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Award-winning columnist Tom Archdeacon — an old-school storyteller in a brand-new venue — writes about sports, the city, southwest Ohio and anything else that catches his fancy… or yours.Home > Blogs > Through the Arch > Archives > 2009 > July > 17 > Entry
Is Ohio State recruit trying to get Staten to “de-commit” to UD?
Word is that Ohio State continues — covertly and overtly — to recruit Juwan Staten, who has verbally committed to the University of Dayton for the 2010 - 2011 season.
Other schools are still trying to lure Staten away from the Flyers as well, but none more so than OSU, which according to ESPNU already has the top recruiting class in the nation for 2010.
One of those future Bucks, 6-foot-9, 262-pound Columbus Northland senior Jared Sullinger — Ohio’s Mr. Basketball last season and ESPNU’s No. 4 college prospect in the nation — plays with Staten this summer on their Ohio All Red team, one of the best AAU teams in the nation.
All-Ohio Red just won the Nike Peach Jam U-17 championship in Augusta , Ga. by defeating the Philadelphia/South Jersey based Team Final, 62-53. Sullinger had 19 points and 21 rebounds. Staten had 13 points.
Sullinger is regularly in Staten’s ear trying to get him to “de-commit to UD and come to Ohio State” said one person close to the situation. He’s really trying to get him to back out of his Dayton agreement and become a Buckeye.
Of course that often goes on among basketball guys and Staten does it himself.
Uncommitted Jefferson High senior Adreian Payne — No. 26 on the ESPNU national list and still uncommitted — said Staten has often tried coaxing him not only to come to UD, but to transfer out of Jefferson High this upcoming season and join him at Oak Hill Academy.
Staten left Thurgood Marshall High this spring to play his final prep season at the national basketball power in Virginia.
Staten admitted last spring that regardless of his UD commitment, schools like West Virginia, Cincinnati and especially Ohio State were still vigorously recruiting him.
As Payne — who’s also on All-Ohio Red — explained it last month, Ohio State has all kinds of ways of getting word to you through second-hand sources and they do so quite well.
Along with Sullinger, the Bucks 2010 class has another top 10 prospect in small forward DeShaun Thomas — out of Bishop Luers in Fort Wayne — and there’s also Top 50 player Jordan Sibert, a 6-4 shooting guard from Cincinnati Princeton (another Ohio All Red player) and 6-5 guard Lenzelle Smith of Zion-Benton Township in Illinois.
As for Staten, he is ranked as the 41st-best player overall in the nation at Rivals.com and he’s 43rd on the ESPNU list.
While he and his family say he is still firmly committed to UD — and I think he’ll stand up to his word and become a Dayton Flyer — the whispers to “de-commit” will continue…covertly and overtly.
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Comments
By FlyerOne
July 21, 2009 10:27 AM | Link to this
Lace ‘em up! Take a breath from your “porn on the lookin’ box,” OSU bumpkins and simply know anyone that follows basketball KNOWS the DAYTON FLYERS would absolutely SMOKE that boring little OSU team Thaddie has begged, borrowed and stolen. Enjoy those games vs. “Houston Baptist.” We haven’t even mentioned how pathetic and boring OSU field-goal ball is. Zzzzz … GO UD.By OSU Irrelevant
July 21, 2009 9:58 AM | Link to this
“Garry:” Here’s a deal…I’ll give you the most money you ever had in your entire life ($20) and you can sign up for an adult literacy course. It’s “you’re,” not “your,” and “they’re” is correct, in place of “there.” Oh, and as for reality: XU and UD are far, far ahead of OSU. Case closed.By JJ
July 21, 2009 5:30 AM | Link to this
Oak Hill has everyone sniffing around its’ campus-I am sure OSU is’nt the only one courting this young man.By UD Fan
July 20, 2009 6:11 PM | Link to this
As Good old John R would say on UD Pride. Oh No!! Oh No!!! The OSU Skunkeyes !!!By Garry
July 20, 2009 4:53 PM | Link to this
So your better than OSU???? Why did we beat you 2 years ago? Why are you recruiting players like Cameron Wright who are the players who we drop cause there not good enough to be bucks? Just admit OSU is better, I was born in Dayton and will always love UD, but give up the dream that you will pass up OSU.By Cincinnati Shawn
July 20, 2009 3:51 PM | Link to this
Blah blah blah. Do some research, you mouth-breathing, overweight & pasty OSU inbreds. Kavanaugh is wanted by WVU & OSU would love to have him. Now ugly little Thaddie is being out-recruited by BG and now he is again showing his lack of stature by going ‘back channel’ with Staten. OSU and it’s fans: LIKE SCHOOL ON CHRISTMAS DAY … no class. GO UD.By I hate it but XU is the best in OHIO
