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LGHL Looking ahead to the 2024-25 Ohio State women’s basketball team
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Looking ahead to the 2024-25 Ohio State women’s basketball team
ThomasCostello 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
What will the roster look like at each position, and is there a name in the portal who can help fill a need?
Lately, the news surrounding Ohio State women’s basketball has all focused on exits. First, it was from the NCAA Tournament, losing in the Second Round to the Duke Blue Devils, after going up 16 points in the first half. Then, the hiring of assistant coach Wesley Brooks to lead Utah State’s program. On the court, it was three transfer portal announcements, with the third hitting fans the worst of all.
Where does all of this leave the Buckeyes next season? Here’s the good, the bad, and the unknown...
The biggest hit this offseason is in the backcourt. For five years, Jacy Sheldon has led the Scarlet and Gray offensively and defensively. Now, the career Buckeye is gone, destined for professional basketball. Along with Sheldon is one-year Ohio State guard Celeste Taylor. The shooting guard who led the Big Ten in defensive rating and steals joins Sheldon in the WNBA Draft pool of available players.
Those were the involuntary departures, after all NCAA eligibility only goes so far. However, all three transfers depleted the guard numbers for the Buckeyes.
Emma Shumate and Diana Collins were the first two in the portal. Both players found time on the court this year, but not consistently or as much as both themselves and fans would’ve liked. Shumate averaged 9.6 minutes, and Collins slightly more with 9.9.
Their absence made sense for the 2023-24 season. After all, the underclassmen were behind a group of five guards with Sheldon, Taylor, Madison Greene, Rikki Harris, and Taylor Thierry. There are, of course, arguments for creating stronger depth, but those are now a moot point with the pair looking for greener pastures outside of Columbus.
Even with the transfer announcements, there was still a strong returning group and a pair of incoming freshmen. Unfortunately for the Buckeyes, it took a hit Wednesday when Harris added her name to the list of players going into the portal.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25370627/usa_today_22077895.jpg "Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch")
Clare Grant/The Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Harris only missed one game for Ohio State this season due to illness. For all other 31 games, Harris came off the bench to provide defense, being an occasional deep shooting threat and doing whatever was needed for head coach Kevin McGuff.
The five-year Buckeye, one season as a redshirt, has played every position but center in the last three seasons, showing versatility and leadership through the years.
That transfer especially adds a wrinkle to next season’s team.
Next season’s Ohio State team will have Greene as the lone guard anchor. Thierry plays a third-guard role but doesn’t fit a single position. The soon-to-be senior plays everywhere on the court and doesn’t fit a traditional guard role. There’s also sophomore Kaia Henderson and redshirt Kennedy Cambridge.
Henderson played 111 minutes in two seasons, averaging 4.5 minutes for the Buckeyes this season, all in moments where the game was not competitive. For Cambridge, she was redshirted by Coach McGuff, giving her three seasons with Ohio State. Before the Buckeyes, Cambridge played for the Kentucky Wildcats and prides herself on her defensive ability.
Greene’s natural position is point guard, but knee injuries have plagued the redshirt senior. Due to season-ending knee injuries in two consecutive seasons, the Pickerington, Ohio native didn’t start a game this season but contributed off the bench.
Alongside the duo of Greene and Henderson, the only expected guards on the roster are freshmen, but one has the potential to be extraordinary.
Jaloni Cambridge, Kennedy Cambridge’s younger sister, has all the potential to come into the Buckeyes’ side and start day one as Coach McGuff’s point guard. At the McDonald’s All-American game on Tuesday, Cambridge showed her abilities. Cambridge runs the court while reading it, drawing attention and finding teammates or turning on another gear to get to the basket.
That could mean Greene slides over to a shooting guard role or the Buckeyes are active in the transfer portal and bring in a starting-caliber guard to strengthen the position.
Plus, incoming four-star freshman Ava Watson. The Georgia native won the player of the year honor for her region in high school. Will she go the way of other guards like Shumate and Collins who entered the team and left without seeing the court?
Regardless of who’s coming in, it wasn’t going to be possible to immediately replace the impact of Sheldon and Taylor, but due to transfers, the position has more question marks around it.
Before all the transfer announcements, the forward role was the one needing the most attention. Outside of returning forward Cotie McMahon, who publicly committed to staying with Ohio State, the turnover was big.
The Buckeyes lost Rebeka Mikulášiková, Taiyier Parks, and Eboni Walker, for whom Ohio State was trying to find an extra redshirt-eligible season, but as of publishing, there’s no update on that status.
