Men’s Basketball Signing Period Ends With Three New Buckeyes – Ohio State Buckeyes
11/12/1999 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 12, 1999
COLUMBUS, Ohio Jim O’Brien, Ohio State head men’s basketball coach, announced today the signing of three highly recruited players to be added to the Buckeye program. Matt Marinchick (Hudson, Ohio), Velimir Radinovic (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) and Zach Williams (Middle Village, N.Y.) all signed letters of intent Wednesday.
Marinchick (Ma-RIN-chick), a 6-10 center from Hudson H.S. is ranked No. 20 nationally at his position by Athlons Sports. He led his high school team with 12.8 points per game as a junior.
“Matt has the potential to be a very good player,” O’Brien said. “He has good skill level. As he matures and becomes stronger, there is great potential for him. His best days of basketball are certainly ahead of him.”
Radinovic (VEL-ah-mere Ra-DIN-o-vich) is a 7-0 center/forward from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Last season, he averaged 16 points and 12 rebounds at T.A. Blakelock High School in Toronto.
“Velimir is a very good athlete for his size,” O’Brien said. “He has the ability to run the floor very well and is skilled offensively around the basket. His biggest need right now is to get stronger. We like his skill level and as he gains strength we fell like he was a chance to be a quality player for us.”
Williams, a 6-6 power forward comes to Ohio State as the No. 4-ranked player in New York. Williams, of Christ the King High School, averaged 15 points and eight rebounds on his high school team that was ranked No. 3 in the nation last season.
“Zach has a warrior mentality,” O’Brien said. “He is very aggressive and has a team-oriented mentality. Once he gets stronger, he will become a welcomed addition to our program. Zach also comes from a very successful high school program, one that is year-in-and-year-out one of the best in the country.”
Ohio State is not expecting to sign any other players in the fall signing period (Nov. 10-17). There may be an opportunity for the Buckeyes to sign an additional player(s) in the spring signing period (April 5-May 15, 2000). Noting the newest Buckeyes…
Matt Marinchick, 6-10, Center
Hudson, Ohio (Hudson High School)
Ranked the No. 20 center nationally by Athlon Sports. Afour-year starter, he averaged 12.8 points, eight rebounds and 1.5assists last season. Marinchick was a two-time second-teamAll-Western Conference honoree and an honorable mention selectionon the Northeast Ohio District team. He was nominated this seasonas a McDonald’s All-American. “Matt is a very versatile player,”Wayne Watts, Hudson HS head coach, said. “He is able to move in andmove out from under the hoop with great speed. He always works hardand I know Ohio State was the best fit for Matt. He was veryimpressed with the coaching staff, the facility and theuniversity.”
Velimir Radinovic, 7-0, 215, Center/Forward
Toronto, Ontario, Canada (T.A. Blakelock High School)
A mobile and accurate shooter, Radinovic was rated as one theTop 10 centers at the adidas ABCD Camp last July. He averaged 16points, 12 rebounds, three assists and five blocks last season atBlakelock High School. Recruited by Notre Dame, St. Bonaventure andSt. Joseph’s. His parents originally hail from Yugoslavia butVelimir was born in Canada.
Zach Williams, 6-6 Forward
Middle Village, N.Y. (Christ the King High School)
He was ranked No. 4 in New York City by Gameball NYC Toprankings and was a Nike Camp All-American Top 25. “Look up the wordtenacious in the dictionary and Zach’s name is beside it,” BobOliva, Williams’ high school coach, said. “He always plays hard andI don’t think he would have been recruited by Ohio State had heonly given partial effort. Instead, Zach has given it his all notonly in every game, but in every practice too.” He averaged 15points and eight rebounds last season for the team that was rankedNo. 3 in the nation and ended the season 26-2. Williams was named asecond-team all-Brooklyn Queens honoree and an all-metro teamselection. Is the first Christ the King High School basketballplayer to play for a Big Ten school, under head coach Oliva’stutelage. “We have had many Big Ten schools recruit our players,but Zach is the first to go to a Big Ten school. He made a greatchoice and he is very happy to be playing for Coach O’Brien.” -GOBUCKS!-
