Basketball is a fantastic sport, and great athletes have graced this field. Probably Michael Jordan was your favorite player, or you feel that LeBron James should have never left Cleveland Cavaliers. Basketball keeps making headlines. Whether it’s a pro basketball player moving to a rival team, or your favorite team picking the best rookie, there is always great news gracing the basketball world.

Ohio State basketball, widely known as the Buckeyes, is going through a moment of reckoning as DJ Carton and Alonzo Gaffney are leaving the team after one year. DJ Carton has made it clear that he is leaving Ohio State after taking a leave to cater for his mental health. The Ohio State guard made it clear through his twitter handle that he has been suffering from psychological issues and wants to start it all again.

Ohio State is also facing a recruit movement as Alonzo Gaffney is even leaving basically to pursue professional opportunities. The 6-foot-9 power forward possesses both athleticism and frame to make him stand out in a basketball court. It is an excellent opportunity for him to pursue his dreams and entertain his fans elsewhere.

What Next for DJ Carton and Alonzo Gaffney

It was a bold move by DJ Carton to announce that he will be leaving Ohio State temporarily to pursue mental health assistance. Many people have praised his decision to seek help and fight mental health problems. The Buckeyes were on the forefront in the league and ended the final 11 games without Carton. Many thought he would make a comeback, and perceived him as the star of the future and pride of the Buckeyes.

Unfortunately, DJ Carton, in his thank you message to coach Holtmann and the coaching staff was clear that he is not returning to Ohio State. Carton said that he is making a fresh start and will enter the transfer portal and pursue a new program. He went on to wish his teammates the best of luck in their endeavors. The Ohio State fans will miss his electrifying performance and left-handed dunks in the court.

Despite being one of the top recruits for Ohio State, Alonzo Gaffney’s stay looks to be short-lived. According to reports from numerous sources, it seems Gaffney will call quits on Ohio State, and he is not returning soon for his sophomore season. With the support of his family and coaching team, everything seems possible. There is a likelihood Alonzo will look forward to pursuing greener pastures and become a pro basketball player.

Best Performances from Carton and Alonzo

DJ Carton’s presence could be felt in the team and court last season. He was an impact player finishing third on the team and averaging 10.4 points per game. Carton also averaged 3.0 assists per game, making 40% three-pointer attempts.

Alonzo Gaffney averaged 1.9 points per game last season and played 17 games for the Buckeyes. He shot 56.6% from the floor and went 1-of 6 from the three-pointer range.

D.J. Carton, E.J. Liddell, Alonzo Gaffney and Ibrahima Diallo’s first Ohio State press conference

What in Store for Ohio State Basketball

Ohio State has an impeccable reputation, and it will look forward to adding more players to its roster and get to the limit of 13. However, the management will work hard on adding a guard as the team already has many players at the forward position. Seth Towns is the latest addition to the side, and they should fill Gaffney’s position.

Without DJ Carton, CJ Walker should take on a more significant role and take the Buckeyes to higher heights. In essence, Ohio State has a lot to do with DJ Carton and Alonzo Gaffney out of their schedule and rank at the top.

The Covid-19 pandemic started a worldwide state of alert against the propagation of the virus. Consequently, many of the most important events in the sports world has been postponed or cancelled as a precaution. It is a surprising situation that has millions of sports fans around the world sad and angry. However, international authorities and sports teams will not risk the welfare of athletes or fans until all the health conditions are met again.

Sports events cancelled by COVID-19

The following are the most relevant events whose cancelation it's been confirmed.

UEFA Champions League

The UEFA announced that the games Manchester City vs. Real Madrid and Juventus vs. Olympique Lyonnais won't be played on Tuesday as it was scheduled. Previously, the matches Valencia vs. Atalanta, and Paris Saint Germain vs. Borussia Dortmund, were played with empty stands.

Despite the spread of the virus across Europe, matches on March 18 will still take place, behind closed doors though. The two games are FC Barcelona vs. Napoli and Bayern Munich vs. Chelsea. Both games are expected to be aired on television.

NBA

After Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19, the best basketball league in the world decided to suspend their activities until further notice. The NBA revealed the news on March 11 previous to the game between the Utah Jazz and the Oklahoma City Thunder.

MLS

The US National Soccer league followed the NBA on Tuesday morning. All games have been suspended for at least the next 30 days.

