After leading Ohio State in both scoring and rebounding this past season, junior forward LaQuinton Ross has made the decision to forego his senior season and enter the 2014 NBA Draft. The news was announced by the school Friday afternoon.
“LaQuinton was an instrumental part of our success over the last three years,” Ohio State head coach Thad Matta said in the release. “His goal is to compete at the highest level possible. He will have that opportunity because of the work he has put in to prepare for this day. He will be missed at Ohio State and we wish him nothing but the very best.”
After a string of quality performances in the 2013 NCAA tournament Ross put together his most productive season in Columbus as a junior, averaging 15.2 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. Ross surpassed the 20-point mark in seven games this season, scoring a career-high 26 points in Ohio State’s Big Ten quarterfinal victory over Nebraska.
That win over Nebraska was also one of five games in which Ross posted a double-double this season. Ross becomes the second player to leave the Ohio State program with eligibility remaining, as guard Amedeo Della Valle made the decision to play for a professional team in his native Italy days after the Buckeyes’ season came to an end in the NCAA tournament.
Losing Ross, ranked the 63rd-best prospect by DraftExpress.com, means that Ohio State will have one less proven scorer in 2014-15. However his departure opens up more opportunities for incoming freshman wings Keita Bates-Diop and Jae’Sean Tate, with guard D’Angelo Russell and center David Bell joining them in Ohio State’s 2014 recruiting haul.