That leaves an obvious gap at the five-position. Mikulášiková played the de facto center position over the last three seasons, playing more games than any other Buckeye in that timespan. Parks came in last season as reinforcement, playing a more physical, traditional, post position compared to Mikulášiková’s Euro forward deep shooting threat.
Especially without Walker, who left the team late in the season, only to return for the NCAA Tournament, Ohio State’s an obvious candidate for a big in the transfer portal. Only one player on the current roster fits the post-player model, freshman Faith Carson.
Carson joined the Buckeyes as a freshman but sat behind three other post players in the depth chart. That and a midseason injury absence meant Carson only played 1.7 minutes per game in seven appearances.
Thierry is the likeliest name to slide into that starting five-position. In smaller sets, Coach McGuff’s used Thierry as the team’s center because of her jumping ability and agility, but that’s not sustainable in a conference featuring strong post players like Illinois Fighting Illini’s Kendall Bostic and UCLA center Lauren Betts.
Outside of any transfers, Ohio State brings in three freshmen to reinforce the position. Forwards Ella Hobbs, Seini Hicks and Elsa Lemmilä.
Hobbs and Lemmilä will be in the group of players, with Carson, inside the paint. Hobbs is a 6-foot-3 forward out of Concord, North Carolina, who will bring physicality. The incoming freshman can back players into the post, hit shots inside, or find teammates around the arc.
Lemmilä is a 6-foot-6 Finnish youth international who has agility in the paint and size the Buckeyes haven’t had in years. Could either of the two earn a spot starting, due to the light depth chart?
No matter which way McGuff goes, rebounding is an area the team’s lacked consistency in for the past three seasons.
Here’s how the team roster looks, at the time of publishing:
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25370736/24_25_roster.jpg)
The question on every college basketball fan’s mind is the transfer portal. Especially for Buckeye fans considering the recent losses to the roster.
On Wednesday, an Ohioan’s addition to the portal grabbed attention. Oregon Ducks’ sophomore Grace VanSlooten, out of Toledo, Ohio, announced her intent to leave.
VanSlooten, who entered the NCAA out of IMG Academy in Florida, was the No. 14 ranked prospect out of high school, choosing to go to the Pacific Northwest. This season, the 6-foot-3 forward averaged 15 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game for the Ducks. She also has experience playing with an Ohio State star.
In the 2023 offseason, VanSlooten also played alongside McMahon on Team USA’s U19 side. The pair of Ohioans brought home gold for the Red, White & Blue at the U19 World Cup, in Spain. Also in 2022, in Argentina at the U18 FIBA Americas Cup, also bringing home gold.
Could VanSlooten follow in the footsteps of former Buckeye Taylor Mikesell and leave Oregon for her home in Ohio? She is one of hundreds of players in the portal, all looking for another school.
With the Buckeyes’ season over, McGuff is already in General Manager mode. It’s likely that the roster fans see now, including incoming freshmen, could look much different by the time games start in the late fall.
Continue reading...
ThomasCostello 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
What will the roster look like at each position, and is there a name in the portal who can help fill a need?
Lately, the news surrounding Ohio State women’s basketball has all focused on exits. First, it was from the NCAA Tournament, losing in the Second Round to the Duke Blue Devils, after going up 16 points in the first half. Then, the hiring of assistant coach Wesley Brooks to lead Utah State’s program. On the court, it was three transfer portal announcements, with the third hitting fans the worst of all.
Where does all of this leave the Buckeyes next season? Here’s the good, the bad, and the unknown...
Guards
The biggest hit this offseason is in the backcourt. For five years, Jacy Sheldon has led the Scarlet and Gray offensively and defensively. Now, the career Buckeye is gone, destined for professional basketball. Along with Sheldon is one-year Ohio State guard Celeste Taylor. The shooting guard who led the Big Ten in defensive rating and steals joins Sheldon in the WNBA Draft pool of available players.
Those were the involuntary departures, after all NCAA eligibility only goes so far. However, all three transfers depleted the guard numbers for the Buckeyes.
Emma Shumate and Diana Collins were the first two in the portal. Both players found time on the court this year, but not consistently or as much as both themselves and fans would’ve liked. Shumate averaged 9.6 minutes, and Collins slightly more with 9.9.