ATP and WTA Circuit

Professional tennis events are cancelled for the next six weeks due to the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the ATP. The list of tournaments included in the suspension are Miami, Houston, Montecarlo, Barcelona, Marrakech, and Budapest.

The ATP stated that it's a great loss for their tournaments, players, fans around the world. However, it was a responsible action to take needed to protect the health and safety of the players and the tennis community.

Formula One

Formula One saw the start of the season postponed after the authorities decided to cancel the Chinese Grand Prix in mid-February. Likewise, the Australian Grand Prix is under threat, as members from McLaren and Haas teams are in self-isolation in the wait for the results of COVID-19 tests.

Serie A

Italy has the second-highest number of deaths due to Coronavirus. During the past couple of weeks, some games were cancelled in the Milan region while other teams were forced to play behind closed doors. Finally, the Italian Prime Minister accepted the proposal from the Olympic Committee to suspend all matches until April 3rd.

Danielle Rugani and Manolo Gabbiadini, players from Juventus and Sampdoria respectively, tested positive for coronavirus during recent hours. The Italian Football Federation will discuss not having a champion this season or calling the current standings final.

March Madness Joins The Long List Of Sporting Events Cancelled

With the departure of standout tailback J.K. Dobbins to the NFL, Ohio State has placed native of West Bloomfield Michigan, RB Donovan Edwards at the top of their wish list. The Buckeye's are in what seems to be a heated tug of war battle with the Michigan Wolverines for the right to have Edwards in their backfield beginning in 2021. What are the new developments in the situation, and what are the chances Ohio State will secure it's next feature back?

Donovan Edwards Ranking

A marvelous physical specimen, Donovan Edwards has been dazzling scouts and coaches alike all across the nation. By watching the tape on him, you will quickly come to the reality that he checks all of the boxes off of the superstar running back checklist after watching just a few plays. With a height of 5'11" and weighing a chiseled 190 lbs., Edwards appears to actually be larger than life on a football field.

The versatile and dynamic Edwards is the 22nd ranked player and 2nd ranked running back in the nation for the class of 2021 according to 247sports.com. He is also the No. 1 ranked player in the state of Michigan for the touted class. Seemingly every program that is serious about winning football games has reached out to Donovan Edwards and offered him a scholarship.

Donovan Edwards Scholarship Offers

The schools include (at the time of this publication); Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Alabama, Arizona State, Cincinnati, Colorado, Florida, FSU, Illinois, Indiana, Kent State, Kentucky, Louisville, Maryland, Miami, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina A & T, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State, Pitt, Purdue, Rutgers, Syracuse, Texas, Texas A & M, USC, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Akron.

Edwards Projected to Ohio State

This past week, an interesting report surfaced from 247sports.com that sent ripples through the Buckeye's fan base and alumni. According to Jeremy Birmingham of Lettermen Row, Steve Wiltfong and Allen Trieu (recruiting analysts from 247sports.com and creators of their crystal ball predictions) changed their crystal ball prediction on Donovan Edwards from Michigan to Ohio State.

Since it's the dead-period of recruiting, it's important to tread carefully about these type of predictions. If Edwards had a decision date picked, then a forecast of him landing at Ohio State would carry more weight. He doesn't however, so the sudden change could have just been the result of a few random phone calls placed to him from the Ohio State coaching staff. Back in December of 2019, Edwards was tracked down in the halls of West Bloomfield High School by a local reporter. The following is a brief interview courtesy of Detroit Free Press;

Donovan Edwards Interview

"We are here for signing day. We got Chase, Sterling, Cornell, Cory, and K.D. All the guys here for National Signing Day, I used to grow up with these guys. Me and Sterling knew each other since I was in first grade and he was in the second grade. So it's just like everything that we been through, it's beautiful." Edwards told the Detroit Free Press.
"How many schools that offered you a scholarship are you seriously considering?"
"Around 10. Coach Jim Harbaugh told me I'm No. 1 on their board. Like, Nick Saban told me I'm No. 1 on their board. I was talking to Notre Dame last week, and coach Taylor was talking about how I could be used for multiple things. It doesn't have to just be running back for me. It could be receiver, punt returns, anything. To be able to contribute to my team in multiple ways is appealing to me." Donovan Edwards boasted and deadpanned to the Detroit Free Press.

