Tori McCoy shoots at the USA Basketball U16 National team trials in Colorado Springs, Colo.  *Photo by Chris Hansen.

Tori McCoy, the 6-foot-4 post from Champaign, Ill., announced her commitment to Ohio State today.  The five-star prospects is ranked No. 8 in the 2016 class and chose the Buckeyes over finalists Marquette, South Carolina and Tennessee.

McCoy has a chance to be a game-changer for Ohio State.  She is one of the most gifted athletes in the country and, before sustaining a knee injury that kept her off the circuit for the better part of year, she was in the conversation for top player in the class.  That potential to be a dynamic scoring frontcourt player still exists and is an area of need for Ohio State.

“McCoy was making tremendous progress before her injury,” Keil Moore, International Director of Scouting for ProspectsNation.com, said.  “She is as talented as any player in the class but will need to show consistency as she makes the leap from high school to college.”

Ohio State head coach Kevin McGuff is having quite the finish to his recruiting season.  Just five weeks ago the program had nobody committed.  Then in October the Buckeyes landed Kiara Lewis, a talented point guard from Chicago.  Last week they added Jensen Caretti, a 6-1 wing from Hannibal, Ohio. 

If Ohio State finds a way to win the Linnae Harper transfer sweepstakes the roster in 2016-2017 could be among the most talented in the country.  McCoy, Harper and Lewis all played for the same club team in high school, the Mac Irvin Lady Fire in Chicago.  Regardless of Harper’s decision, McCoy is the type to solidify the Buckeyes frontcourt and punish teams that attempt to load up on star guard Kelsey Mitchell.

Ohio State 2016 Recruiting Class

Chris Hansen is managing editor of ProspectsNation.com and serves on the McDonald’s All-American and Naismith Trophy selection committees.  He was the national director of scouting for ESPN HoopGurlz from 2005 until 2012 and is the director of the Check Me Out Showcase.  He can be reached at chris@prospectsnation.com.