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LGHL Ohio State men get 2024-25 Big Ten pairings; host Michigan, Oregon, Washington
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- 0 Replies
Ohio State men get 2024-25 Big Ten pairings; host Michigan, Oregon, Washington
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Brooke LaValley / USA TODAY NETWORK
All the Buckeye news thats fit to re-print.
Look, we get it. Your days are busy and you don’t have time to read all of the stories and tweets from the three dozen websites dedicated to covering Ohio State athletics, or the 237 Buckeye beat writers churning out hot takes and #content on a daily basis. But that’s ok, that’s what your friends at Land-Grant Holy Land are here for.
Monday through Friday, we’ll be collecting all of the articles, tweets, features, interviews, videos, podcasts, memes, photos, and whatever else we stumble across on the interwebz and putting them in our daily “Why is this News?” article. That way, you’ll have a one-stop shop for all of the most important Buckeye news, jokes, and analysis.
You’re welcome!
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
Buckeyes’ QB room remains full with transfer window closed
Bill Rabinowitz, The Columbus Dispatch
How, why Buckeyes kept five-man quarterback room together (paywall)
Austin Ward, Dotting the Eyes
Buckeyes add a talented preferred walk-on:
Why Ohio State survived the transfer portal window with all 5 quarterbacks
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts
Michael Hall Jr. drafted by hometown team, has chance to excel as a pro in Cleveland
Josh Dooley, Land-Grant Holy Land
Progress Report: Evaluating Ohio State wide receivers after spring practice (paywall)
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row
He’s real good:
After transfer, one less receiver on the roster may mean an extra in the 2025 class
Caleb Houser, Land-Grant Holy Land
Ohio State 2024 offensive depth chart projection Version 2.0 (paywall)
Bill Landis, Dotting the Eyes
Roddy Gayle Jr. and his Wolverines will play Ohio State in Columbus this season
Connor Lemons, Land-Grant Holy Land
5 thoughts on Ohio State as the transfer portal is closed
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch
Former Ohio State star Mike Conley Jr. wins Teammate of the Year for second time
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts
No. 1 Ohio State men’s tennis team seeking elusive NCAA championship
Bill Rabinowitz, The Columbus Dispatch
Women’s Track & Field: Spencer Named Big Ten Female Track Athlete of the Week
Ohio State Athletics
Men’s Golf: Buckeyes Selected for Baton Rouge Regional
Ohio State Athletics
Pistol: Abeln, Leverett & Korkhin Headed to Summer Olympic Games
Ohio State Athletics
Continue reading...
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Brooke LaValley / USA TODAY NETWORK
All the Buckeye news thats fit to re-print.
Look, we get it. Your days are busy and you don’t have time to read all of the stories and tweets from the three dozen websites dedicated to covering Ohio State athletics, or the 237 Buckeye beat writers churning out hot takes and #content on a daily basis. But that’s ok, that’s what your friends at Land-Grant Holy Land are here for.
Monday through Friday, we’ll be collecting all of the articles, tweets, features, interviews, videos, podcasts, memes, photos, and whatever else we stumble across on the interwebz and putting them in our daily “Why is this News?” article. That way, you’ll have a one-stop shop for all of the most important Buckeye news, jokes, and analysis.
You’re welcome!
For your Earholes...
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
On the Gridiron
Buckeyes’ QB room remains full with transfer window closed
Bill Rabinowitz, The Columbus Dispatch
How, why Buckeyes kept five-man quarterback room together (paywall)
Austin Ward, Dotting the Eyes
Buckeyes add a talented preferred walk-on:
Why Ohio State survived the transfer portal window with all 5 quarterbacks
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts
Michael Hall Jr. drafted by hometown team, has chance to excel as a pro in Cleveland
Josh Dooley, Land-Grant Holy Land
Progress Report: Evaluating Ohio State wide receivers after spring practice (paywall)
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row
He’s real good:
️ @PFF_College Highest Coverage Grade for returning DBs in 2024 @Jr2Maine pic.twitter.com/RsUGe9B4UN
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) May 2, 2024
After transfer, one less receiver on the roster may mean an extra in the 2025 class
Caleb Houser, Land-Grant Holy Land
Ohio State 2024 offensive depth chart projection Version 2.0 (paywall)
Bill Landis, Dotting the Eyes
On the Hardwood
Roddy Gayle Jr. and his Wolverines will play Ohio State in Columbus this season
Connor Lemons, Land-Grant Holy Land
5 thoughts on Ohio State as the transfer portal is closed
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch
Former Ohio State star Mike Conley Jr. wins Teammate of the Year for second time
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts
Outside the Shoe and Schott
No. 1 Ohio State men’s tennis team seeking elusive NCAA championship
Bill Rabinowitz, The Columbus Dispatch
Women’s Track & Field: Spencer Named Big Ten Female Track Athlete of the Week
Ohio State Athletics
Men’s Golf: Buckeyes Selected for Baton Rouge Regional
Ohio State Athletics
Pistol: Abeln, Leverett & Korkhin Headed to Summer Olympic Games
Ohio State Athletics
And now for something completely different...
