Scarlet Sunrise: D'Angelo Russell staying in Los Angeles, Keita Bates-Diop headed to Phoenix

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D’Angelo Russell staying in Los Angeles, Keita Bates-Diop headed to Phoenix

A pair of former Ohio State standouts have new NBA contracts.

D’Angelo Russell’s second stay with the Los Angeles Lakers is continuing. Meanwhile, Keita Bates-Diop is headed to the Phoenix Suns.

Previously part of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Russell joined the Lakers before the trade deadline last season. He averaged 17.4 points and 6.1 assists per game while shooting 48.4% from the field in 17 regular season games for the Lakers in 2022-23. His production took a hit in the playoffs, but he still started 15 of Los Angeles’ 16 postseason games at point guard. His play the back half of the season was enough to earn him a two-year, $37 million contract.

Russell also played for the Lakers from 2015-17. They were the first of four teams he has played for in his NBA career. Los Angeles selected him with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2015 draft. No Ohio State freshman has scored more points in a season than Russell, who piled up 675 in 2014-15, his lone Buckeyes campaign.

Bates-Diop, on the other hand, spent four years in Columbus (2014-18). Like Russell, though, he made his way into the Ohio State freshman record book. Of Buckeyes freshmen to ever make 15 or more 3-pointers, Bates-Diop is second with a 46.2% clip (18-of-39) from beyond the arc.

Bates-Diop averaged just 3.8 points per game his first year at Ohio State. He experienced an uptick in scoring the following season and truly broke out as a senior: While posting 19.8 points and 8.7 rebounds per game in 2017-18, he amassed 672 points, tied for the 10th most by a Buckeyes player in single-season program history.

Bates-Diop was taken 48th overall in the second round of the draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves. In 2020, he bounced around a bit but has been with the San Antonio Spurs the last three seasons. He started 42 games and averaged a career-high 9.7 points per contest in 2022-23. Now, he’s part of a star-studded Suns team, thanks to a two-year, $5 million deal.

Five-star defensive lineman Justin Scott commits to Ohio State

Ohio State shocked the recruiting world Sunday when five-star Chicago (Ill.) St. Ignatius defensive lineman Justin Scott committed to the Buckeyes.

Scott chose Ohio State over Michigan, Notre Dame and Miami. He’s the No. 2 defensive lineman and No. 8 overall prospect in the 2024 class, according to On3.

On3 Director of Recruiting @ChadSimmons_ has the inside scoop on how Ohio State landed a surprise commitment from 5-star DL Justin Scott👀

Read (On3+): https://t.co/NWB95y8HgM pic.twitter.com/9UARdgvXoR

— On3 Recruits (@On3Recruits) July 3, 2023

With his pledge, the Buckeyes currently have the most five-star commits (three) of any team in the country this cycle, per the On3 Industry Ranking.

“When we came back from the Michigan visit, the whole family was set on them,” Scott told On3. “I was ready to commit to Michigan. And then we went to Ohio State, and the one thing that pushed Ohio State over the top was getting coached by Coach Larry Johnson.”

For the full story, go here.

RELATED

• What commitment of five-star defensive lineman Justin Scott means for Ohio State

The Recap: Everything we learned from Lettermen Row Defensive Line Week

Lettermen Row “Defensive Line Week” is now in the rear view mirror, as our position-by-position preview series rolls on. But, first, let’s take a look back at our coverage of the Ohio State D-Line.

It’s a position group that has rich legacy and could return to dominant form in 2023:

• Five Questions as Buckeyes put together potentially dominant defensive line

• How they got here: Mapping out career path of each Buckeyes defensive end so far

• How they got here: Mapping out career path of each Buckeyes defensive tackle so far

• Tywone Malone locked in on football, set to aid Buckeyes defensive line

• Taking closer look at state of Buckeyes defensive line room

• Why ‘little things’ will help J.T. Tuimoloau lead way for Buckeyes defensive line

• Jack Sawyer feeling ‘at home’ after switch back to full-time defensive end for Buckeyes

• Four challenging offensive lines Buckeyes will face this season

• Healthy Omari Abor ‘starting to turn a corner’ for Buckeyes defensive line

• Jason Moore could quietly play way into rotational role as true freshman

• How Mitchell Melton can thrive in hybrid role for Buckeyes

Counting down

Buckeyes vs. Indiana: 61 days

Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 145 days

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