Their absence made sense for the 2023-24 season. After all, the underclassmen were behind a group of five guards with Sheldon, Taylor, Madison Greene, Rikki Harris, and Taylor Thierry. There are, of course, arguments for creating stronger depth, but those are now a moot point with the pair looking for greener pastures outside of Columbus.
Even with the transfer announcements, there was still a strong returning group and a pair of incoming freshmen. Unfortunately for the Buckeyes, it took a hit Wednesday when Harris added her name to the list of players going into the portal.
Harris only missed one game for Ohio State this season due to illness. For all other 31 games, Harris came off the bench to provide defense, being an occasional deep shooting threat and doing whatever was needed for head coach Kevin McGuff.
The five-year Buckeye, one season as a redshirt, has played every position but center in the last three seasons, showing versatility and leadership through the years.
That transfer especially adds a wrinkle to next season’s team.
Next season’s Ohio State team will have Greene as the lone guard anchor. Thierry plays a third-guard role but doesn’t fit a single position. The soon-to-be senior plays everywhere on the court and doesn’t fit a traditional guard role. There’s also sophomore Kaia Henderson and redshirt Kennedy Cambridge.
Henderson played 111 minutes in two seasons, averaging 4.5 minutes for the Buckeyes this season, all in moments where the game was not competitive. For Cambridge, she was redshirted by Coach McGuff, giving her three seasons with Ohio State. Before the Buckeyes, Cambridge played for the Kentucky Wildcats and prides herself on her defensive ability.
Greene’s natural position is point guard, but knee injuries have plagued the redshirt senior. Due to season-ending knee injuries in two consecutive seasons, the Pickerington, Ohio native didn’t start a game this season but contributed off the bench.
Alongside the duo of Greene and Henderson, the only expected guards on the roster are freshmen, but one has the potential to be extraordinary.
Jaloni Cambridge, Kennedy Cambridge’s younger sister, has all the potential to come into the Buckeyes’ side and start day one as Coach McGuff’s point guard. At the McDonald’s All-American game on Tuesday, Cambridge showed her abilities. Cambridge runs the court while reading it, drawing attention and finding teammates or turning on another gear to get to the basket.
That could mean Greene slides over to a shooting guard role or the Buckeyes are active in the transfer portal and bring in a starting-caliber guard to strengthen the position.
Plus, incoming four-star freshman Ava Watson. The Georgia native won the player of the year honor for her region in high school. Will she go the way of other guards like Shumate and Collins who entered the team and left without seeing the court?
Regardless of who’s coming in, it wasn’t going to be possible to immediately replace the impact of Sheldon and Taylor, but due to transfers, the position has more question marks around it.
Forwards and Center
Before all the transfer announcements, the forward role was the one needing the most attention. Outside of returning forward Cotie McMahon, who publicly committed to staying with Ohio State, the turnover was big.
The Buckeyes lost Rebeka Mikulášiková, Taiyier Parks, and Eboni Walker, for whom Ohio State was trying to find an extra redshirt-eligible season, but as of publishing, there’s no update on that status.
That leaves an obvious gap at the five-position. Mikulášiková played the de facto center position over the last three seasons, playing more games than any other Buckeye in that timespan. Parks came in last season as reinforcement, playing a more physical, traditional, post position compared to Mikulášiková’s Euro forward deep shooting threat.
Especially without Walker, who left the team late in the season, only to return for the NCAA Tournament, Ohio State’s an obvious candidate for a big in the transfer portal. Only one player on the current roster fits the post-player model, freshman Faith Carson.
Carson joined the Buckeyes as a freshman but sat behind three other post players in the depth chart. That and a midseason injury absence meant Carson only played 1.7 minutes per game in seven appearances.
Thierry is the likeliest name to slide into that starting five-position. In smaller sets, Coach McGuff’s used Thierry as the team’s center because of her jumping ability and agility, but that’s not sustainable in a conference featuring strong post players like Illinois Fighting Illini’s Kendall Bostic and UCLA center Lauren Betts.
Outside of any transfers, Ohio State brings in three freshmen to reinforce the position. Forwards Ella Hobbs, Seini Hicks and Elsa Lemmilä.
Hobbs and Lemmilä will be in the group of players, with Carson, inside the paint. Hobbs is a 6-foot-3 forward out of Concord, North Carolina, who will bring physicality. The incoming freshman can back players into the post, hit shots inside, or find teammates around the arc.
Lemmilä is a 6-foot-6 Finnish youth international who has agility in the paint and size the Buckeyes haven’t had in years. Could either of the two earn a spot starting, due to the light depth chart?
