Ohio State offers NE Ohio center

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 1:17 p.m. ET

Marcus Hartman

While working to get his Buckeyes out of a funk on the court, Ohio State basketball coach Thad Matta is also looking to stock his future roster.

The latest development on the latter front came Tuesday with the news Lakewood (Ohio) St. Edward big man Derek Funderburk has received a scholarship offer.

The 6-9 Funderburk is rated the No. 10 sophomore center in the nation according to Scout.com.

He joins V.J. King of Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary as the two in-state players from the 2016 class to receive Ohio State offers so far.

"Derek is a very high upside player who has a chance to be elite," Snow, a recruiting analyst for Scout, told Fox Sports Ohio. "He has to get stronger but you don't see many kids with his size and athleticism.

"Derek had a chance with hard work to be a special prospect and that is why Ohio State issued an early offer."

Ohio State has two commitments from current high school juniors -- Dayton Dunbar point guard A.J. Harris and Plano (Texas) West power forward Mickey Mitchell -- and is in pursuit of more, as our Zac Jackson wrote about earlier this month.