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Ohio State opens two roster spots for next season with dismissal, freshman release

Villanova v Butler

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JANUARY 04: Head coach Chris Holtmann of the Butler Bulldogs reacts in the first half of the game against the Villanova Wildcats at Hinkle Fieldhouse on January 4, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

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Ohio State and new head coach Chris Holtmann opened up two more roster spots for next season on Friday as the Buckeyes announced the dismissal of redshirt freshman forward Derek Funderburk and the release of incoming freshman point guard Braxton Beverley from his Letter of Intent.

The 6-foot-9 Funderburk was Ohio State’s highest-ranked recruit from the Class of 2016 as he sat out the 2016-17 season in order to redshirt. When Holtmann took the Ohio State job in late June, the former consensus top-100 prospect was suspended right away, so his dismissal did have some warning signs over the last few weeks.

The 5-foot-10 Beverley is regarded as a three-star prospect after spending a postgrad year at Hargrave Military Academy. An experienced floor general who has played on the grassroots circuit extensively over the past four years, Beverley is an intriguing late addition to the market as schools looking for a last-minute point guard will potentially inquire.

With the loss of Beverley and Funderburk, Ohio State now only lists nine players on its current roster -- and one of those players is a walk-on and two are incoming true freshmen. It’s going to take some time for the Buckeyes to rebuild this roster, but at least Holtmann knows what he has to chase right away as he starts to offer prospects for the future.