OSU football star J.T. Tuimoloau won't play for Ohio State basketball, but loves hoops

J.T. Tuimoloau turned heads at defensive end in Ohio State football's win against Penn State.

Finishing with six tackles, three tackles-for-loss, two sacks, two interceptions, one pass breakup, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery, Tuimoloau was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week, Bednarik Award Player of the Week and Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week.

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Tuimoloau came into his Ohio State football career with the intention of putting that same work in for Chris Holtmann and the Buckeye men's basketball team.

But he found, once he got to campus, it wasn't something he could balance.

"We talked when I first got out here," Tuimoloau told Big Ten Network Monday. "Coach Holtmann's still my guy. When I first came in, I was really thinking about playing both sports, but I think, how late I came in, I turned my focus to have my first full offseason this offseason with coach (Mickey Marotti). We just said, 'We're going to go with football.'"

How did J.T. Tuimoloau do in high school basketball?

According to ScoreBook Live, Tuimoloau averaged 10.8 points in 49 career games at Eastside Catholic High School in Sammamish, Washington.

In the Metro League Championship against Garfield High School, Tuimoloau hit a 3 as time was running out to give Eastside Catholic the lead before future LSU and Houston Rockets forward Tari Eason hit a game-winning shot after a clock malfunction.

Tuimoloau's love for basketball hasn't changed even though his attention as a 6-foot-4, 270-pound defensive end has turned to football.

"The basketball love hasn't left me. I still hoop at the rec center, make sure I still have it. Or go before practice, make sure it's still there."

Ohio State football's 2022 schedule

• Sept. 3: Ohio State 21, Notre Dame 10

• Sept. 10: Ohio State 45, Arkansas State 12

• Sept. 17: Ohio State 77, Toledo 21

• Sept. 24: Ohio State 52, Wisconsin 21

• Oct. 1: Ohio State 49, Rutgers 10

• Oct. 8: Ohio State 49, Michigan State 20

• Oct. 22: Ohio State 54, Iowa 10

• Oct. 29: Ohio State 44, Penn State 31

• Nov. 5: Ohio State vs. Northwestern, Evanston, Ill. , noon

• Nov. 12: Ohio State vs. Indiana, Columbus, Ohio

• Nov. 19: Ohio State vs. Maryland, College Park, Md.

• Nov. 26: Ohio State vs. Michigan, Columbus, Ohio, noon

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: OSU football star JT Tuimoloau won't play for Ohio State basketball