No matter which way McGuff goes, rebounding is an area the team’s lacked consistency in for the past three seasons.
Here’s how the team roster looks, at the time of publishing:
Incoming Transfers
The question on every college basketball fan’s mind is the transfer portal. Especially for Buckeye fans considering the recent losses to the roster.
On Wednesday, an Ohioan’s addition to the portal grabbed attention. Oregon Ducks’ sophomore Grace VanSlooten, out of Toledo, Ohio, announced her intent to leave.
VanSlooten, who entered the NCAA out of IMG Academy in Florida, was the No. 14 ranked prospect out of high school, choosing to go to the Pacific Northwest. This season, the 6-foot-3 forward averaged 15 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game for the Ducks. She also has experience playing with an Ohio State star.
In the 2023 offseason, VanSlooten also played alongside McMahon on Team USA’s U19 side. The pair of Ohioans brought home gold for the Red, White & Blue at the U19 World Cup, in Spain. Also in 2022, in Argentina at the U18 FIBA Americas Cup, also bringing home gold.
Could VanSlooten follow in the footsteps of former Buckeye Taylor Mikesell and leave Oregon for her home in Ohio? She is one of hundreds of players in the portal, all looking for another school.
With the Buckeyes’ season over, McGuff is already in General Manager mode. It’s likely that the roster fans see now, including incoming freshmen, could look much different by the time games start in the late fall.
Continue reading...
2025 IL RB Dierre Hill (Oregon Signee)
- By pnuts34
- Football Recruiting
- 2 Replies
247
Rivals
Twitter
HudL
Class: 2025
Position: RB
School: Belleville(IL) Althoff Catholic
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 180lbs
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Rivals
HudL
Class: 2025
Position: RB
School: Belleville(IL) Althoff Catholic
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 180lbs
Login to view embedded media
College Basketball Crown
- By ScriptOhio
- Buckeye Basketball
- 0 Replies
FOX Sports and AEG Unveil New 16-Team College Basketball Postseason Tournament, College Basketball Crown, That Will Include Big Ten Teams
A new postseason college basketball tournament called the College Basketball Crown will include multiple Big Ten teams that don’t make the NCAA Tournament.
TEAM COLLEGE BASKETBALL POSTSEASON TOURNAMENT, COLLEGE BASKETBALL CROWN, THAT WILL INCLUDE BIG TEN TEAMS
FOX Sports will soon provide an extra postseason destination for teams that don’t make the NCAA Tournament.
This week, the network and its partner, AEG, announced their creation of the College Basketball Crown, a 16-team postseason tournament that will start in 2025.
Login to view embedded media
According to FOX Sports’ press release, the 16-team, single-elimination bracket will feature teams from the Big Ten, Big 12, and Big East and include other at-large bids. Two teams from each of the Big Ten, Big 12 and Big East will receive automatic bids into the tournament, which is positioned to be a competitor to the NIT.
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MGM Grand Garden Arena and T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas will host the tournament. As of now, it is unclear if the new tournament will affect the selection process for the NIT.
“The Big Ten Conference looks forward to competing in the inaugural College Basketball Crown,” Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti said in a statement. “It is sure to be an exciting post-season opportunity for our student-athletes, coaches and fans across the country.”
LGHL Hangout in the Holy Land Podcast: March Madness delivers, Jeremiah Smith balls out, and Ryan Day poaches a Duck
- News
- 0 Replies
Hangout in the Holy Land Podcast: March Madness delivers, Jeremiah Smith balls out, and Ryan Day poaches a Duck
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
The new Hangout crew discusses the unquestioned awesomeness of the NCAA basketball tournament(s), as well as the potential of Jeremiah Smith and Ryan Day’s most recent coaching hire.
The latest episode of Land-Grant Holy Land’s flagship podcast is here! Join LGHL’s Josh Dooley and Justin Golba as they discuss Ohio State football, basketball, recruiting, and much, much more! Come for the hot takes, stay for the warm ones.
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
On this episode of “Hangout in the Holy Land,” Josh and Justin discuss the respective NCAA Tournaments and what makes them both great. Are we headed for inevitable UConn and South Carolina titles, or can someone step up and take down the favorites?
Then, we moved on to the Buckeyes men’s basketball team, talked about the transfer portal, and reacted to breaking news as we were recording.