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LGHL Ohio State makes final three for one of its top 2025 offensive targets, offers two in 2026 class
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Ohio State makes final three for one of its top 2025 offensive targets, offers two in 2026 class
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Barbara J. Perenic/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
The Buckeyes were busy again on the trail offering new players in the 2026 class.
Now that James Laurinaitis is manning the linebacker room, there’s plenty to be excited about. From his experience as a player to his ability to develop and recruit players, this was the right fit all along and it’s paying off in major ways already. With two guys currently committed in Tarvos Alford and Eli Lee, the Buckeyes are set up for success in the 2025 class, and can now focus on future cycles.
Staying hard at work, yesterday the Buckeyes sent out one of their latest offers to in-state product, Jakobe Clapper. The Cincinnati native now holds nearly 20 offers to his name. A 6-foot-2, 195-pound athlete, Clapper already shows an impressive frame, but with two full seasons still to be played, it’s exciting to think about what he could become as a finished product.
The No. 225 player nationally and 17th best player at his position per the 247Sports Composite grades, Clapper has the likes of Notre Dame, Oregon, Penn State, Tennessee, and several others interested in him, and now his home-state Buckeyes are in that mix as well. There is plenty of work to be done, of course, and you have to imagine that Laurinaitis is going to be all over this recruitment considering that not only is he an in-state talent, but he also seems to fit the mold that OSU is looking for at the position.
The running back position continues to be a consistent topic of discussion around Ohio State and rightfully so. There is plenty of excitement surrounding the Buckeyes’ new position coach, and the potential success that the 2025 class could have with their top targets is pointing towards a class for the ages for the Buckeyes.
Without getting too far ahead of ourselves, Ohio State is already keeping an eye on future targets. Yesterday, the latest running back offer was dished out in the 2026 class to Georgia native Jonaz Walton.
A 5-foot-9, 200-pound athlete, Walton is a smaller back, but runs much larger than his stature. The No. 83 player nationally and eighth-best running back in the class per the 247Sports Composite grades, it’s easy to see why Ohio State is interested.
Programs such as Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Notre Dame, USC, Tennessee, Texas, and several others have thrown their name into the mix and while the Buckeyes are a little late to the party, surely they can make up for lost time as they the energy in this position group to spark an interest. More names will likely come up as Locklyn continues to get further into his new role, but here’s the latest worth paying attention to.
In-state running back Bo Jackson has been a theme as of late and Thursday was no different. The No. 72 player nationally and fifth best player at his position per the 247Sports Composite grades, it’s as clear as ever that Jackson is one of the two running backs that the Ohio State coaching staff is completely sold on and now it’s just a matter of sealing the deal and making him a part of this class.
On Thursday, Jackson announced that he is down to just three schools. Narrowing it to just Alabama, Georgia, and Ohio State, the Buckeyes have a great chance here, but know that they still have plenty of work to be done before they earn his commitment.
Set to visit Georgia on May 17, Jackson will spend his second trip at Ohio State from May 31-June 2, and Alabama from June 7-9. No, the Buckeyes don’t have the luxury of having the last scheduled visit, but being just a short trek from Cleveland, Bo can see the Buckeyes any time he wants and very well could make a return trip if needed.
As of now, Jackson and Locklyn are talking every other day according to Jackson and that should only continue, if it doesn’t soon turn into an everyday occurrence. Again, Ohio State isn’t out of the woods as the two other schools certainly aren’t just there for show, but you have to feel like the Buckeyes are going to be able to keep him home if they continue doing all the right things and make sure that he knows that he is a priority in this class.
Yesterday, Ohio State added Findlay, Ohio product Nate Riegel to their 2024 class as a preferred walk-on. A 6-foot-3, 210-pound athlete, Riegel projects as a linebacker at the next level and is a player that the Buckeyes are glad to have as a depth piece coming in. An unranked player in the 2024 cycle, Riegel clearly had interest from the Buckeyes and took his shot betting on himself.
