A veteran NBA scout told SNY.tv he could go late first round, while DraftExpress.com has him going at No. 22 in the second round.

“He’s a big, strong left,” the scout said. “He led the Big Ten in scoring and free throw shooting. Inside or outside as well as off the bounce, he can and will score the ball.”

“My three years at Ohio State have been the best years of my life,” Thomas said.  “I have grown tremendously as an individual and as a basketball player.  I intend to return to finish my degree, but I believe that now is the best opportunity to pursue my dream and begin my career as a professional basketball player.  I will always be a Buckeye and am blessed to be a part of the Ohio State University family.” 

Thomas finished his career No. 9 in all-time scoring at Ohio State with 1,630 points. He led the Big Ten Conference in scoring as a junior with 19.8 points per game. His total of 733 points last season is third most in Ohio State history.

Over the last three years, Thomas helped lead the Buckeyes to 94 victories, three NCAA tournament appearances, three NCAA “Sweet 16s,” a pair of Elite Eights and to the 2012 Final Four in New Orleans.

The Buckeyes also won Big Ten regular-season titles in 2011 and 2012 and earned a pair of Big Ten tournament titles in 2011 and 2013. Ohio State has appeared in the last three Big Ten tournament title games.

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As of Sunday, they are in the final of the Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament in Uncasville, Conn., where they will face Washington later today.

Thad Matta’s squad also landed a verbal pledge from Keita Bates-Diop, a 6-foot-7 junior forward from University High (Ill.) and the Illinois Wolves AAU outfit.

“Official committed to THE Ohio st university!!,” he Tweeted.

An athletic wing, Bates-Diop reportedly also considered llinois, Purdue, Michigan and Michigan State.

The commitment was previously reported by Scout.com.

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“Yes, Kam will attend Ohio State,” Baltimore Mount St. Joseph coach Pat Clatchey told SNY.tv Tuesday evening.

Clatchey said the Buckeyes are getting a good citizen and player who can score.

“First of all, he’s a terrific young man,” Clatchey said. “He’s extremely hard-working and driven. He can score and shoot the ball at a high level. Some guys can shoot , some can score. He can do both.

“His teams win. He strives for his team to win and is willing to do what it takes for that to be accomplished.”

Williams also considered Miami, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, Clemson and Richmond, among others, Clatchey said.

After Ohio State missed out on Allerik Freeman when he committed to UCLA, they Buckeyes reportedly stepped up their pursuit of Williams, who visited campus this past weekend.

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NEW YORK

“Ohio State definitely is in; Louisville and SMU are definitely making the cut,” James Wright Mickey said at the Big Strick Classic before his son went for 13 rebounds, 5 points, 4 blocks and 2 assists as the USA team beat the NYC team, 87-86, at the City College of New York.

Khadeem Lattin (13 points, 8 rebounds) and Robert Hubbs (14 points) were named Co-MVPs for the USA team.

SNY.tv previously reported that Louisville and Ohio State were likely to receive official visits from the 6-foot-9 Mickey, the Rivals No. 20 power forward in the Class of 2013 out of Arlington (Texas) Grace Prep.

His father said several other schools were in the mix for the final two official visits.

“Rounding it out, we got Arkansas, Alabama, Providence, LSU, TCU, Oklahoma State and West Virginia for those last two slots,” he said. “There’s a lot more.”

James Mickey added that his son would visit LSU Aug. 15-17 and SMU Aug. 20-21.

“We’ll get to LSU probably Wednesday night the 15th through the 17th, go on another visit there,” he said. “Also, I’d like to see my oldest son play football there. So Jordan will get a little time to hang out with the players and the coaches.”

Mickey has already visited Louisville, Kentucky, West Virginia, Arkansas, LSU, SMU and TCU.

All have offered except Kentucky.

“Yeah, I would like to see an offer from them,” Jordan said.

“They’re looking at him and we still haven’t heard anything as of yet,” James Mickey said. “If they offer, they offer.”

Whatever happens, James said, “We’re going to cut the list down to five or six teams by the end of the month, hopefully by the end of August.

“We’re hoping to have our decision made by the end of September so he can kind of have fun his senior year.”

New York recruiting expert Tom Konchalski came away from the Big Strick highly impressed with Mickey’s play.

“He rebounds and he played within the context of the game,” he said of Mickey. “He didn’t go hunting his shot like some other people did. Certain people dominated the ball totally.”

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The 6-foot-5, 183-pound combo guard from Findlay Prep chose the Buckeyes Saturday over Arizona and Texas A&M.

“Probably the level of competition and the kind of guys they have,” the 19-year-old Italian guard said of why he chose Ohio State. “They are great guys and they have great coaches. Coach [Thad] Matta is a great coach.

“Those are the things that made me decide.”

