COLUMBUS — Ohio State has added depth to the future of its frontcourt.
Four-star center Felix Okpara committed to the Buckeyes on Monday on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/okpara_felix/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=e2bea4ca-681c-4fd0-9eb2-df1122522906">Instagram</a>. With a 6-foot-11, 210-pound frame, Okpara took an official visit to Columbus on June 15 and has now committed to Ohio State just over a month later.Â The Buckeyes edged out Ole Miss, Florida and Tennessee among others. A top-50 player in the class of 2022, he is ranked as the nation’s ninth-ranked center. Out of Hamilton Heights Christian Academy in Chattanooga, Tennessee,
His addition will help the Buckeyes frontcourt in the near future. E.J. Liddell <a href="https://lettermenrow.com/ohio-state-basketball/ej-liddell-ohio-state-buckeyes-basketball-nba-draft-return/">chose to return</a> for another season, opting out of the NBA Draft. But the All-Big Ten first-team selection last season probably won’t be around after this season.
Okpara can help fill the void left by Liddell when he eventually leaves. Taller than Liddell, he can be a rim protector and has shown that in high school. He average 2.6 blocker per game in his junior season and 1.8 blocks across 12 games in the Nike EYBL circuit this month.
His addition also makes Ohio State the No. 1 class in the nation. The Buckeyes now have four commitments with Okpara, four-star point guard Bruce Thornton, four-star shooting guard Roddy Gayle Jr. and three-star shooting guardÂ Bowen Hardman. The No. 1 ranking is evidence of the rise since Chris Holtmann took over in Columbus in 2017.
<div id="attachment_28691" style="width: 1010px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-28691" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-28691 size-full" src="https://lettermenrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/201818530_939153220201076_2773389096478299114_n.jpg" alt="Felix Okpara-Ohio State Buckeyes-Ohio State football" width="1000" height="1000" />Felix Okpara is a top-50 player in the 2022 class. (Felix Okpara/Instagram)</div>
â€œWeâ€™ve really yet to have a really poor season,â€ Holtmann said earlier this spring. â€œIn some ways thatâ€™s a good thing, it also ratchets up expectations right away. I think Iâ€™m always looking at ways to improve and take the next step, perform and do better in certain areas. While we certainly have established a level of success and competitiveness â€” nationally, I believe weâ€™ve been ranked in the top 25 every year but in the top 15 three of the four years.
â€œThereâ€™s a national relevancy that I think has been reached. We have not reached, by any stretch, the peak years of Thadâ€™s incredible run or coach [Jim] Oâ€™Brien couple years there or dating back to others, the run in the â€™60s was the one that got to the final finish line.Â Thatâ€™s our goal. Thatâ€™s what weâ€™re working towards every day. I acknowledge the fact we have work to do towards that.â€
The Buckeyes have now found their next big man in Felix Okpara, and his commitment puts Ohio State’s 2022 recruiting class as the best in the nation.

Felix Okpara

Lettermen Row

Buckeyes add four-star center, now boast nation's top recruiting class

team image

Big Ten Conference

Ohio State Buckeyes

Organization Logo

Ohio State

Lettermen Lounge

News

Lobby

Ohio High School Football

Forums

News Feed

Roster

Schedule

Transfer Portal Ranking

Transfer Portal

Ohio State Draft History

[site-team] Draft History

Football

Search

Commitments

Transfers

Team Rankings

Player Rankings

Industry Comparison

Offers

Visits

Recruiting Prediction Machine

FB Recruiting

Basketball

BB Recruiting

About

Staff

Lettermen Row On3+ Subscription

[site-name] On3+ Subscription

Contact

Podcasts and Shows

Team Store

Women's Basketball

Softball

Baseball

Message Boards

Transfer Portal {{ hot }}

Transfer Portal Player Rankings

MegaBoard

Rivals300

Alabama

Arizona State

Arizona

Arkansas

Auburn

Baylor

Boston College

California

Removed

Clemson

Colorado

Duke

Florida

Florida State

Georgia

Georgia Tech

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Iowa State

Kansas

Kansas State

Kentucky

Louisville

Maryland

Miami

Michigan State

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi State

Missouri

NC State

Nebraska

North Carolina

Northwestern

Notre Dame

Oklahoma

Oklahoma State

Ole Miss

The Main Board

Oregon

Oregon State

Penn State

Pittsburgh

Purdue

Rutgers

South Carolina

Stanford

Syracuse

Tennessee

Texas A&M

Texas

Texas Tech

UCLA

Utah

Vanderbilt

Virginia

Virginia Tech

Wake Forest

Washington

Washington State

West Virginia

Wisconsin

BamaOnLine

BOL Round Table

Inside Texas

IT Members Only

DawgsHQ

Dawg Walk

Scoop Duck

Recruiting & Sports

AuburnSports

The Corner

WeAreSC

GarryP's Trojan Huddle

The Wolverine

The Fort

The Lions Den

The Wolfpacker

The Wolves’ Den

GatorsOnline

Swamp Talk

Alabama A&M

Alabama State

Albany

Alcorn State

Abilene Christian

Appalachian State

Akron

Army

Austin Peay

Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Arkansas-Little Rock

Arkansas State

Air Force

Ball State

American

Wofford

Winthrop

Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Wisconsin-Green Bay

Wichita State

Western Carolina

Volleyball

Gymnastics

Men's Lacrosse

Women's Lacrosse

Men's Soccer

Women's Soccer

Women's Track

Men's Golf

Women's Golf

Men's Hockey

Women's Hockey

Men's Swimming

Women's Swimming

Wrestling

Men's Tennis

Women's Tennis

Annual $1

Annual Premium

Annual $1 

Monthly

Annual

Unlimited Access to This and All Articles.

Article (On3 Plus Rivals)

Forum (On3 Plus Rivals)

Intro

Join

College scoop, experts, and community - all in one.

Winback

LR + On3 + Rivals for 50% OFF

PORTAL SALE

Examining remaining Ohio State needs, options in transfer portal

Transfer #Stuff

Ohio State transfer portal hot board plus names to know

Transfer portal hot board

What portal-pickup bonanza reveals about Ohio State roster strategy

Buckeyes portal strategy

What Alabama transfers James Smith, Qua Russaw add to Ohio State's defense

OSU adds Smith, Russaw!

Front-runner emerges

Jordan Seaton

Wants to keep QB

Duke sues Mensah

College Football's final Top 25

Final AP Poll

A run for the ages

Fernando Mendoza

Race for No. 1 begins

Way-Too-Early Top 25