A teammate of current Buckeye Luke Montgomery, odds are Riegel is cut from the same cloth and will be a player who works his tail off as he tries to show his worth once on campus.
Continue reading...
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Barbara J. Perenic/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
The Buckeyes were busy again on the trail offering new players in the 2026 class.
Now that James Laurinaitis is manning the linebacker room, there’s plenty to be excited about. From his experience as a player to his ability to develop and recruit players, this was the right fit all along and it’s paying off in major ways already. With two guys currently committed in Tarvos Alford and Eli Lee, the Buckeyes are set up for success in the 2025 class, and can now focus on future cycles.
Staying hard at work, yesterday the Buckeyes sent out one of their latest offers to in-state product, Jakobe Clapper. The Cincinnati native now holds nearly 20 offers to his name. A 6-foot-2, 195-pound athlete, Clapper already shows an impressive frame, but with two full seasons still to be played, it’s exciting to think about what he could become as a finished product.
The No. 225 player nationally and 17th best player at his position per the 247Sports Composite grades, Clapper has the likes of Notre Dame, Oregon, Penn State, Tennessee, and several others interested in him, and now his home-state Buckeyes are in that mix as well. There is plenty of work to be done, of course, and you have to imagine that Laurinaitis is going to be all over this recruitment considering that not only is he an in-state talent, but he also seems to fit the mold that OSU is looking for at the position.
2026 running back gets the nod from Ohio State
The running back position continues to be a consistent topic of discussion around Ohio State and rightfully so. There is plenty of excitement surrounding the Buckeyes’ new position coach, and the potential success that the 2025 class could have with their top targets is pointing towards a class for the ages for the Buckeyes.
Without getting too far ahead of ourselves, Ohio State is already keeping an eye on future targets. Yesterday, the latest running back offer was dished out in the 2026 class to Georgia native Jonaz Walton.
A 5-foot-9, 200-pound athlete, Walton is a smaller back, but runs much larger than his stature. The No. 83 player nationally and eighth-best running back in the class per the 247Sports Composite grades, it’s easy to see why Ohio State is interested.
Programs such as Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Notre Dame, USC, Tennessee, Texas, and several others have thrown their name into the mix and while the Buckeyes are a little late to the party, surely they can make up for lost time as they the energy in this position group to spark an interest. More names will likely come up as Locklyn continues to get further into his new role, but here’s the latest worth paying attention to.
#AGTG I am blessed to have received an offer from @OhioStateFBpic.twitter.com/qAg1rZrti5
— Jonaz Walton (@JonazWalton) May 2, 2024
Getting closer and closer to sealing the deal
In-state running back Bo Jackson has been a theme as of late and Thursday was no different. The No. 72 player nationally and fifth best player at his position per the 247Sports Composite grades, it’s as clear as ever that Jackson is one of the two running backs that the Ohio State coaching staff is completely sold on and now it’s just a matter of sealing the deal and making him a part of this class.
On Thursday, Jackson announced that he is down to just three schools. Narrowing it to just Alabama, Georgia, and Ohio State, the Buckeyes have a great chance here, but know that they still have plenty of work to be done before they earn his commitment.
Set to visit Georgia on May 17, Jackson will spend his second trip at Ohio State from May 31-June 2, and Alabama from June 7-9. No, the Buckeyes don’t have the luxury of having the last scheduled visit, but being just a short trek from Cleveland, Bo can see the Buckeyes any time he wants and very well could make a return trip if needed.
As of now, Jackson and Locklyn are talking every other day according to Jackson and that should only continue, if it doesn’t soon turn into an everyday occurrence. Again, Ohio State isn’t out of the woods as the two other schools certainly aren’t just there for show, but you have to feel like the Buckeyes are going to be able to keep him home if they continue doing all the right things and make sure that he knows that he is a priority in this class.
Quick Hits:
Yesterday, Ohio State added Findlay, Ohio product Nate Riegel to their 2024 class as a preferred walk-on. A 6-foot-3, 210-pound athlete, Riegel projects as a linebacker at the next level and is a player that the Buckeyes are glad to have as a depth piece coming in. An unranked player in the 2024 cycle, Riegel clearly had interest from the Buckeyes and took his shot betting on himself.
A teammate of current Buckeye Luke Montgomery, odds are Riegel is cut from the same cloth and will be a player who works his tail off as he tries to show his worth once on campus.
Continue reading...
