The expected happened March 12.

The Indians started trimming their roster and reassigned prospects Francisco Lindor and Tyler Naquin to minor-league camp. Some might say the Indians cut the duo. In this case, cut is the wrong term.

Neither Lindor nor Naquin were competing for a major-league job. They arrived to Arizona early to receive extra work, mingle with veterans, participate in games against established players and interact with Manager Terry Francona and his staff.

Both players posted respectable numbers. Lindor appeared in eight games and hit .267 in 15 at-bats. Naquin appeared in 13 games and hit .231 in 13 at-bats.

Lindor and Naquin will now rejoin their peers and position themselves for 2014. Triple-A Columbus is a possible starting point, although both players have limited Double-A experience.  Lindor, 20, appeared in 21 games at Akron, three more than Naquin, in 2013.

Will both, one or neither prospect begin the season in Columbus? Consider this the biggest question in minor-league camp.

-- Guy Cipriano | @newsheraldguy

Last week's college notes led with how former Benedictine standout Derek Jackson has adjusted to basketball life at Kent State. 

The interview with Jackson rekindled memories of stacked Benedictine rosters. How talented were the Bengals during Jackson's career? Jackson played alongside four future Division I players at various times.

Jackson, a junior, is a starting guard at Kent State, where he's averaging 11.3 points per game. He started his career at Central Michigan and landed at Kent State after spending a year away from basketball for academic reasons.

Less than 15 miles from Kent State's campus, Nick Harney, one of Jackson's high school teammates, has shifted in and out of Akron's starting lineup. Harney has helped the Zips earn two straight NCAA Tournament appearances. This season, he's averaging 8.9 points per game this season, although he's currently serving a suspension for violating team rules.

Another one of Jackson's former teammates, Cameron Wright, hasn't missed an NCAA Tournament since beginning college. Wright is a junior guard at postseason regular Pitt, where he's averaging 10.8 points per game. Wright has started every game for the Panthers this season.

Wright is one of two former Benedictine players competing for a Division I basketball program in Pittsburgh. Desmond Ridenour is a freshman guard at Duquesne, where he's averaging 5.1 points per game against Atlantic 10 competition.

On other side of Pennsylvania, Mark Williams is a freshman forward at Temple, where he's averaging 4.0 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. Williams played at Benedictine, transferred to Richmond Heights and ended his high school career at Montrose Christian (Md.).

The five players would comprise a competitive Division I starting lineup. Williams and Harney are both 6-foot-8 while Jackson, Wright and Ridenour are 6-2 or taller. The five players are averaging a combined 40.1 points per game. Ridenour is the only member of the group who hasn't started a game this winter.

Jackson said he's remained close with his former high school teammates. As seniors, Jackson, Harney and Wright led Benedictine to the state semifinals.

"I talk to those guys all the time," Jackson said. "I talk to Cameron a lot, we communicate a lot. I have to talk to Nick. We are right down the road. I just talked to Desmond. We keep up with each other. It's just good to see the people I played with in high school are still playing. All of us are still chasing our dream."

-- Guy Cipriano @newshearldguy

Here are links to every Ohio college football recruiting class announced Wednesday. Some schools are waiting to receive information from every incoming scholarship player to release their classes. Division III schools are non-scholarship and don't participate in national signing day events. Division I-AA Dayton also doesn't offer football scholarships.

Division I

Akron

Cincinnati

Bowling Green

Kent State

Miami

Ohio State

Ohio University

Toledo

Division I-AA

Youngstown State

Division II 

Ashland

Central State (Did not release its class)

Findlay

Lake Erie College

Malone

Notre Dame College

Ohio Dominican (Did not release its class)

Tiffin

Urbana (Did not release its class)

Walsh

-- Guy Cipriano | @newsheraldguy