To close, we discuss the Buckeyes football team and the recent praise of Jeremiah Smith, CJ Hicks, and Sonny Styles.
NOTE: This was recorded before Roddy Gayle entered the transfer portal, and does not consist of our thoughts on that.
Please make sure to like, rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast! And as always, Go Bucks!
Connect with the pod
Twitter: @HolyLandPod
Connect with Josh Dooley
Twitter: @jdooleybuckeye
Connect with Justin Golba
Twitter: @justin_golba
Continue reading...
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
The new Hangout crew discusses the unquestioned awesomeness of the NCAA basketball tournament(s), as well as the potential of Jeremiah Smith and Ryan Day’s most recent coaching hire.
The latest episode of Land-Grant Holy Land’s flagship podcast is here! Join LGHL’s Josh Dooley and Justin Golba as they discuss Ohio State football, basketball, recruiting, and much, much more! Come for the hot takes, stay for the warm ones.
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
On this episode of “Hangout in the Holy Land,” Josh and Justin discuss the respective NCAA Tournaments and what makes them both great. Are we headed for inevitable UConn and South Carolina titles, or can someone step up and take down the favorites?
Then, we moved on to the Buckeyes men’s basketball team, talked about the transfer portal, and reacted to breaking news as we were recording.
To close, we discuss the Buckeyes football team and the recent praise of Jeremiah Smith, CJ Hicks, and Sonny Styles.
NOTE: This was recorded before Roddy Gayle entered the transfer portal, and does not consist of our thoughts on that.
Please make sure to like, rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast! And as always, Go Bucks!
Connect with the pod
Twitter: @HolyLandPod
Connect with Josh Dooley
Twitter: @jdooleybuckeye
Connect with Justin Golba
Twitter: @justin_golba
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State makes top schools for trio of four-stars, sends out more new offers
- News
- 0 Replies
Ohio State makes top schools for trio of four-stars, sends out more new offers
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
2025 RB Shekai Mills-Knight | Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel, USA Today
The Buckeyes also received a pair of predictions for two big 2025 prospects.
It was another super busy day for Ohio State on the recruiting trail on Wednesday. The Buckeyes, as they have done so often this offseason, seemed to dominate the headlines, with a trio of four-star prospects listing the program among their top schools, two new offers in both the 2025 and 2026 classes, and two more predictions in their favor for guys near the top of the staff’s big board.
Kicking things off with the top schools lists, the first prospect on Wednesday to include Ohio State among his final potential suitors was in-state running back Marquise Davis.
Davis, a four-star prospect as the No. 13 RB and No. 172 player overall in the 2025 class, has been an interesting recruitment to follow. Cutting his list down from over 30 offers to 10 final programs, Ohio State did make the cut. However, with Davis’ strong relationship with Tony Alford and not much to speak of with new running backs coach Carlos Locklyn (Davis does not have an offer from Oregon) the Buckeyes are likely not in the driver’s seat right now.
While the Wolverines seem to be the frontrunner for the Cleveland native now that Alford is in Ann Arbor, there is still a ton of time left before signing day for Locklyn to start building that relationship and sway things back in Ohio State’s favor. Elsewhere at the position, the Buckeyes remain heavily involved with both Jordan Davison and Bo Jackson, the No. 7 and No. 5 RB in the country, respectively — both of whom have a strong prior relationship with Locklyn.
On the defensive side of the ball, two 2025 talents including Ohio State among their top schools, starting with four-star linebacker Jaedon Harmon.
Ohio State was a late entrant in the recruitment for the No. 26 LB and No. 194 player overall in the cycle, having only offered Harmon in late February, but James Laurinaitis and the staff have clearly made enough of an impact to be included among his top 10 schools. The 6-foot-1, 215-pound linebacker was the first official offer for Laurinaitis since his promotion to a full-time position coach, and the Georgia native was in Columbus visiting the Buckeyes the weekend before last.
The other defensive player with Ohio State listed in his top group is four-star cornerback Dorian Barney.
Still just a high school sophomore, Barney ranks as the No. 3 CB and No. 32 overall player in the 2026 class. The 6-foot-1 defensive back out of Georgia has put together an impressive offer sheet of over 35 programs, and cutting his list down to only a dozen this early on shows he is getting serious about his recruitment. With four unofficial visits scheduled this month, coming off a trip to Florida State with a visit to South Carolina on the docket for Thursday, Barney will be at Ohio State on April 13.
