Tyler McKinley, Ohio’s top 2024 basketball recruit, gets OSU offer
Technically, Ohio State wasn’t the first school to offer Tyler McKinley a scholarship. That distinction goes to Miami (Ohio), which did so June 14, 2021.
Wednesday, the Buckeyes became the ninth school to offer Ohio’s top 2024 recruit a scholarship. And not only were they the first school to start recruiting him, but that first coach to offer him – Miami’s Jack Owens – is settling in as an assistant on Ohio State coach Chris Holtmann’s staff.
In one form or another, the Buckeyes have been there – and that made Wednesday’s scholarship offer feel like a full-circle moment for the 6-9, 210-pound power forward from Cincinnati Walnut Hills.
Tyler McKinley:Walnut Hills sophomore is next big Cincinnati basketball recruit
“My expectation (for the unofficial visit) was just keep building a relationship with the staff, with all the coaches one by one,” McKinley said. “I wasn’t expecting (the offer) at first, but I had a feeling when I got there. I sat down with coach and we were talking about basketball and life in general and it just happened.
“I think already having that connection with all the coaches and then adding coach Owens was the cherry on top. It all came together, full-circle.”
Ohio State started recruiting him roughly a year ago, McKinley said. From there, he began building a relationship with Holtmann.
“It’s been a good experience,” McKinley said. “When I first met him, he was a good guy. He was open arms. He’s always been there at games. He always sends assistants to see me play. There’s always been a good connection from the beginning.”
After Miami offered, Cincinnati, South Carolina, Ohio, West Virginia and Xavier followed in September. Kansas State offered McKinley last October, and he sat at seven scholarship offers before both Dayton and Ohio State have offered within the last week.
“I was always just an Ohio fan in general,” he said. “Buckeyes, Musketeers, Bearcats, I loved it all. I love sports in general. Whatever was on the TV, I’d watch. (Being recruited) is pretty stress-free because I’m still open to all recruitment and all schools.”
McKinley is rated a four-star recruit, the top prospect in Ohio and the No. 60 national prospect in the 247Sports.com composite database. Rivals.com ranks him No. 61 nationally. His next few months will be busy with AAU basketball and campus visits, he said, but no trips are on the calendar at the moment.
He is the second Ohioan in the 2024 class to land an offer, joining Centerville guard Jonathan Powell, who was offered Tuesday.
McKinley said he’s in no rush to pick a school and said he has an idea what he’s looking for.
“A school that is going to help me with my player development, but also a school that’s going to feel like home for me and my family and make me a better person on and off the court,” he said.
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