2026 OH LB Jakobe Clapper (Verbal Offer)
- By pnuts34
- Football Recruiting
- 0 Replies
247
Rivals
Twitter
HudL
Class: 2026
School: Cincinnati(OH) St. Xavier
Position: LB
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 200lbs
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Rivals
HudL
Class: 2026
School: Cincinnati(OH) St. Xavier
Position: LB
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 200lbs
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LGHL You’re Nuts: If Sean Stewart isn’t a Buckeye, who could Ohio State pivot to?
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You’re Nuts: If Sean Stewart isn’t a Buckeye, who could Ohio State pivot to?
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images
The Buckeyes are seeking reinforcements to their frontcourt even after the addition of Aaron Bradshaw.
On Wednesday night the clock struck midnight and the transfer portal closed, bringing an end to the four-week madness that is college basketball free agency.
Well, kind of.
As of midnight Wednesday, no players are able to enter their names into the transfer portal. However, all of the players who put their name in prior to the deadline are able to visit and speak with teams and take as long as they need to find a new school, as long as they’re enrolled before the semester begins.
The Ohio State men’s basketball team is still looking to add to its frontcourt after losing Zed Key and Felix Okpara to the portal. First-year head coach Jake Diebler and his staff added rising sophomore Aaron Bradshaw on April 15, but they are still looking to add someone who could potentially start at power forward as well as another center.
Last week, Connor and Justin debated which of the four new Big Ten teams has the best chance to win the conference in year one. 81% of the readers sided with Connor, who picked UCLA. 14% picked Oregon, 4% picked USC (Justin’s choice), and the final 1% picked the Washington Huskies.
Connor- 75
A former five-star recruit, McDonald’s All-American, and Duke blue-chipper, Sean Stewart is expected to announce where he is transferring in the next day or two. It is looking like Stewart is down to Ohio State, Georgetown, and Cincinnati, with the Buckeyes having the slightest edge over the other two.
But as we’ve seen over the past few years, nothing is a sure thing. The “leaders” don’t always land the recruit, especially in this new NIL age. Ohio State needs to add some size and athleticism, and Stewart would do that — plus he has three more years of eligibility.
If he doesn’t pick Ohio State, Diebler and his staff will have to pivot. Fortunately, there have been several very talented forwards hitting the portal over the last week or so. Stewart isn’t a “must-have” but someone who plays his position and can step in and contribute right away is a need.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25431290/2028788090.jpg "Brigham Young v Kansas State")
Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images
Arthur Kaluma is a plug-and-play forward who would be a starter on pretty much any team in the country, Ohio State included. He’s a 6-foot-7, 225-pound forward with a 7-foot wingspan who is a gifted scorer, versatile defender, and just an all-around bucket-getter.
Kaluma, who has one year of eligibility remaining, played two seasons at Creighton before transferring to Kansas State this past season. He is currently entered into the 2024 NBA Draft but did so last season as well before withdrawing and going to Kansas State. He had his best statistical season this past year, averaging 14.4 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists per game while playing a career-high 34.5 minutes per game (for reference, that’s more than even Bruce Thornton played last season).
He shot 42.7% overall and 34.5% from three-point range while taking 10.8 shots per game and 4.5 three-pointers per game. He is a career 72.8% free throw shooter.
Ohio State would likely have to beat out some of the biggest programs in the country to win the services of Kaluma. Before committing to Kansas State last spring, he was also considering Kentucky and Alabama. Since he is a big name and starred on two very good Creighton teams from 2021-2023, his NIL value is probably pretty high too. However, Ohio State was already able to pull one big-name player from the portal in Bradshaw. Perhaps they could do the same with Kaluma.
Everything makes sense with this fit. Kaluma is big enough and tall enough to play the four at the time, but could also play the three or even handle the ball if absolutely needed — he averaged two assists per game last season. His being on the floor would not hinder Devin Royal’s ability to play or the spacing with Royal. He’s also not a player who hangs around too much below the basket, so he won’t clog things up for Bradshaw, who could have a breakout sophomore season.
He’s not a knockdown three-point shooter, but he hit them at a modest clip (34.5%) last season with a large sample size. That shooting percentage would’ve made him Ohio State’s third-best three-point shooter last season among players who averaged at least 10 minutes per game.