July 20, 2009 1:10 PM | Link to this
as a flyer fanantic i know UD is improving and is much better than OSU fans want to admit. if osu was so good, they wouldn’t be competing with UD for recruits. and by the way javier is the best college program in ohio. it sucks but it is trueBy Tom Hart
July 19, 2009 9:34 PM | Link to this
OSU rents players for a year. Everyone knew Oden was only in for the year because of NBA regs. Tell Thad to do his own talent search, not pull a Calipari and recruit kids others have worked on recruiting. Go wallow in the Big Ten loser football and basketball conference.By OSU Joe
July 19, 2009 8:47 PM | Link to this
Watching an OSU basketball at OSU is like watching a basketball game at a morgue. No passion from the fans. The students don’t care because its not football. And O….H….I….O over and over and over and over. Its worse than the tomahawk chop.By RR
July 19, 2009 5:47 PM | Link to this
OSU fans, look at the DDN OSU page. Nothing but football. Where’s basketball? It is a non-event at OSU where Sibert and Sully will join the 1 and done crowd, cost OSU more schollys and then Motta goes west. Now check out the UD site at DDN. There you’ll find basketball is KING!By Mike M
July 19, 2009 1:10 PM | Link to this
Get Real Said: “When has UD ever produced a player close to (Greg Oden’s) stature. And don’t tell me about drug addicts like Rosevelt Chapman either.” Jim Paxson, Johnny Davis and Roger Brown. That was easyBy NYC Flyer
July 19, 2009 11:12 AM | Link to this
Gregory has been rebuilding a program that consistantly under-achieved for years under OP, but to call UD a “mid-major” is simply ignorant and typical of idiotic OSU supporters. Dayton has better facilities than 95% of the country, they are nationally recognized as a legitimate program (not a flash in the pan mid-major) and have a rich basketball history. Do you inbreds consider Xavier and Temple mid-majors? Please stick to swooning over your football program and leave basketball to the people who know what they are talking about. Good luck with your one-and-done basketball program, since it has worked so well in the past.By Chris
July 19, 2009 7:09 AM | Link to this
I think it’s funny all these Ohio State fans are on here clamoring about basketball. The one good year beak nose had was a year with two top 5 NBA picks and he still couldn’t win the championship. What a joke. Ohio State lost to mid major in the tournament last year, Freakin Franny Mac and Siena! How can you make any claims about a program who consistently underachieves in the basketball world. If you want to brag about football, go ahead, but your basketabll program will always be weak and underachieving.By 1 HATED ON
July 18, 2009 11:46 PM | Link to this
I want to observe from a oak hill academy angle which is a nba pipeline. If he doesnt de-commit by bball season he wont have to hear the osu recruit in his ear much. IDK…is it a good time for payne to bounce with him? I’ve heard the kid is all height with no handle. His inside game & mid range j hasnt improved since playing varsity. This was from someone who use to play at the high school. I cant wait to see JT vs dunbar, trotwood or thurgood marshall. Since thin skin isnt in, what if staten’s play at oak hills leads to him hearing from the cuse, or maybe the heels also? You never can count out izzo snatching away top ohio talent neither.By Siena Saint
July 18, 2009 4:37 PM | Link to this
Dayton has a great arena. Ohio State is a joke on and off the court.By get real
July 18, 2009 12:50 PM | Link to this
I like UD and OSU, but people trying to compare the two on any level are just plain delusional. And saying Greg Oden is a failure is just plain stupid. He was the number 1 overall pick. When has UD ever produced a player close to that stature. And don’t tell me about drug addicts like Rosevelt Chapman either.By bballcoach
July 18, 2009 9:42 AM | Link to this
For all you out there with negative thoughts & comments about Juwan Staten, this young man has a GREAT head on his shoulders and will be an asset to which ever program HE decides to play for, Juwan, I wish you all the luck in the world.By James
July 18, 2009 8:43 AM | Link to this
Wake up people!!! Please don’t compare a major program like OSU with a mid-major like UD. It is just stupid to make a comparison.By sam
July 18, 2009 6:13 AM | Link to this
Come on Game guru. OSU will have two more 1-4 players go pro after this year most likely in William Buford and Evan Turner. They will have another in Jordan Sibert in a few more years. When was the last pro player Dayton had? Negele Knight? Don’t bad mouth Matta when you have a coach at UD that hasn’t produced pro talent in twice the amount of time.By vincent benton
July 18, 2009 12:52 AM | Link to this