Tim Walton is obviously on one hell of a run right now, with commitments from both the No. 1 and No. 2 corners in the country in the 2025 class in Devin Sanchez and Na’eem Offord, respectively. The Buckeyes’ position coach would love to get a head start on another big haul in 2026 by adding a borderline five-star and top-five player positionally in Barney, and the staff will look to continue building that relationship with the talented DB moving forward.
In addition to all the top schools lists, Ohio State also sent out a pair of new offers on Wednesday. One of the two went to 2025 running back Shekai Mills-Knight.
The first official offer for Locklyn as the Buckeyes’ position coach, Mills-Knight ranks as the No. 29 RB in the country and the No. 14 player out of Tennessee in the cycle. Hailing from the same high school as current Ohio State freshman offensive lineman Max LeBlanc, the 6-foot-2 ball-carrier already held a strong relationship with OSU’s new RB coach, and the duo appear to be keeping that going now that Locklyn is in Columbus.
The other official offer on Wednesday went out to 2026 athlete Jordan Thomas.
A top-100 player as just a high school sophomore, Thomas currently ranks as the No. 15 ATH and No. 99 player overall per the 247Sports Composite, as well as the No. 2 player out of New Jersey in the cycle. Playing both wide receiver and defensive back at Bergen Catholic, Ohio State is recruiting Thomas on the defensive side of the ball. The offer from the Buckeyes is his 16th early in the process, with schools like Florida, Miami, Michigan, Penn State, Tennessee and others also getting in the mix.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25370201/Screenshot_2024_04_03_at_9.26.01_PM.png)
Continue reading...
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
2025 RB Shekai Mills-Knight | Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel, USA Today
The Buckeyes also received a pair of predictions for two big 2025 prospects.
It was another super busy day for Ohio State on the recruiting trail on Wednesday. The Buckeyes, as they have done so often this offseason, seemed to dominate the headlines, with a trio of four-star prospects listing the program among their top schools, two new offers in both the 2025 and 2026 classes, and two more predictions in their favor for guys near the top of the staff’s big board.
Kicking things off with the top schools lists, the first prospect on Wednesday to include Ohio State among his final potential suitors was in-state running back Marquise Davis.
Davis, a four-star prospect as the No. 13 RB and No. 172 player overall in the 2025 class, has been an interesting recruitment to follow. Cutting his list down from over 30 offers to 10 final programs, Ohio State did make the cut. However, with Davis’ strong relationship with Tony Alford and not much to speak of with new running backs coach Carlos Locklyn (Davis does not have an offer from Oregon) the Buckeyes are likely not in the driver’s seat right now.
While the Wolverines seem to be the frontrunner for the Cleveland native now that Alford is in Ann Arbor, there is still a ton of time left before signing day for Locklyn to start building that relationship and sway things back in Ohio State’s favor. Elsewhere at the position, the Buckeyes remain heavily involved with both Jordan Davison and Bo Jackson, the No. 7 and No. 5 RB in the country, respectively — both of whom have a strong prior relationship with Locklyn.
On the defensive side of the ball, two 2025 talents including Ohio State among their top schools, starting with four-star linebacker Jaedon Harmon.
Ohio State was a late entrant in the recruitment for the No. 26 LB and No. 194 player overall in the cycle, having only offered Harmon in late February, but James Laurinaitis and the staff have clearly made enough of an impact to be included among his top 10 schools. The 6-foot-1, 215-pound linebacker was the first official offer for Laurinaitis since his promotion to a full-time position coach, and the Georgia native was in Columbus visiting the Buckeyes the weekend before last.
The other defensive player with Ohio State listed in his top group is four-star cornerback Dorian Barney.
NEWS: Four-Star CB Dorian Barney is down toSchools, he tells me for @on3recruits
The 6’1 170 CB from Suwanee, GA is ranked as the No. 3 CB in the 2026 Class (per On3)
Where Should He Go? https://t.co/VLUMciAnYb pic.twitter.com/hzsoQu3BlG
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) April 3, 2024
Still just a high school sophomore, Barney ranks as the No. 3 CB and No. 32 overall player in the 2026 class. The 6-foot-1 defensive back out of Georgia has put together an impressive offer sheet of over 35 programs, and cutting his list down to only a dozen this early on shows he is getting serious about his recruitment. With four unofficial visits scheduled this month, coming off a trip to Florida State with a visit to South Carolina on the docket for Thursday, Barney will be at Ohio State on April 13.