Players with size who can also shoot and do a little bit of everything don’t grow on trees. I also don’t think that adding Stewart should take Ohio State out of the running for a player like Kaluma, but I know in all likelihood that it probably will if the stud sophomore from Florida commits to Ohio State this weekend.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25431285/2105477140.jpg "Samford v Kansas")
Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images
I will certainly not argue if Arthur Kaluma decides to bring his talents to Columbus and join Aaron Bradshaw to form one of the best frontcourts in the conference, but I have a guy who I think is an even better fit.
Achor Achor of Samford entered the transfer portal late in the process, and he could make Ohio State a preseason top-15 team in the country.
Achor is a 6-foot-9 forward who was a first-team All-Southern Conference pick this past season for the Samford Bulldogs. They finished 29-6 and reached the NCAA tournament for the first time in 24 years. Samford earned the No. 13 seed in the tournament and played No. 4 seed Kansas, where they nearly pulled off the upset. Achor recorded 23 points and eight rebounds on 9-for-22 shooting in the contest.
Achor averaged 16.1 points per game and 6.1 rebounds per game while shooting 58.6 percent from the field. He also shot the three-ball at an impressive 43.5 percent, the highest mark of his career.
Achor played two seasons at Chipola (Fla.) College and two seasons at Samford and has one year of eligibility remaining. He entered his name into the NBA draft and will be going through the draft process.
Achor has the size to help rebounding and the shooting to space the floor. If he were to start in a lineup with Bruce Thornton-Meechie Johnson-Micah Parrish-Aaron Bradshaw, that is five guys who can shoot the long ball, making for a nightmare matchup for the opposing defense.
Continue reading...
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images
The Buckeyes are seeking reinforcements to their frontcourt even after the addition of Aaron Bradshaw.
On Wednesday night the clock struck midnight and the transfer portal closed, bringing an end to the four-week madness that is college basketball free agency.
Well, kind of.
As of midnight Wednesday, no players are able to enter their names into the transfer portal. However, all of the players who put their name in prior to the deadline are able to visit and speak with teams and take as long as they need to find a new school, as long as they’re enrolled before the semester begins.
The Ohio State men’s basketball team is still looking to add to its frontcourt after losing Zed Key and Felix Okpara to the portal. First-year head coach Jake Diebler and his staff added rising sophomore Aaron Bradshaw on April 15, but they are still looking to add someone who could potentially start at power forward as well as another center.
Last week, Connor and Justin debated which of the four new Big Ten teams has the best chance to win the conference in year one. 81% of the readers sided with Connor, who picked UCLA. 14% picked Oregon, 4% picked USC (Justin’s choice), and the final 1% picked the Washington Huskies.
After 150 weeks:
Connor- 75
Justin- 55
Other- 16
(There have been four ties)
A former five-star recruit, McDonald’s All-American, and Duke blue-chipper, Sean Stewart is expected to announce where he is transferring in the next day or two. It is looking like Stewart is down to Ohio State, Georgetown, and Cincinnati, with the Buckeyes having the slightest edge over the other two.
But as we’ve seen over the past few years, nothing is a sure thing. The “leaders” don’t always land the recruit, especially in this new NIL age. Ohio State needs to add some size and athleticism, and Stewart would do that — plus he has three more years of eligibility.
If he doesn’t pick Ohio State, Diebler and his staff will have to pivot. Fortunately, there have been several very talented forwards hitting the portal over the last week or so. Stewart isn’t a “must-have” but someone who plays his position and can step in and contribute right away is a need.
This week’s question: If Sean Stewart isn’t a Buckeye, who could Ohio State pivot to?
Connor: Arthur Kaluma
Arthur Kaluma is a plug-and-play forward who would be a starter on pretty much any team in the country, Ohio State included. He’s a 6-foot-7, 225-pound forward with a 7-foot wingspan who is a gifted scorer, versatile defender, and just an all-around bucket-getter.
Kaluma, who has one year of eligibility remaining, played two seasons at Creighton before transferring to Kansas State this past season. He is currently entered into the 2024 NBA Draft but did so last season as well before withdrawing and going to Kansas State. He had his best statistical season this past year, averaging 14.4 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists per game while playing a career-high 34.5 minutes per game (for reference, that’s more than even Bruce Thornton played last season).
He shot 42.7% overall and 34.5% from three-point range while taking 10.8 shots per game and 4.5 three-pointers per game. He is a career 72.8% free throw shooter.
Ohio State would likely have to beat out some of the biggest programs in the country to win the services of Kaluma. Before committing to Kansas State last spring, he was also considering Kentucky and Alabama. Since he is a big name and starred on two very good Creighton teams from 2021-2023, his NIL value is probably pretty high too. However, Ohio State was already able to pull one big-name player from the portal in Bradshaw. Perhaps they could do the same with Kaluma.
