Crater is the latest five-star commit

Chalk another big timer up for Ohio State. Michigan point guard Anthony Crater will announce his decision to play for the Buckeyes on Monday afternoon at a press conference at his Flint (Mich.) Southwest Academy school.

Carlos Fordham, Crater's coach at Southwest Academy, said Ohio State head coach Thad Matta was the difference maker.

"From the very start, he knew it was going to be hard for him. He had some great choices in Ohio State, Florida, Arizona and Kansas but Ohio State was it," Fordham said. "It was just the way that Ohio State recruits. Thad Matta saw him like six or seven times and that was big to him. That's all that mattered. When the head coach is showing you the love like that, you have to listen.

"Coach Matta told him that he is a fan of his game. He said, 'I'm a fan of what you do.' (Matta) told (Crater) that he will use a two point guard set and there won't be any problems. He'll always have great players with him and around him."

Crater was a busy prospect, visiting a number of schools. He looked at each program carefully and planned on taking more trips throughout the season to see the teams in action.

"I'll be honest, I was a little shocked. I thought he would have waited until April or so and take a couple more visits," Fordham said. "But he told me that he was ready and that Ohio State was pretty much all he needed."

Crater, the No. 2 point guard in the country, joins an already stellar class in 2008. William Buford, B.J. Mullens and Walter Offutt have already given OSU early verbal commitments, shaping up for a very fine class. Crater, the No. 24 overall player in his class, is another piece in the puzzle in the long line of big timers to pick the Columbus school.

"Coach Matta just loves his players. He says he'll just stay up all night just worrying about them because he just wants the best for his kids," Fordham said. "With guys like Greg Oden, Mike Conley, Daquan Cook and everyone else, he's working on winning a National Championship and preparing them for the next level. They are working to accomplish those goals."