Tim Walton is obviously on one hell of a run right now, with commitments from both the No. 1 and No. 2 corners in the country in the 2025 class in Devin Sanchez and Na’eem Offord, respectively. The Buckeyes’ position coach would love to get a head start on another big haul in 2026 by adding a borderline five-star and top-five player positionally in Barney, and the staff will look to continue building that relationship with the talented DB moving forward.
In addition to all the top schools lists, Ohio State also sent out a pair of new offers on Wednesday. One of the two went to 2025 running back Shekai Mills-Knight.
AGTG after a great conversation with @Locklyn33 I’m extremely blessed to have received an offer from THE Ohio State University#GoBucks @ryandaytime @OhioStateFB @ErikKimrey @cbrownrun11 @ECWagnac @adamgorney @SWiltfong_ @ChadSimmons_ @GregBiggins pic.twitter.com/K4c2omKb32
— Shekai Mills-Knight️ (@sk_begreat) April 3, 2024
The first official offer for Locklyn as the Buckeyes’ position coach, Mills-Knight ranks as the No. 29 RB in the country and the No. 14 player out of Tennessee in the cycle. Hailing from the same high school as current Ohio State freshman offensive lineman Max LeBlanc, the 6-foot-2 ball-carrier already held a strong relationship with OSU’s new RB coach, and the duo appear to be keeping that going now that Locklyn is in Columbus.
The other official offer on Wednesday went out to 2026 athlete Jordan Thomas.
all glory to God!!! blessed to receive an offer from THE Ohio State University! #BIA@ryandaytime @OGWalt_ @CoachDuHart @OhioStateFB @bccoachvito @RivalsFriedman @adamgorney @BrianDohn247 @SWiltfong_ @MohrRecruiting @Bucknuts247 @KinslerLatish pic.twitter.com/W3ineLBFGV
— Jordan Thomas ✞²¹ (@jordanthomas_21) April 3, 2024
A top-100 player as just a high school sophomore, Thomas currently ranks as the No. 15 ATH and No. 99 player overall per the 247Sports Composite, as well as the No. 2 player out of New Jersey in the cycle. Playing both wide receiver and defensive back at Bergen Catholic, Ohio State is recruiting Thomas on the defensive side of the ball. The offer from the Buckeyes is his 16th early in the process, with schools like Florida, Miami, Michigan, Penn State, Tennessee and others also getting in the mix.
Quick Hits
- Four-star 2025 DL Trent Wilson is set to announce his commitment next week on April 10. Choosing between Oklahoma, Penn State, Texas A&M and Ohio State, the Sooners look to have the inside track on landing the Maryland native. Wilson checks in as the No. 18 DL and No. 141 player overall per the 247Sports Composite.
- In addition to everything else on Wednesday, Ohio State also received a pair of predictions via On3 to land two of the very best prospects at their respective positions in the 2025 class. Steve Wiltfong logged a prediction for the Buckeyes to land Jaime Ffrench, the No. 3 WR and No. 16 overall on the 247Sports Composite, and Alex Gleitman cast his prediction in favor of Ohio State for the aforementioned Davison, the No. 7 RB and No. 83 player overall.
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LGHL Ohio State sophomore guard Roddy Gayle Jr. to enter transfer portal after two seasons
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Ohio State sophomore guard Roddy Gayle Jr. to enter transfer portal after two seasons
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Gayle was one of the most improved players in the Big Ten this season, but will now move on from Ohio State.
After a season that saw him double nearly every counting statistic from his freshman season to his sophomore season and led Ohio State in scoring six times, Roddy Gayle Jr. announced Wednesday that he will enter the NCAA Transfer Portal and play his junior season elsewhere. Gayle played in every game in his first two seasons, appearing in all 71 and starting 46 of them.
In two seasons, Gayle averaged 9.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game while shooting 44.7% overall and 33.1% from three-point range. Expectations were sky-high for the 6-foot-4, 210-pound sophomore from New York this season after he ended his freshman year by averaging 14.7 points per game in the Big Ten Tournament and hitting 9 of his 10 three-point tries.
He lived up to those expectations, nearly tripling his points per game (from 4.6 to 13.5) and rebounds per game (from 1.6 to 4.6). He more than tripled his assists per game, jumping from 0.9 to 3.1 per game. His free throw percentage stayed steady in the low 80’s (81% to 83.2%), and the only counting stat that noticeably fell off was his three-point percentage, which fell from 42.9% to 28.4%.