Everything makes sense with this fit. Kaluma is big enough and tall enough to play the four at the time, but could also play the three or even handle the ball if absolutely needed — he averaged two assists per game last season. His being on the floor would not hinder Devin Royal’s ability to play or the spacing with Royal. He’s also not a player who hangs around too much below the basket, so he won’t clog things up for Bradshaw, who could have a breakout sophomore season.
He’s not a knockdown three-point shooter, but he hit them at a modest clip (34.5%) last season with a large sample size. That shooting percentage would’ve made him Ohio State’s third-best three-point shooter last season among players who averaged at least 10 minutes per game.
Players with size who can also shoot and do a little bit of everything don’t grow on trees. I also don’t think that adding Stewart should take Ohio State out of the running for a player like Kaluma, but I know in all likelihood that it probably will if the stud sophomore from Florida commits to Ohio State this weekend.
Justin: Achor Achor
I will certainly not argue if Arthur Kaluma decides to bring his talents to Columbus and join Aaron Bradshaw to form one of the best frontcourts in the conference, but I have a guy who I think is an even better fit.
Achor Achor of Samford entered the transfer portal late in the process, and he could make Ohio State a preseason top-15 team in the country.
Achor is a 6-foot-9 forward who was a first-team All-Southern Conference pick this past season for the Samford Bulldogs. They finished 29-6 and reached the NCAA tournament for the first time in 24 years. Samford earned the No. 13 seed in the tournament and played No. 4 seed Kansas, where they nearly pulled off the upset. Achor recorded 23 points and eight rebounds on 9-for-22 shooting in the contest.
Achor averaged 16.1 points per game and 6.1 rebounds per game while shooting 58.6 percent from the field. He also shot the three-ball at an impressive 43.5 percent, the highest mark of his career.
Achor played two seasons at Chipola (Fla.) College and two seasons at Samford and has one year of eligibility remaining. He entered his name into the NBA draft and will be going through the draft process.
Achor has the size to help rebounding and the shooting to space the floor. If he were to start in a lineup with Bruce Thornton-Meechie Johnson-Micah Parrish-Aaron Bradshaw, that is five guys who can shoot the long ball, making for a nightmare matchup for the opposing defense.
Continue reading...
PF Sean Stewart (Official Thread)
- By ScriptOhio
- Buckeye Basketball
- 15 Replies
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Ohio State men's basketball coach Jake Diebler added another big piece to the roster for his first full season as coach when he landed Duke forward Sean Stewart out of the transfer portal today.
The 6-9, 227-pound Stewart was a McDonald's All-American a year ago, when he was ranked as the nation's No. 22 overall prospect in the 2023 class by 247Sports. Stewart, a native of Windemere, Fla., is the son of former Cal-Berkeley forward and eight-year NBA veteran Michael Stewart.
Stewart possesses relatively average height for a power forward at 6-9 but his leaping ability and elite athleticism allow him to play above that size, as he broke Zion Williamson's school record for standing vertical leap at Duke by jumping 36 inches.
In his one season at Duke, Sean Stewart played behind All-American center Kyle Filipowski and a pair of veterans in Mark Mitchell and Ryan Young. He saw action in 33 of the team's 36 games, averaging 8.4 minutes, 2.6 points and 3.2 rebounds. He hit on 57 percent of his shots from the floor over the course of the year.
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.
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Stewart has three years of eligibility remaining. Below is a look at Ohio State's scholarship status going into the 2024-25 season:
* Seniors (2): G Meechie Johnson (6-2), G Micah Parrish (6-6)
* Juniors (3): G Bruce Thornton (6-2), G Evan Mahaffey (6-6), F Kalen Etzler (6-8)
* Sophomores (5): G Taison Chatman, F Devin Royal (6-6), C Austin Parks (6-10), C Aaron Bradshaw (7-1), F Sean Stewart (6-9)
* Freshmen (2): G Juni Mobley (6-0), G Colin White (6-6)
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Ohio State men's basketball coach Jake Diebler added another big piece to the roster for his first full season as coach when he landed Duke forward Sean Stewart out of the transfer portal today.
The 6-9, 227-pound Stewart was a McDonald's All-American a year ago, when he was ranked as the nation's No. 22 overall prospect in the 2023 class by 247Sports. Stewart, a native of Windemere, Fla., is the son of former Cal-Berkeley forward and eight-year NBA veteran Michael Stewart.
