Chris Holtmann Suspends Derek Funderburk Indefinitely

Ohio State men’s basketball coach Chris Holtmann suspended Redshirt freshman Derek Funderburk indefinitely for “failure to meet team expectations.”

The former four-star recruit was the No. 1 ranked prospect in his class in the state of Ohio according to 247 Sports, but did not play his freshman year in 2016-17.

Funderburk, a 6-foot-9 forward, was recruited out of St. Edward High School in Lakewood, OH and played his senior year of high school at Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, VA.

We’re a long ways away from opening night and Funderburk will have plenty of time to get back in the good graces of his new head coach, but it’s clear Holtmann wants to set a tone for how he’s going to handle players and Ohio State’s frontcourt is a bit unclear at the moment with incoming freshman and No. 1 player in Ohio’s class of 2017 Kaleb Wesson on his way to Columbus.

Mentor-native and sophomore Micah Potter is expected to continue to see playing time along with fourth year forward Keita Bates-Diop, who missed the majority of the 2016-17 season after undergoing surgery for a stress fracture in his left leg.

With Bates-Diop, Potter, Wesson and other possible additions to the frontcourt, playing time may not be easy for Funderburk to find, despite his high ceiling.