Sullinger pros after 1 yr?I don’t think so. ‘lil over-rated I think.Maybe his unorthadox foot work will improve w the right teaching @ osu.reminds me of a wes unseld, but still needs to develop a good stroke yet. As for Staten-once he quits crying in game situations, may push for the pro’s after 4 yrs. I haven’t witnessed Payne yet, but I agree, he’s done next to diddly in that weak Div 3 league. UD WILL hit the map w/ Stat though,(Final 4 possible if Chris stays long enough)By Bill
July 18, 2009 12:24 AM | Link to this
As long as Dayton recruits players such as Matt Kavanaugh, please do not even compare them to THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITYBy Bill
July 18, 2009 12:24 AM | Link to this
As long as Dayton recruits players such as Matt Kavanaugh, please do not even compare them to THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITYBy Game Guru
July 17, 2009 11:33 PM | Link to this
OSU has really destroyed alot of talented kids. Most of the highly recruited kids that have made it to Matta’s program end up underachieving. Seven foot is worth the gamble, Out of all the talent that has left in the last couple years Cook is the only one holding his own and Matta did not even play him. Oden and Conley have had sub par careers thus far and well you find the rest. Great kids fall apart under his style of coaching feel really bad for Sullinger gonna get lost.By Game guru
July 17, 2009 11:27 PM | Link to this
I do not believe that Staten is going to back out. But for all of you die hard Buckeye fans you need to look at your house before you talk trash—Buckeyes are only producing big men and 7 footers are still a hot commodity in this game regardless of skill set. Name another group of kids that will make it coming out of your land. Cook and Conley will be the last group for a long time. Matta has not produced a pro 1-4 yet.By biggus8
July 17, 2009 11:01 PM | Link to this
wow…..so this is what an inferiority complex looks like…sad.By OSU Joe
July 17, 2009 10:03 PM | Link to this
Do you realize that UD has won ONE NCAA game in 25 years??? They just keep recruiting mid-major guys like they have for the past 25 years. OSU has had more NBA players drafted in the past three years than Dayton has had in their history. Go wallow in your A-10 misery (p**s@ss conference).By OSU Joe
July 17, 2009 9:24 PM | Link to this
I’d like to explain my action to you people on here. You see, i feel like i must make up for my short stature by dogging on a local basketball team, while for some reason talking up a one & done basketball program. Please don’t get angry at me, its all just a little napoleon complex i have going on. I apologize…..By OSU Irrelevant
July 17, 2009 8:32 PM | Link to this
“OSU Joe” says: “No decent player with half a brain would sign with Dayton.” Well, Morbidly Obese Joe, they keep signing with UD, don’t they? Over and over again. Don’t you wish you had the 2 hours of your life back that it took you to come up with your same tired, lame post? Can’t you think of ANYTHING else? Go away, work on getting your cholesterol level down, and come back when your brain is working at around 40% efficiency.By unclephil
July 17, 2009 7:55 PM | Link to this
Staten and Payne are good and we wish them the best where ever they decide to play, but hold on there is a soph at Trotwood we saw on the Michigan AAU trail who will not attend UD and probably not even OSU.Andre Yates is the kids name, and folks the kid is the “TRUTH” the total package. For sure folks coaches down here in Texas are watching!By Joe
July 17, 2009 7:37 PM | Link to this
Hey Jim, Duh. Your comment makes no sense. Yes, there is a code of conduct when a player commits to a BIG TEN school. UD is NOT in the BIG TEN.By phill
July 17, 2009 6:41 PM | Link to this
Brian Gregory would give (anything) to coach at a school like OSU. Stanton won’t be playing for UD, he’ll relize that Gregory will be jumping ship as soon as a BCS school decides to hire him.By phill
July 17, 2009 6:41 PM | Link to this
Brian Gregory would give (anything) to coach at a school like OSU. Stanton won’t be playing for UD, he’ll relize that Gregory will be jumping ship as soon as a BCS school decides to hire him.By OSU Joe
July 17, 2009 6:38 PM | Link to this
No decent player with half a brain would sign with a mid-major like Dayton. If they are any good, they will be playing at a BCS school. Dayton is a dying city… time to get out while you can.By sj
July 17, 2009 6:25 PM | Link to this
I don’t know which player is more over-rated—Payne or Sullinger. Sibert was twice the player b4 he broke his leg. Any word on if he will play this year? Hope the Flyers keep progressing. Same for the Buckeyes. BTW—OSU has the better coach and players. Matta’s teams play smarter and over-achieve, while UD is tough at home while not that talented. I bet this game, so I really have no favorite team.By sj
