Buckeyes nab Milton PG Shannon Scott for 2011

One of the top basketball prospects in the Class of 2011 plans to leave the state.

Shannon Scott, a 6-foot-2, 170-pound point guard from Alpharetta’s Milton High School, committed to Ohio State at the end of the Thanksgiving week. Scott is rated the No. 12 prospect in America and is a 5-star recruit, according to Rivals.com. Scout.com rates him No. 33 in the nation.

“He’s a five-star guard, make no mistake about it,” said Milton coach David Boyd. “And he’s getting better all the time. He’s probably our most improved player.”

Scott averaged 11 points and 7 assists on a very balanced, talent-laden team as a sophomore last season.

Scott chose the Buckeyes over Georgia, Georgia Tech and Clemson, according to Boyd. Scott’s father, Charlie Scott, was the first black player at North Carolina and played in the NBA, but Scott eliminated the Tar Heels fairly early.

“They’ve recruited a ton of point guards,” Boyd said. “They have three committed right now.”

“I think it was my relationship with the coach, and the school,” Scott told BuckeyeGrove.com. “I just really want to go to Ohio State. I feel like if I didn’t play basketball I would want to be there anyway. I really liked Coach Purnell, but I just liked Ohio State a little bit more.”

Milton is loaded with young talent. Shooting guard Dai-jon Parker (6-3) and 6-7 small forward Julian Royal are both are rated top 30 juniors nationally by Rivals.com and 6-7 sophomore Evan Nolte is expected to be a national prospect.