Mark Smith

Mark Smith, a top-100 guard in the Class of 2017, will officially visit Ohio State this weekend.

(Photo by 247Sports)

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- It sounds like Ohio State basketball will get the last chance to impress 2017 guard Mark Smith.

Smith will officially visit the Buckeyes this weekend, a source confirmed to cleveland.com. According to a report from Adam Zagoria of ZagsBlog.com, Smith should decide on a school sometime after the OSU visit. The regular signing period for basketball runs through May 17.

A four-star prospect and No. 16 shooting guard in the country according to the 247Sports composite ratings, Smith is one of the top uncommitted players remaining in the Class of 2017.

Smith, who won Illinois Mr. Basketball in his senior season, is coming off of a visit with Illinois. He's also recently officially visited Michigan State, and had an in-home visit with Duke. Missouri and Kentucky have also been heavily involved.

For what it's worth, the 247Sports crystal ball predicts Smith's recruitment coming down to either Illinois or Michigan State.

Maybe it helps Ohio State that they'll presumably get the last crack at pitching Smith, but it feels like an uphill climb. The Buckeyes could use another guard on the roster, and Smith looks like someone who could be an impact player on the ball or off. Though the Buckeyes have been as involved as any team pursuing Smith, it doesn't feel like they have much momentum.

Still, things can change once you get a kid on campus. Ohio State has been fighting to get Smith on an official, and now it's going to happen.

Part of the reason Smith's recruitment has carried out this far is because he was a standout baseball player once committed to Missouri. He switched to basketball after a coaching change and Mizzou and an arm injury.

Ohio State's scholarship situation is a little up in the air for next season. As it stands now, the Buckeyes have one scholarship available after the transfer of center David Bell. They also have to former walk-ons on scholarship -- Joey Lane and Jimmy Jent -- who could return to walk-on status to free other spots up.

Also, according to a report from Adam Jardy of the Columbus Dispatch, it's still open for center Trevor Thompson to return to Ohio State next season. Thompson will attempt to go pro for the second straight year, but under new rules he's eligible to return to college as long as he doesn't sign with an agent.

Though it sounded like Thompson was officially breaking ties with Ohio State when his decision was announced after the season, he has yet to sign with an agent and his father told the Dispatch the door is open to return to the Buckeyes.