Hoops Signing Day: Holtmann Lands Top Five Class

COLUMBUS — Today is college basketball’s signing day and Chris Holtmann and the Buckeyes have secured a top five class by signing four players in the 2023 recruiting cycle, including three in the top 50 prospects overall.

Ohio State’s class ranks second in the Big Ten behind Michigan State at No. 3 nationally.

The class is led by 6-foot-7 190-pound wing Scotty Middleton (Wichita, KS). Middleton is ranked the No. 38 player in the 2023 class and no. 7 small forward overall per the 247Sports Composite. ESPN’s rankings, however, have him as a 5-star prospect and the No. 18 player overall.

Taison Chatman (Minneapolis, MN) is a 6-foot-4 175-pound combo guard who is ranked the No. 43 player in the Composite and the No. 10 combo guard in the nation. He is the most recent commitment in this class, pledging back in September.

The first player to send in his letter of intent was 6-foot-6 forward Devin Royal (Pickerington, OH). Royal is a Central Ohio local, but still very much a national prospect. He is rated the No. 49 player in the class and the No. 10 power forward overall. Royal is Ohio’s No. 1 prospect in the 2023 class.

Austin Parks (Saint Mary’s, OH) is another Ohioan in the class. The 6-foot-10 250-pound post player is the No. 26 center in the nation and the No. 169 player in the class.

Ohio State 2023 Signing Classs

Taison Chatman
Combo Guard
6-4, 175
Minneapolis, Minn.
Totino-Grace

No. 31 prospect overall and 8^th-best combo guard in the 247 composite national rankings
Top-ranked player in the state of Minnesota
Scored 13.5 points, seven rebounds and seven assists per game last season to lead Totino-Grace to the 3A State title in 2022
Has already scored over 1,000 career points in three high school seasons
Played for D1 Minnesota on the AAU circuit, Taison was one of the most efficient guards on the Adidas Circuit
Named Pre-Season POY by Breakdown Sport Media in Minnesota

Holtmann on Chatman: “We are really excited to add Taison to our program. From the day we met Taison and his family, it was obvious that they are close and love the game. We are thrilled to welcome all of them to our family. Taison is a gifted scorer with an ability to create for others as well. He plays with a mature pace and provides versatility as a multi-positional guard. A proven winner and state champion, Buckeye Nation is going to enjoy watching Taison represent our program.

Scotty Middleton
Guard/Wing
6-7, 190
Miami, Fla.
Sunrise Christian

A five-star prospect who is ranked 18^th nationally according to ESPN
Ranked 38^th nationally and the second ranked player in the state of Florida in the 247 composite rankings
Versatile perimeter player who plays on one of the most talented teams in the country at Sunrise Christian
Helped lead Sunrise Christian to the Geico Nationals as a Junior
Has been named a team captain for his senior season
Is also considered one of the best perimeter defenders in the class, both on and off the ball
Played for Brad Beal Elite AAU team on the EYBL Circuit
Helped lead Brad Beal Elite to the Elite 8 of Nike’s Peach Jam where he averaged 10.9 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists across the seven games
Attended the invite only USA Basketball mini-camp in October

Holtmann on Middleton: “Scotty is another tremendous addition to our program. Scotty is a gifted athlete with two-way potential that provides positional size and versatility on the perimeter. His ability to impact the game on the defensive end of the floor is special. Buckeye Nation is going to love his personality and competitiveness, and we can’t wait for him to get here and get to work.”

Austin Parks
Center
6-10, 250
Saint Mary’s, Ohio
St. Mary’s Memorial

EPSN four-star prospect and a Top-10 ranked center nationally
Strong, physical post player
Has scored over 1,000 points in his high school career
Averaged 19 points, 10.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 3.5 blocks while earning second team All-State honors as a junior at St. Mary’s
Had seven 20-point games as a junior, including a 24-point, six rebound and four assist effort in the district championship game
Played AAU ball with Ohio Buckets
Mother Shari played collegiate volleyball at UT Arlington

Holtmann on Parks: “We are excited to officially welcome Austin and his family to The Ohio State University and our basketball family. Austin has a tremendous combination of size, athleticism, and strength for a big man. There is no doubt that he fits perfectly in the Scarlet and Gray. We love his skill set and feel, and we look forward to seeing his continued growth. I know he can’t wait to put on an Ohio State uniform in front of his family and friends.”

Devin Royal
Wing/Forward
6-6, 210
Pickerington, Ohio
Pickerington Central

Consensus four-star recruit who is ranked 26^th according the On3 rankings
Top-ranked player in Ohio
Led Pickerington Central to a DI state title in 2022 as a junior. Scored a game-high 20 points in the win
Earned first team All-Ohio honors after averaging 19.1 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists
Named a Top 30 player at the Pangos Camp in Las Vegas and was named the MVP of the camp by On3
Played for All-Ohio Red in 2022 and averaged 17.4 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game while shooting over 51 percent in 26 games
Played alongside current Ohio State football player Sonny Styles at Pickerington Central

Holtmann on Royal: “We want to officially welcome Devin and his family to our Buckeye family. It’s clear that Ohio State holds a special place in he and his family’s hearts. Devin is a state champion, a gifted scorer, and his combination of skill and toughness make him a perfect fit for the Big Ten Conference. We are excited for the impact he will make on our program and the greater Columbus community, and we know that he is going to represent Buckeye Nation with great pride and passion.”

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