Stewart possesses relatively average height for a power forward at 6-9 but his leaping ability and elite athleticism allow him to play above that size, as he broke Zion Williamson's school record for standing vertical leap at Duke by jumping 36 inches.
In his one season at Duke, Sean Stewart played behind All-American center Kyle Filipowski and a pair of veterans in Mark Mitchell and Ryan Young. He saw action in 33 of the team's 36 games, averaging 8.4 minutes, 2.6 points and 3.2 rebounds. He hit on 57 percent of his shots from the floor over the course of the year.
.
.
.
Stewart has three years of eligibility remaining. Below is a look at Ohio State's scholarship status going into the 2024-25 season:
* Seniors (2): G Meechie Johnson (6-2), G Micah Parrish (6-6)
* Juniors (3): G Bruce Thornton (6-2), G Evan Mahaffey (6-6), F Kalen Etzler (6-8)
* Sophomores (5): G Taison Chatman, F Devin Royal (6-6), C Austin Parks (6-10), C Aaron Bradshaw (7-1), F Sean Stewart (6-9)
* Freshmen (2): G Juni Mobley (6-0), G Colin White (6-6)
LGHL BOOM! Ohio State lands a transfer commitment from Duke forward, former top-20 recruit Sean Stewart
- News
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BOOM! Ohio State lands a transfer commitment from Duke forward, former top-20 recruit Sean Stewart
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
Stewart is the second former McDonald’s All-American to join the Buckeyes in the past three weeks.
Up until about three weeks ago, Ohio State hadn’t had a McDonald’s All-American on the roster since D’Angelo Russell back in 2014. On April 15, the Buckeyes picked up a former All-American in Kentucky transfer Aaron Bradshaw. Now Ohio State has two, as former Duke forward Sean Stewart announced today that he, too, would be transferring to play for first-year head coach Jake Diebler and the Buckeyes.
The 6-foot-9, 230-pound forward played this past season at Duke, appearing in 33 of the Blue Devils’ 36 games while averaging 2.6 points and 3.2 rebounds per game in 8.4 minutes per contest. He visited Ohio State the weekend of April 27-28, and chose the Buckeyes over dozens of programs, including Michigan, Cincinnati, Kentucky, Arkansas, and Baylor. Ohio State was one of the most aggressive schools that recruited Stewart in high school before he committed to Duke in December 2021. Stewart will have three years of eligibility remaining.
Stewart is from Windermere, Florida and played at Windermere High School as well as national powerhouse Montverde Academy. He was a McDonald’s All-American and scored six points in the All-American game last year. Stewart was the No. 17 overall player in the 2023 class, the second-highest rated player in Florida and the fifth-highest rated power forward in the class. He was a five-star recruit, per 247Sports composite rankings.
In 33 games, Stewart shot 57.1% from the floor, with all of his shots coming inside the arc. For comparison, Felix Okpara shot 58.6% this past season and Zed Key shot 50.9%. He had nearly as many offensive rebounds (44) as defensive rebounds (61), and showed the ability to disrupt teams on the offensive glass and finish difficult putbacks in traffic. He also averaged 0.5 blocks per game in just over 8 minutes per game, which could extrapolate out to 1.5-to-2 blocks per game this season depending on how heavy he is relied on for the Buckeyes this year. He shot 53.6% from the free throw line, but only attempted 28 free throws all season.
Stewart competed with a committee of guys who played his position or a similar position last season, including All-American Kyle Filipowski, fellow McDonald’s All-American Mark Mitchell, and former Northwestern Wildcat Ryan Young. He did all of his work around or near the basket last season, but was more of an opportunistic scorer rather than someone who Duke ran set plays for. Many of Stewart’s baskets came on offensive rebounds or transition lobs, rather than designed post-ups below the basket.
Even at 230 pounds, Stewart showed the ability and willingness to hustle down the floor and make himself available in the transition offense. He is a solid and smart cutter, getting to open space around the basket as soon as it is vacated to make himself available for lobs and entry passes.
Stewart’s best statistical performance of the season came during Duke’s 95-66 win over LaSalle on November 21, 2023. The freshman played 18 minutes, scoring a career-high 16 points and grabbing a career-high 10 rebounds for his first collegiate double-double. He also played well in Duke’s 79-64 road win over NC State on March 4, putting up a line of 12 points, five rebounds, three blocks, and two steals in a season-high 26 minutes.
