Ohio not letting recruit out of LOI?

Ohio not letting recruit out of LOI?

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 10:20 p.m. ET

When John Groce left Ohio University for Illinois, Caris LaVert got out of his Letter of Intent and wound up at Michigan, where he averaged 12.9 points as a sophomore.

Now Tariq Owens is in a similiar situation, but is having trouble getting his release. Owens, who signed a Letter of Intent with Ohio in the fall, asked the Bobcats for a release from his Letter of Intent earlier this week.

On Sunday that request was denied by Ohio, according to a source close to the situation.

Ohio is currently going through a coaching change. Jim Christian, who was the coach when Owens signed, took the Boston College job. Ohio hired Saul Phillips late Saturday night.

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Before committing to Ohio on June 3rd, Owens also strongly considered Rhode Island, Temple, Miami, Virginia Tech and Cincinnati.

Owens, a 6-foot-9, 205-pound forward out of Baltimore (Md.) Mt. Zion Prep, is a four-star prospect and Ohio's highest rated recruit.

"Tariq is going to be really good for somebody," Owen’s AAU coach Dwayne Wise told Scout.com. “"He blocks shots, has athletic ability, can face up and he's an animal defensively."

Owens is currently ranked No. 99 overall in the 2014 class.

 

 

 

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