Start's Kynard commits to Ohio State

Maleeka Kynard averaged 13 points as a sophomore as Start reached the D-I state final.

Sophomore point guard Maleeka Kynard, whose stellar play helped Start reach the Division I state girls basketball championship game in March, has verbally committed to a scholarship offer from Ohio State University.

Kynard, who turned 16 in February, is glad to have her college decision out of the way early. This will allow her to avoid the pressure of recruiting during her final two high school seasons.

"Now all I've got to do is go out and play basketball and make sure to get my schoolwork done," said Kynard, who averaged 13 points and three assists per game, and was named All-City League first team and All-Blade first team.

"I never wanted to go too far away from home because I wanted my parents to see me play," Kynard said. "Besides, I've always been a Buckeyes fan and always wanted to go to school there."

Kynard's father, Leon, was a teammate of OSU great Jim Jackson when the two played at the former Macomber High School.

"[Jackson] called me and told me I made a great decision because it's fun for sports and it's real good academically," Kynard said. "I was thinking that way

anyway. It's a great environment there. The fans are crazy about their sports teams."