Donovan Edwards, top 2021 running back, talks recruiting, Buckeyes

The Ohio State Buckeye's have been hot on the recruitment trail recently. They already have secured 10 commitments for the 2021 class, 5 coming from the state of Ohio. It has earned them the No. 1 ranked class in the country. Ryan Day's team is far from done, however, as the Buckeye's continue to position themselves for a National Championship run for the 2021-2022 season. Today we take a peek at Four Star cornerback Jakailin Johnson, who is high on OSU's wish list.

Ohio State had an elite defense in 2019, which helped them maintain the No. 1 FBS ranking for much of the season. Much of the credit could easily be given to the team's pass rush and ability to stop the run. Getting after the quarterback certainly covered up some of the team's deficiencies in the defensive backfield. Cornerback Jakailin Johnson would be a great addition and solidify the team's pass defense in 2021.

Who is Recruiting Jakailin Johnson

Jakailin Johnson plays for Desmet in St. Louis, Missouri and is listed at 6'0", 168 lbs., He is the No. 2 player in the state of Missouri. Johnson is also the No. 6 cornerback in the nation and No. 69 player in the nation according to 247 sports. A brilliantly gifted athlete, he also plays wide receiver at Desmet. One of the most sought after cornerbacks for the 2021 class, Ohio State is not the only school courting him. Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Florida, Oregon, and Missouri are also recruiting him and are in active talks with the DB. Schools he has scholarship offers on the table from are Arkansas, Clemson, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa State, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Oregon, Purdue, Texas A & M, and Virginia Tech according to ESPN.The Buckeye's have not secured a commitment from a cornerback yet for their 2021 class. Ohio State's Brian Hartline, who many consider the best recruiter in the country, met with Jakailin Johnson this past week. Rivals forecasts his commitment to Ohio State as a 100% probability.

What does Jakailin Johnson Bring?

Jakailin Johnson would bring a lot to the Buckeye's defense. He is a fierce competitor that has the type of leadership qualities most coaches look for. Johnson has great speed, and one of the best sets of hands you will ever see. He rarely fails to make a play on the ball. The St. Louis native would provide Ohio State with a reliable source for interceptions. His awareness and play recognition is outstanding. Johnson routinely picks off passes that many defensive backs would have done a great job just deflecting.What likely has drawn the Buckeye's to Johnson, is how well he will potentially fit in with the prototypical type of defensive back the team has become known for. His aggressiveness, along with his speed, would allow him to help out in the run game similar to how Ohio State oftentimes uses their DB's. Jakailin Johnson does possess a great deal of hit power.

De Smet Jesuit (MO) vs. Christian Brothers College (MO) - ESPN Broadcast Highlights

NFL teams were cut from the playoff race last week as many watched in person and on television. Week 17 of the 2019 season made the draft order that networks such as ESPN have put together not much different from the real deal when the draft commences on April 23, 2020. Under each draft team below we have projected a player, which I will discuss a little bit here.

1. Cincinnati Bengals (2-14)

Ohio State defensive end Chase Young is projected to be the first NFL draft pick by CBS Sports.

2. Washington Redskins (3-13)

LSU quarterback Joe Burrow

3. Detroit Lions (3-12-1)

Ohio State cornerback Jeff Okudah

4. New York Giants (4-12)

Offensive lineman Andrew Thomas from Georgia

5. Miami Dolphins (5-11)

Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa

6. Jacksonville Jaguars (6-10)

Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy of Alabama

7. Los Angeles Chargers (5-11)

Oklahoma wide receiver CeeDee Lamb

8. Carolina Panthers (5-11)

Clemson safety Isaiah Simmons

9. Arizona Cardinals (5-10-1)

LSU safety Grant Delpit

10. New York Jets (7-9)

Iowa defensive end A.J Espenesa

11. Denver Broncos (7-9)

Alabama wide receiver Henry Ruggs III

12. Atlanta Falcons (7-9)

Auburn defensive lineman Derrick Brown

13. Cleveland Browns (6-10)

Defensive lineman Jason Kinlaw from South Carolina

14. Oakland Raiders (7-9)

LSU cornerback Kristian Fulton

15. Oakland Raiders

The Raiders received this draft pick on a trade with the Chicago Bears. Tristen Wirfs of Iowa is projected to be drafted fifteenth by CBS Sports.

