In part two of our Prospect Preview column, DTI looks at point guard Anthony “Noopy” Crater. Part one of the series featured combo guard Walter Offutt, while parts three and four will look at junior college transfers Jeremie Simmons and Nikola Kecman.

Crater, nicknamed “Noopy”, is a point guard, originally from Flint, Michigan, who transferred to Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire before his senior season. He committed to the Buckeyes while attending Southwest Academy in Flint, in November of 2006. He was “wowed” by the OSU campus and the school spirit in Columbus, and who couldn’t blame him, as he visited the Capitol City for the #1 Ohio State vs. #2 Michigan football game, that eventually sent the Bucks to the national championship in Glendale, Arizona, a game many Buckeye fans have vanished from their memories.

At the time he committed, Crater was rated as a top 25 player and top 5 point guard among all recruiting services, but has since taken a plunge in the rankings. Noopy is currently rated as a 3-star prospect and the #21 PG by Scout, the #9 PG and # 65 overall player by ESPN/Bucknuts, and is rated as a 3-star point guard by Rivals. Despite, how his stock as a recruit has fallen, Crater thinks he improved vastly since transferring to Brewster, and has even said that he has added strength, listing himself at about 6′3 and 175-pounds. He also said, that he has improved his jump shot, and can bring a winning attitude and leadership to the floor for the Buckeyes this season.

A pure point guard breed, as opposed to a scoring point guard, Crater has great court vision, is excellent at penetrating the lane, and is a leader on the floor. Improvements he does need to make, are his shooting ability, both from mid-range and the perimeter, as well as his physical strength, as he is listed by most scouting services at 6′1″ and only 165-pounds (contrary to what he says above). Looking at that scouting report of Crater reminds me of another floor general that had success at OSU right out of high school, by the name of Mike Conley Jr. While nobody can expect Crater to produce like Conley in Scarlet and Gray, Buckeye hoops fans may see Crater starting from day one, just like Conley, as the other options to run the point are PJ Hill, Jeremie Simmons, Walter Offutt, and Evan Turner (who would certainly be playing out of position).

Expect big things from “Noopy” Crater this season if you are a Buckeye fan. I think he is vastly underrated by all of the scouting services and I expect to see him start from day one, just like Conley did. He will improve, working under the tutelage of Thad Matta’s staff and should see significant improvement as a playmaker as the season goes on. The point guard position may be the X-Factor for this OSU basketball team in 2008-2009 and if Crater can run the offense and create play, the Buckeyes could find themselves atop the Big Ten standings, with a shot to make some noise in the NCAA tournament.

Check Out Crater on YouTube