The wait is finally over for one of the top post prospects in the country. On Thursday evening on the campus of his high school program, Mesa Mountain View's talented and top-rated 6-foot-10, 235-pound senior post Payton Dastrup gave one of the biggest commitments in the state of Arizona's history high school basketball history - giving a verbal commitment to Ohio State University and head coach Thad Matta.
The commitment by Dastrup came as a major surprise to many in the basketball community - locally and around the country. Many, including myself, had believed that Dastrup would land at BYU, but Dastrup shocked the world with a huge commitment to the Big-10 power.
Dastrup's commitment is a big one. Not simply because of the strength of the Buckeye basketball program, but more so because he will be going so far away from home and because he is of Mormon descent and will be taking a two-year Mormon mission. Traditionally, Ohio State has not had a history with members of the LDS faith, and so Dastrup's commitment could open doors for more members of the faith to go abroad; while also helping more college programs to be more open to recruiting Mormon athletes.
Dastrup has chosen to sign with Ohio State this fall, over very heavy recruiting interest from Arizona, Virginia, Florida, BYU, UCLA and Kansas. During the recruiting process, Dastrup also was pursued heavily by other such top-rated programs as St. Johns, Arizona State, Oregon, USC, Boston College, Cal, Colorado, N.C. State, Oregon State, Stanford, Texas A&M, Utah, Utah State, UC Davis and Washington State.
Arizona’s 2014 class of prospects has been billed as one of the top classes of prospects in state history, if not the best, and while some prospects in the class have not lived up to the billing, Dastrup definitely has.
Dastrup is one of the elite post prospects in the country, and, as a result of such a big commitment, he could now be in the running for a McDonald's All-American game consideration for 2014.
Dastrup is a rare find among today’s college prospects, as he is a true post player with excellent physical size and strength. He also has good lift off the floor and plays the game with a professional approach to the game – taking care of his body and preparing for each contest. Dastrup recently lost weight and has trimmed his once thick frame, and now has become much more athletic and quicker off the floor.
Dastrup has also indicated that he plans to take a two-year Mormon mission after graduating from high school, and will not compete in college until the 2016-2017 college basketball season.
Congratulations to Payton and his father David on such a big commitment from our Arizona Preps staff.
Arizona Hoop Review Scouting Report: Dastrup is among the elite low-post prospects in the country – possessing a large body with broad shoulders, size and strength. He is a physically well-put-together post prospect that already possesses the body of a high-major division-I post player. Possessing broad shoulders and being built like a tank, Dastrup is an absolute load physically. A strong low-post scorer with good athleticism for his size, Dastrup is an excellent finisher already around the basket and enjoys physical contact. Very well-coached in the Mountain View system, Dastrup is much like that of former Kansas star post and current NBA forward Nick Collison. Has very good and strong hands, a good motor and runs the floor hard. Has good low-post footwork and good low post moves. Has developed a good ability t shoot the basketball out to 15-18 feet, but does his best work inside the painted area. A big-time low-post prospect that with continued hard work could play at the NBA level in the future.