July 17, 2009 6:25 PM | Link to this
I don’t know which player is more over-rated—Payne or Sullinger. Sibert was twice the player b4 he broke his leg. Any word on if he will play this year? Hope the Flyers keep progressing. Same for the Buckeyes. BTW—OSU has the better coach and players. Matta’s teams play smarter and over-achieve, while UD is tough at home while not that talented. I bet this game, so I really have no favorite team.By get real
July 17, 2009 6:22 PM | Link to this
UD fans are delusional. One tourney which you actually MAKE and happen to go farther than OSU and all the sudden you are passing up OSU? Whens the last time you made a final 4? BTW OSU has been to 2 this DECADE! UD will never make another final 4 and Gregory will be taking over for Izzo when he retires. THIS IS OHIO STATE COUNTRY!!!!By Jim
July 17, 2009 6:09 PM | Link to this
I remember a couple years ago when the football coach Jim Tressel complained about Michigan trying to recruit players commmited to OSU and he stated that the big 10 had a code of conduct that once a player committed to a big 10 school then the other teams wouldn’t bother them. Well I guess that only applies to big 10 football teams and not basketball. Makes you wonder maybe there should only be one basketball team in Ohio and they could all good to OSU. That way you wouldn’t have to worry about screwing the other colleges in the states. GO UDBy OSU Irrelevant
July 17, 2009 6:07 PM | Link to this
BG is absolutely KILLING IT on the recruiting trail…Spearman verbals today. Forget Ohio State on the national scene…they’re being passed up by their in-state competition and fading fast. XU is the model program in Ohio, followed very closely by UD, and UD is in great position to overtake everyone this year, and beyond. Thad, you can screw over recruits (Cameron Wright) and continue to communicate/manipulate via your “operatives,” but the fact remains…your program is losing heavy ground.By Phil
July 17, 2009 5:42 PM | Link to this
Thad (the nose)Matta,would make another Daequan Cook out of Staten!!!Use him to recruit ,but dont play him,especially if there is an Indiana kid around.Matta cant understand Dayton basketball its too fast paced&sophisticated for him!!!By Chris in Venice
July 17, 2009 5:24 PM | Link to this
Why the need for so many a-holes on here?By John
July 17, 2009 4:19 PM | Link to this
kotender What? gud guard? gun go?By jimmie
July 17, 2009 3:59 PM | Link to this
Pretty much business as usual for ratface.By Harry the Horse
July 17, 2009 3:42 PM | Link to this
Why would Staten want to go to Ohio State?? Matta will be gone soon for another coaching job. He was trying to get his name mentioned for the Kentucky job. Maybe OSU can get Jim O’Brien back. Who wants to go to a football school?? Dayton is a basketball school who outdraws OSU in attendance and fans enthusiasm!! Go Flyers!!By Ben
July 17, 2009 3:34 PM | Link to this
Staten to OSU? Just wishful thinking. I highly doubt Payne ends up at UD or OSU. I think he’s headed out of state.By bub
July 17, 2009 3:00 PM | Link to this
I can’t imagine Staten backing out, considering how firm he has been about it in the media. Wearing the UD jersey at the AAU game should speak for itself. Ohio State is a program suffering from “one and done” syndrome. They will never truly build a team when their recruits get antsy and leave the program prematurely. Sure, they have recruiting power because of their conference and size of the school, but is playing basketball in the Big 10 really all that? These days-not so much.By kontender
July 17, 2009 2:43 PM | Link to this
staten is a good player but he is not ostate material he is a gud guard for the level they play at ud but not at ostate. he gon go to oak hill and get worked on.By Jon
July 17, 2009 2:40 PM | Link to this
Wow ! The battle continues for Juwan Staten ..PG is a like the QB in the football . University of Dayton is outstanding and Of Course the Ohio State University is too . Love to see him play for either team ..but not the Mountaineers ..LOL Go Bucks !By Charles
July 17, 2009 1:28 PM | Link to this
Awesome… I hope it happensBy Bobby`
July 17, 2009 12:52 PM | Link to this
nyc, That’s correct. It won’t say “ud”, bcause that could anybody. More likely something more formal like the “University of Dayton” will be on it.By In the Shadows
July 17, 2009 11:43 AM | Link to this
Yo, 21 Ain’t no fan of any team really. Just love the game and to watch talented kids no matter where they play. Obviously you haven’t seen Payne play. Da boy go through the motions. He barely averaged double figures in that weak-a*s league Jefferson plays in. Against those guys he should be averaging 25 a game and 15 boards, dominating. But he disappears. Either his high school coach ain’t demandin’ enough or he just plays when he feels like. He need an attitude adjustment if he’s gonna be an asskicker in collegeBy Glen
