He’s a very active player on the court, and that’s exactly what we need.”

He also is an important body at a position of need. With Marc Loving and Derek Funderburk gone and Keita Bates-Diop returning from an injury-induced redshirt year, Young will have early opportunities for ample playing time. ESPN rated him the No. 2 prospect from Ohio in his class, behind Wesson, and a fourstar prospect.

For now, though, Holtmann said that Young is assimilating well and getting back to just being a teammate instead of a story.

“Kyle is going to be a really solid, four-year player for the Buckeyes,” he said. “He has a real affinity for Ohio State University, and that’s exciting for me. He’s also, knowing him, he’s excited about this being moved in the past and no more about Kyle Young and he just wants to blend in with his teammates.”