With Bradshaw in the mix to start at center, Stewart would likely see most minutes at power forward as well as some minutes at center if Ohio State’s second McDonald’s All-American is off the floor. While he didn’t get much of an opportunity to showcase his offensive bag last season, Diebler will need Stewart to do a lot more than just convert dunks in transition and grab offensive rebounds for an Ohio State team that’s hoping to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2022. Clearly, Diebler is trying to compile as much raw talent as possible and is hoping to convert that into a dominant team in an expanded Big Ten this year.
Stewart is the fourth player to transfer to Ohio State this summer, joining Meechie Johnson (South Carolina), Micah Parrish (San Diego State), and Bradshaw (Kentucky). Ohio State now has one scholarship remaining for the 2024-2025 season.
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Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
Stewart is the second former McDonald’s All-American to join the Buckeyes in the past three weeks.
Up until about three weeks ago, Ohio State hadn’t had a McDonald’s All-American on the roster since D’Angelo Russell back in 2014. On April 15, the Buckeyes picked up a former All-American in Kentucky transfer Aaron Bradshaw. Now Ohio State has two, as former Duke forward Sean Stewart announced today that he, too, would be transferring to play for first-year head coach Jake Diebler and the Buckeyes.
BREAKING: Duke transfer forward Sean Stewart, a former 5
— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) May 3, 2024
The 6-foot-9, 230-pound forward played this past season at Duke, appearing in 33 of the Blue Devils’ 36 games while averaging 2.6 points and 3.2 rebounds per game in 8.4 minutes per contest. He visited Ohio State the weekend of April 27-28, and chose the Buckeyes over dozens of programs, including Michigan, Cincinnati, Kentucky, Arkansas, and Baylor. Ohio State was one of the most aggressive schools that recruited Stewart in high school before he committed to Duke in December 2021. Stewart will have three years of eligibility remaining.
Stewart is from Windermere, Florida and played at Windermere High School as well as national powerhouse Montverde Academy. He was a McDonald’s All-American and scored six points in the All-American game last year. Stewart was the No. 17 overall player in the 2023 class, the second-highest rated player in Florida and the fifth-highest rated power forward in the class. He was a five-star recruit, per 247Sports composite rankings.
In 33 games, Stewart shot 57.1% from the floor, with all of his shots coming inside the arc. For comparison, Felix Okpara shot 58.6% this past season and Zed Key shot 50.9%. He had nearly as many offensive rebounds (44) as defensive rebounds (61), and showed the ability to disrupt teams on the offensive glass and finish difficult putbacks in traffic. He also averaged 0.5 blocks per game in just over 8 minutes per game, which could extrapolate out to 1.5-to-2 blocks per game this season depending on how heavy he is relied on for the Buckeyes this year. He shot 53.6% from the free throw line, but only attempted 28 free throws all season.
Stewart competed with a committee of guys who played his position or a similar position last season, including All-American Kyle Filipowski, fellow McDonald’s All-American Mark Mitchell, and former Northwestern Wildcat Ryan Young. He did all of his work around or near the basket last season, but was more of an opportunistic scorer rather than someone who Duke ran set plays for. Many of Stewart’s baskets came on offensive rebounds or transition lobs, rather than designed post-ups below the basket.
Even at 230 pounds, Stewart showed the ability and willingness to hustle down the floor and make himself available in the transition offense. He is a solid and smart cutter, getting to open space around the basket as soon as it is vacated to make himself available for lobs and entry passes.
Stewart’s best statistical performance of the season came during Duke’s 95-66 win over LaSalle on November 21, 2023. The freshman played 18 minutes, scoring a career-high 16 points and grabbing a career-high 10 rebounds for his first collegiate double-double. He also played well in Duke’s 79-64 road win over NC State on March 4, putting up a line of 12 points, five rebounds, three blocks, and two steals in a season-high 26 minutes.
With Bradshaw in the mix to start at center, Stewart would likely see most minutes at power forward as well as some minutes at center if Ohio State’s second McDonald’s All-American is off the floor. While he didn’t get much of an opportunity to showcase his offensive bag last season, Diebler will need Stewart to do a lot more than just convert dunks in transition and grab offensive rebounds for an Ohio State team that’s hoping to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2022. Clearly, Diebler is trying to compile as much raw talent as possible and is hoping to convert that into a dominant team in an expanded Big Ten this year.
Stewart is the fourth player to transfer to Ohio State this summer, joining Meechie Johnson (South Carolina), Micah Parrish (San Diego State), and Bradshaw (Kentucky). Ohio State now has one scholarship remaining for the 2024-2025 season.
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