July 17, 2009 11:28 AM | Link to this
It’s blogs like this that keep me coming back to the site. This is not a news article, it’s a blog. Thank you Mr. Archdeacon for providing the interesting reading!By nyc
July 17, 2009 11:20 AM | Link to this
when it comes time to sign..stat will not be inking anything that says ud on it….thats a factBy Joe Blow Me
July 17, 2009 11:10 AM | Link to this
Damn Joe (blow me) You are a pissed off dude. Have you seen a doctor lately or did your parents raise you that way. Stop posting crap and read something else if you don’t like the writer…. you dope!By Jordan
July 17, 2009 10:08 AM | Link to this
Staten,Payne, and Cameron Wright would be a top 10 recruiting class in for Dayton. They could compete with anybody.By joe
July 17, 2009 10:07 AM | Link to this
This is a non-story. Typical DDN garbage. Arch should be ashamed of himself. The story makes it sound like OSU is doing something bad by using the word “overtly.” Yet he also mentions that Staten himself is trying to RECRUIT a high school player to leave his school and transfer to a school out of state. By the way, Arch, Staten does not have an “Agreement” with Dayton as you wrote. A verbal commitment is not binding, nor is it an agreement. Stick to boxing. Report the news, don’t try to create it. Brilliant reporting hippy.By 21
July 17, 2009 9:45 AM | Link to this
“In the Shadows” must be another jealous OSU fan. UD fans would welcome AP with open arms, help develop his already blessed skills that will need in his next stop the NBA.By truth
July 17, 2009 9:36 AM | Link to this
Ratface at it again…By In the Shadows
July 17, 2009 9:36 AM | Link to this
Staten will stay at UD because he knows he can play and his old man can be on an ego trip the rest of his life. As for Payne, what a dual personality. He might be All-World on the don’t play defense, dunk-happy AAU circuit. At Jefferson he looks lazy and very poor fundamentally. Defensively he couldn’t handle slow 6-1 white guys from Xenia Christian and Miami Valley. And those same schools shut his azz down on offense because he didn’t move for the ball, had bad hands and no shot. Judging him from high school there is no way he’s a top 500 player in the country.By harry ewing
July 17, 2009 9:34 AM | Link to this
the associate: stuck in columbus with the bucks the good news is matta can’t win the big oneBy Doctor Flyer
July 17, 2009 9:22 AM | Link to this
I agree … Matta has got to do something about that nose. Every time you see his face on TV, that darn thing gets bigger … and am I imagining things, or is it always red like he has been picking at it?By RR
July 17, 2009 9:13 AM | Link to this
Wan is playing this smart. The more highly regarded he is - the more likely other recruits will follow him to UD. Berry jumped at the chance. I’ll bet Spearman does too. When you raise a program into the highest level this kind of thing follows. So Wan and AP will showcase their offers and when they take the court at UD Arena for the frst time there will be a collective “wow” from every 2011, 2012 and 2013 UD recruit. Ladies and Gentlemen get ready for the “Big Time”!By Doug
July 17, 2009 8:55 AM | Link to this
Staten wore his Dayton shirt during the Peach Jam while the others on Ohio Red wore their Nike pulloversBy 21
July 17, 2009 8:53 AM | Link to this
As you can tell TV exposure doesn’t matter much anymore, with the internet. ALmost every UD game was on TV last year either locally, internet or through the opponets local station. Yes OSU has guys in the NBA, does that make them a great college team? SO Sullinger stays one year, Siebert 2 years and them what..back at square one again. UD has shown the last few years tehy will be consistent and I will take ANY team like that rather then the OSU’s of the world with all their one and dones.By Alex
July 17, 2009 8:47 AM | Link to this
Why would anyone want to play for the UD “we get one nationally televised game a year” Flyers? UD has one stud on their team (Wright) that will be a first round pick. OSU will be littered with potential first and second round picks. If I’m running a team such as a PG does, I would want top-flight talent surrounding me. How many UD Flyers are currently on NBA rosters?By bob
July 17, 2009 8:38 AM | Link to this
Why would anyone want to play for the Ohio State “one-and-dones”?By 21
July 17, 2009 8:35 AM | Link to this
Hmm, OSU can’t handle that the best PG around won’t come to OSU. SO Staten comes to OSU and then SUllinger stays only one year and then what.. UD has a much better chance going farther in the NCAA tourney then OSU. Big nose Matta, need his nose fixed.