16. Indianapolis Colts (7-9)

Georgia running back D'Andre Swift

17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9)

Oklahoma linebacker Kenneth Murray

18. Dallas Cowboys (8-8)

Clemson wide receiver Tee Higgins

19. Miami Dolphins

Miami received this draft pick on a trade from the Pittsburgh Steelers. Penn State's Yetur Gross-Matos is projected to be drafted nineteenth.

20. Jacksonville Jaguars

Jacksonville received this pick on a trade from the Los Angeles Rams. CBS Sports predicts that the University of Washington quarterback Jacob Eason will be drafted 20th.

21. Tennessee Titans (9-7)

Alabama cornerback Xavier McKinney

22. Philadelphia Eagles (9-7)

Wisconsin offensive lineman Tyler Biadasz

23. Buffalo Bills (10-6) PLAYOFF BERTH

Florida cornerback CJ Henderson

24. Minnesota Vikings (10-6) PLAYOFF BERTH

Notre Dame defensive lineman Julian Okwara

25. Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins received this draft pick on a trade from the Houston Texans. Texas Christian University wide receiver Jalen Reagor is projected to be drafted 25th.

26. Seattle Seahawks (11-5) PLAYOFF BERTH

Virginia cornerback Bryce Hall

27. Kansas City Chiefs (12-4) AFC West Champions

Colorado wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr.

28. Green Bay Packers (13-3) PLAYOFF BERTH

Alabama cornerback Trevon Diggs

29. San Francisco 49ers (13-3) PLAYOFF BERTH

Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor

30. New England Patriots (12-4) AFC East Champions

Alabama offensive lineman Jedrick Wills Jr.

31. New Orleans Saints (13-3) AFC South Champions

Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert

32. Baltimore Ravens (14-2) AFC North Champions

Clemson cornerback A. J. Terrell

2020 NFL Mock Draft: 1st & 2nd Round Projections Ft. Chase Young, Derrick Brown, CeeDee Lamb & Tua

It did not take me a long time to understand who Luke Wypler was. At first, I was frustrated because I couldn’t find much information on the number one prospect at center for the class of 2020. I dug deeper and found out Luke worked hard as hell to get the recruitment process done early. He didn’t want to focus too much on the recruitment process because it would take him away from his current goal at the time: winning a state championship for St. Joseph Regional. They would go on to win the state championship because of Luke and his team’s nonstop attitude.

Committing To The University

Many prospects have backed away from Ohio State due to the sudden retirement of legendary Head Coach Urban Myer. Although Luke has been quiet in his recruitment process, he did open up about this topic. It was never his plan to commit to a coach, he felt the need to commit to a university. Luke was able to visit the school early this year, nearly a full year after his verbal commitment. This solidified Luke’s desire to join the team and build his credit as a football player. Jeff Hafley and Greg Studrawa recruited his for Ryan Day's 2020 class.

What Luke Wypler Was Looking For

Ohio State breeds NFL prospects, and that is exactly what Luke wants, along with the chance to join Fisher’s School of Business. The academics and culture of Ohio State will fit Luke well, and give him a chance to grow as both a man and a player.

What Luke Wypler Has to Offer

After observing his highlights, it was clear that he was a gamechanger. His speed and athleticism can change the course of a play, and he puts defensive ends on the tackles on the ground for fun. Most offensive lineman of the past have simply been giant bodies that can out muscle sneaky defensive ends and charging linebackers. The game is changing, and Luke is a perfect fit for this new breed of offensive linemen. Luke is fast and strong, he is built for quickness and keeping up with a fast-paced level of college. Luke has a rare ability that most offensive lineman, he moves at angles and this creates the leverage he needs for the few defensive linemen that are stronger than him. This ability to create angles originated from his time as an all-state wrestler.

Joe Royer is a three-star tight end recruited by the Ohio State Buckeyes for the 2020 season. He's a senior at Elder High School in Cincinnati, Ohio. Royer is tall and in great shape, at 6'5" 225 pounds. The young man is among the slew of players joining Ohio State from schools in the Cincinnati region, among them offensive lineman Paris Johnson, defensive tackle Darrion Henry, and offensive tackle Jakob James. Royer is the first tight end to commit to Ohio state for the 2020 season.

Joe took to Twitter to announce his commitment: "I'm staying home, committed!!" He's clearly proud and excited to be part of Buckeye football, and who wouldn't be?