Della Valle averaged 12.2 points and 3.0 assists while shooting 54 percent from beyond the arc for the ESPN NHSI champions.

“I’ll play a combo guard,” he said of his role at Ohio State.  “I’m going to play with the ball and off the ball, it depends.”

Said Findlay assistant Todd Simon: “He’s extremely athletic and has a big upside because of his work ethic.”

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After guiding the Buckeyes to the Final Four, the sophomore opted to end his college career and declare for the draft.

Sullinger is the No. 6 prospect among the Top 100 on DraftExpress.com.

“Going to the Final Four with a team that many people said we weren’t good enough, weren’t strong enough, weren’t mentally tough enough, and still being able to get to the Final Four with all the ups and downs we had, I think that was tremendous for this basketball team,” Sullinger said, flanked by his parents and coach Thad Matta in Columbus, Ohio, according to the AP.

“Once we got to the Final Four, we were trying to win it. But unfortunately, we fell short. I feel at peace with the decision I’m making.”

The Buckeyes lost to Kansas 64-62 in the national semifinals on Saturday.

Sullinger averaged 17.5 points and 9.2 rebounds a game while shooting 52 percent from the field, 77 percent at the line and 40 percent on 3-pointers while leading the Buckeyes to a 31-8 record and a Final Four berth. He was 63-10 as a starter.

He battled through back spasms and a foot injury early in the year.

Deshaun Thomas, a 6-7 sophomore at Ohio State, is also considering the NBA.

(The AP contributed: Photo courtesy Ohio State)

Sullinger left Saturday’s win at South Carolina in the first half and had to be taken to a hospital for tests after hurting his left foot. He reappeared later on the bench with crutches. He tweeted after the game that he would practice the next day, but he didn’t.

Sullinger also missed two recent games with back spasms, but Matta says he will play.

“I’m expecting him to play, just from what he’s saying, how much better it felt yesterday than it did on Saturday and how much better it feels today than it did on Sunday,” said Matta, who picked up his 200th Ohio State win in Saturday’s game.

(The AP contributed)

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“It’s the progression we’re trying to take in terms of step by step,” Ohio State coach Thad Matta told reporters. “As opposed to running the full marathon, we’re going to warm up with a 5K and then get to a 10K.”

Sullinger missed No.2 Ohio State’s loss Saturday at No. 13 Kansas, and he has yet to be cleared for Wednesday’s game against South Carolina-Upstate.

The Buckeyes next play at South Carolina Saturday.

“You know me, I’m a guy that likes to not play guys a lot,” Matta said. “I don’t know the answer. Hopefully I’ll know more (after Tuesday’s practice). Probably more of the tell-all (will be) in the morning, how he feels.”

Meantime, former Burlington (N.J.) Life Center swingman LaQuinton Ross joined the team Sunday after being academically cleared to play.

He practiced for the first time Monday, but his role will remain limited.

“Unfortunately, he just doesn’t have the foundation. It was really hard to even tell he was out there from that standpoint; it wasn’t like he made all these great plays, or anything like that,” Matta said. “The good thing for us is ‘Q’ does have a high basketball IQ, and he asks a lot of questions. But we’ve got something going on here and he has to find his niche, and find his way to the court.”

(The AP contributed)

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“Laquinton Ross @qross2011 is officially a Buckeye!!!!,” assistant coach Jeff Boals tweeted.

The 6-foot-8 Ross did well on his recent SAT and his former high school coach, Wilson Arroyo of Burlington Life Center, confirmed the good news Thursday.

Arroyo said he believes Ross will becomes eligible Dec. 10 after the semester ends.

Ohio State visits Kansas Dec. 10.

“Just got the news that he has been cleared to play and join his teammates,” Arroyo said by text.

In September, Ross was declared ineligible while the NCAA looked into his grades from his ninth and 10th grade years at Jackson (Miss.) Murrah High School, Arroyo said. Since then, he has been at home working out and taking courses online.

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“According to NCAA rules, we are working within the guidelines to get him reinstated within the next 2-3 weeks,” Arroyo said.

Arroyo said nothing was official yet, but that the 6-foot-8 Ross “got the results from his SAT test from November and did real well.”

“Just gave the good news to the staff,” Ross tweeted in reference to his SAT result.

Asked if Ross would be eligible to suit up right away when he returns, Arroyo said, ”If ruled eligible, then I believe the answer is yes.”

The Columbus Dispatch reported Ross could potentially return Dec. 9, the day after fall quarter exams end.

Arroyo said Ross’s return looked “promising,” but he stressed, “Nothing is official until cleared by the NCAA.”

In September, Ross was declared ineligible while the NCAA looked into his grades from his ninth and 10th grade years at Jackson (Miss.) Murrah High School, Arroyo said. Since then, he has been at home working out and taking courses online.

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