Ohio State freshmen Taison Chatman, Austin Parks missing preseason time with injuries
MINNEAPOLIS – Two of Ohio State’s freshmen are currently out of practice as they deal with injuries.
As he spoke with reporters at Big Ten men’s basketball media day on the main court at the Target Center, Buckeyes men’s basketball coach Chris Holtmann said guard Taison Chatman and center Austin Parks are both battling injuries that will impact their abilities to be immediate contributors when the season begins.
Chatman, a 6-4, 175-pound guard, underwent a knee procedure last week and will remain sidelined for the next 3-5 weeks, Holtmann said. Additionally, the 6-10, 250-pound Parks is dealing with back spasms but is expected to be back in practice soon.
“Anytime you have an injury it’s gonna set you back, and especially when you’re a freshman,” Holtmann said. “It’s not their fault. It’s out of their control, and I know they’re both anxious to get back, really anxious to get back. I know they’re hungry to do that.
“It looks like Austin’s return will be sooner than Taison, but we expect them both to be back here this season.”
Chatman arrived as the highest-rated member of Ohio State’s four-man recruiting class. In the 247Sports.com rankings, Chatman finished as the No. 1 player in Minnesota, the No. 7 combo guard in the country and the overall No. 33 national recruit. As a senior, he helped Minneapolis Totino-Grace to a state championship while dealing with an injury that limited him at the beginning of the season.
He picked the Buckeyes after also taking official visits to Kansas, Xavier and UConn.
“It’s been going good,” Chatman said at Ohio State’s media day held Sept. 25. “I’ve been battling some injuries over the summer but I’m finally back healthy now. Perfect timing to be healthy, too, rolling right into the season.”
Parks arrived at Ohio State from St. Marys (Ohio) Memorial as the No. 5 prospect from the state, the No. 26 center in the nation and the overall No. 184 prospect in the 247Sport.com composite rankings.
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Both players were projected to have to battle for playing time behind more established veterans. That task will get more challenging after both have missed time during the summer and now the preseason.
“Anytime you have an inconsistent summer and an inconsistent preseason, it’s going to delay your development,” Holtmann said.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State's Taison Chatman, Austin Parks battling preseason injuries
