COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Two of Central Ohio's best big men committed to Division I programs on Saturday. Rivals in the Central Catholic League and friends off the court, St. Charles senior center Nick Muszynski and DeSales senior power forward Caden Sanchez put exclamation points to the end of two long recruiting process. 

Sanchez got things started in the afternoon on Saturday, pledging to High Point, a week after his official visit. The third Central Ohio player to commit to High Point in the last calendar year (Walnut Ridge's James Manns and Dublin Coffman's Luke Vargo joined the 2016 class), Sanchez is a great get for a Panthers program that is building quite the pipeline in Ohio. 

Choosing High Point over other offers from Lipscomb and Wright State, Sanchez will continue to wear purple at the next level, and looks to be a solid fit in the Big South Conference. Sanchez is a physical four man who can bang in the post for rebounds and points, while also having improved touch from the perimeter, where he has looked the part of a knockdown shooter this fall.

Sanchez joins a High Point program that went 21-10 last season, while going 13-5 in conference play and tying for a regular season league title with Winthrop. 

For Muszynski, the 6-foot-11 center committed late Saturday night to Belmont, but held off on an announcement until Sunday morning.

"I saw that Caden committed and I didn't want to district any from him because it's a big day," Muszynski told 270 Hoops.

270 Hoops first reported the news, as Muszynski pledged to Belmont during his final official visit on Saturday night. Heading to Nashville, Tennessee, Muszynski is the newest addition to a Belmont program that was thought to be the leader in his recruitment for most of the fall.

At 6-foot-11, Muszynski brings tremendous size to the post, while rapidly improving in a variety of areas. With a skill set that allows him to not only be an imposing shot blocker and low post scorer, but also a reliable mid and long-range shooter, Muszynski is only added strength and mobility away from being a really dominant force.

Breaking onto the scene last fall, Muszynski followed that up with a breakout junior season in which he led St. Charles to a second-straight Central Catholic League title, outdueling Sanchez and DeSales in the process.

Muszynski joins a Belmont program that went 20-11 last season, including an Ohio Valley Conference East division best 12-4 record in league play. Belmont fell to Georgia in the first round of NIT action last March.

News and Notes

• 2017 Pickerington Central big man Sterling Manley added an offer from Purdue on Saturday. The 6-foot-11 post player is the only uncommitted member of the 270 Hoops 2017 top five, and will be evaluated on Monday by West Virginia.
• 2018 Pickerington North small forward Jerome Hunter unofficially visited Pitt over the weekend, finishing the visit with an offer from the Panthers. Taking in the Pitt-Penn State football game at Heinz Field, Hunter racked up yet another high-major offer, and his first from an ACC program. 
• Be on the lookout for highlights from the first-ever All-Star Sunday at Coach Vic's Weekly Showcase dunk contest later Monday. Northland sophomore wing William Mfum outdueled Eastmoor junior wing Taevion Kinsey in an intriguing dunk-off for the win.
• 2019 Westerville North point guard Jeremiah Keene took an unofficial visit to Ohio State on Saturday. The 6-foot-2 Keene is one of the state's top wing guards in the 2019 class, and has been adding more to an already impressive arsenal of skills.