On June 6, Royer participated in OSU's first one-day camp, and they were so impressed with him that he received an offer right there. Remarkably, after the offer and his strong performance at the camp, Royer's ranking jumped 366 points to No. 507 overall in 247Sports ratings. He was also ranked as No. 200 in the 2020 class and the No. 3 tight end. He clocked a 4.81 40-yard dash time, which would get any recruiter's attention, and it did for OSU offensive coordinator and tight end coach Kevin Wilson. Talk about performing when it counts.

As far as stats, Royer had 32 receptions for 617 yards, scoring 5 touchdowns in the 2018 season with the Elder High Panthers, who went 8-5.

Royer officially visited Ohio State on June 21, and committed about one week later.

What Options Did Royer Have to Consider Other Than Ohio State?

Reportedly, Joe Royer received over 20 offers, and among them were Michigan, Penn State, and Wisconsin. Ohio State clearly had a lot of competition to pick up Royer, and that says a lot about both him and OSU's recruiting efforts.

Why the Ohio State Buckeye?

Obviously he had plenty of options, but Ohio State came out on top for him. Joe seemed very pleased to be staying in-state and be a part of Buckeye football, and that's no surprise. Likely the stream of other players committing to Ohio State made the decision even more appealing for him. Royer is also teammates with Jakob James, an offensive tackle for Ohio State whom he visited with during OSU's spring practice in March this year. Undoubtedly James did his part to convince him to join the crew.

Joe Royer Highlights #162 Rivals Camp Series Columbus 2018

Latest news on Eugene Brown III

If you follow college basketball, or are a fan of the Buckeyes, you'll want to know exactly who Eugene Brown III is. Eugene Brown is a shooting guard, who played excellent high school basketball in Decatur Georgia. Brown committed to Ohio State on September 16th, after reviewing offers from other schools, and we'll show you exactly why Ohio State was so keen on having him for their 2020 draft class.

Player profile Eugene Brown

Eugene Brown is a great addition to the Ohio State Buckeyes, and they sought him out due to his size and skill at his position. Eugene Brown weighs in at 185 pounds, and stands tall at 6-foot-6. His small frame, and large height, allow him to be incredibly mobile on the basketball court. This is one of the main reasons he had so much success in high school, and why he'll likely have success at the college level as well.

Brown was so good in his home state, that he ranked number 6 overall. On Top of that, Brown ranked at a solid 112 in his overall class across the country. His athleticism, and build, have allowed him to play excellent basketball and earn him a 4 star rating.

Why he is a great addition to the Buckeyes

The Buckeyes were so interested in Brown, because he will make an instant impact on their roster. Brown is known for his shooting talents, so he'll be able to make the shots he needs to, and he is also great on defense. This is important, because it gives the Buckeyes a player that can be effective on both sides of the court. Brown will likely add the versatility that the Buckeyes need this upcoming season, and will play an important role scoring at the 2-3 location.

Now that his playing days at Trinity Catholic High School in St. Louis are almost over, wide receiver Mookie Cooper can look back on them with fondness. He made a lot of friends and he had a lot of good times. For it was there that early on in his sophomore year he established himself as a blue-chip star. Yes, Mookie might not even be 6 feet tall, but what he lacks in height he makes up for in sheer speed. That sheer raw talent is one of the main reasons that he was already getting second looks from colleges even when he was just a sophomore. Either way you look at it, the kid has talent. What do we know about him as a college football prospect? Who was looking at him closer? Who did he finally commit to? These are all questions that deserve an answer.

Just who was vying for Mookie Cooper's attention?

How long and hard was the college recruitment road for Mookie Cooper?

The Ohio State Buckeyes picked up one of the top nationally ranked kicking prospects in the country, Jake Seibert.

Last year, Seibert made all six of his field goal tries with the longest being 47 yards. Additionally, 29 of his 37 kickoffs resulted in touch-backs. And he also made 22 of 24 extra point attempts. Ohio State offered the 6'1", 195 lbs. Seibert a scholarship on May 20th.

Cincinnati La Salle kicker Jake Seibert chose OSU over offers from Michigan State, Air Force, Temple, Pennsylvania and UCLA. Seibert is the 2nd Ohio State specialist to come from La Salle HS, after current punter Drue Chrisman.