Gayle took twice as many attempts from three as a sophomore, which means the 42.9% was likely a bit above his real ability, but he also dealt with a nagging wrist injury all season that made it difficult to grip the ball and shoot at times.
“Rod,” as Bruce Thornton calls him, became an all-around contributor for the Buckeyes in his second year, leading Ohio State in points six times, rebounds four times, and assists eight times. He did struggle with turnovers in some games, but by the end of the season was able to get that number down to 2.4 per game. Gayle was also one of Ohio State’s best — if not the best — defenders, guarding multiple positions and sticking on the ball at a high level.
Gayle was a four-star recruit in the 2022 cycle, according to 247Sports. He was the No. 49 player in the class, the No. 2 shooting guard in the class, and the No. 2 player in the state of Utah. Gayle was the highest-ranked player in Ohio State’s 2022 cycle, which also included Thornton, Felix Okpara, Brice Sensabaugh, and Bowen Hardman.
His main recruiter was Jake Diebler, and the two have perhaps the closest relationship of any player on the team, going back to even before Diebler was head coach. Diebler being named head coach made many people think Gayle was a lock to return to Columbus until today. Replacing his contributions on both ends will be no easy task.
After Ohio State’s win over Cornell in the NIT, an emotional Gayle said, “I’m not ready for this group to be over with, for this family to be over with.” His obvious affection for Ohio State, paired with his relationship with Diebler, make this decision the most surprising outgoing transfer we can remember.
Gayle is originally from New York and was highly recruited by Syracuse, Georgetown, UConn, Marquette, and Pittsburgh as well as Ohio State.
Good luck to Roddy, wherever he winds up!
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
Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Gayle was one of the most improved players in the Big Ten this season, but will now move on from Ohio State.
After a season that saw him double nearly every counting statistic from his freshman season to his sophomore season and led Ohio State in scoring six times, Roddy Gayle Jr. announced Wednesday that he will enter the NCAA Transfer Portal and play his junior season elsewhere. Gayle played in every game in his first two seasons, appearing in all 71 and starting 46 of them.
In two seasons, Gayle averaged 9.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game while shooting 44.7% overall and 33.1% from three-point range. Expectations were sky-high for the 6-foot-4, 210-pound sophomore from New York this season after he ended his freshman year by averaging 14.7 points per game in the Big Ten Tournament and hitting 9 of his 10 three-point tries.
He lived up to those expectations, nearly tripling his points per game (from 4.6 to 13.5) and rebounds per game (from 1.6 to 4.6). He more than tripled his assists per game, jumping from 0.9 to 3.1 per game. His free throw percentage stayed steady in the low 80’s (81% to 83.2%), and the only counting stat that noticeably fell off was his three-point percentage, which fell from 42.9% to 28.4%.
Gayle took twice as many attempts from three as a sophomore, which means the 42.9% was likely a bit above his real ability, but he also dealt with a nagging wrist injury all season that made it difficult to grip the ball and shoot at times.
“Rod,” as Bruce Thornton calls him, became an all-around contributor for the Buckeyes in his second year, leading Ohio State in points six times, rebounds four times, and assists eight times. He did struggle with turnovers in some games, but by the end of the season was able to get that number down to 2.4 per game. Gayle was also one of Ohio State’s best — if not the best — defenders, guarding multiple positions and sticking on the ball at a high level.
Gayle was a four-star recruit in the 2022 cycle, according to 247Sports. He was the No. 49 player in the class, the No. 2 shooting guard in the class, and the No. 2 player in the state of Utah. Gayle was the highest-ranked player in Ohio State’s 2022 cycle, which also included Thornton, Felix Okpara, Brice Sensabaugh, and Bowen Hardman.
His main recruiter was Jake Diebler, and the two have perhaps the closest relationship of any player on the team, going back to even before Diebler was head coach. Diebler being named head coach made many people think Gayle was a lock to return to Columbus until today. Replacing his contributions on both ends will be no easy task.
After Ohio State’s win over Cornell in the NIT, an emotional Gayle said, “I’m not ready for this group to be over with, for this family to be over with.” His obvious affection for Ohio State, paired with his relationship with Diebler, make this decision the most surprising outgoing transfer we can remember.
Gayle is originally from New York and was highly recruited by Syracuse, Georgetown, UConn, Marquette, and Pittsburgh as well as Ohio State.
Good luck to Roddy, wherever he winds up!
Continue reading...
