By: Doug Lesmerises (Cleveland Plain Dealer) -

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State coach Thad Matta has acquired unwanted expertise on one-and-done college basketball players, becoming a go-to quote on freshmen leaving college after one season since five Ohio State freshmen departed Columbus in a three-year span.

With Evan Turner now preparing for the June 24 NBA Draft as a probable top-three choice after being college’s basketball’s player of the year as a junior, Matta won’t be shy about pointing to Turner’s way as another option.

Maybe, even slightly, it already helped with Ohio State’s William Buford, who will be back for his junior year. Buford didn’t ask Matta to help him gain an NBA evaluation of his status, but Matta did it anyway.

Regardless, Buford said all along he’d be back for a third year, and Matta’s expectations are high.

“You’re always looking out for your guys and getting them to understand what is best for them. Some listen and some don’t,” Matta said Wednesday at a news conference to officially introduce new OSU assistant coach Dave Dickerson. “We finally had the proof for kids that going back to school is not all that bad.

“Evan probably made himself an extra $7 million by doing that. So Will has a pretty good understanding of what he needs to work on, and I do think he will play in the league, there’s no question in my mind.”

Matta’s math would be based on where Turner was pegged to go in the draft last year. If Turner had turned pro after his sophomore season and been the No. 12 pick, which was the range he was projected, he would have been guaranteed about $5.3 million over three years. If he fulfills projections of being the No. 2 pick in June, he would earn $12.4 million over three years……

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