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LGHL You’re Nuts: What is your biggest concern about the Ohio State men’s basketball roster?

You’re Nuts: What is your biggest concern about the Ohio State men’s basketball roster?
Connor Lemons
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch

Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

To go along with LGHL’s weekly theme, we’re looking for cracks in the 2024-2025 roster as currently constructed.

As we now roll into the dog days of summer without basketball, we’ll join the rest of the LGHL staff with theme weeks for much of the off-season. This week’s theme is “Biggest Concerns” so we’ll take a look at the state of the Buckeye basketball program and give our biggest concerns about the team heading into the 2024-2025 season.

Last week’s debate was well-intended but irrelevant about an hour later, as we debated which transfer player Ohio State should go after if Sean Stewart wound up somewhere other than Columbus. Almost immediately after publishing, the former McDonald’s All-American and rising sophomore announced he was, in fact transferring to Ohio State.


Justin went with Samford transfer Achor Achor, and 59% of the readers agreed with him. Connor (and 23% of the readers) picked former Creighton and Kansas State forward Arthur Kaluma, and the remaining 18% picked “other.”

After 151 weeks:

Connor- 75
Justin- 56
Other- 16

(There have been four ties)


Ohio State has one scholarship remaining, and it will likely be used on a backup center or post player to play behind Aaron Bradshaw and potentially compete with Austin Parks for minutes. Since that player isn’t likely to be an impact addition (relatively speaking), it could be a few weeks before the Buckeyes use the scholarship. Therefore, it’s pretty safe to look at the roster as a finished product.

Even if you love the team that’s currently constructed, you certainly have at least one or two questions, no? Here are our biggest concerns with this team.

This week’s question: What is your biggest concern about the Ohio State men’s basketball roster?


Connor: What if the five stars don’t pan out?

NCAA Basketball: Queens University of Charlotte at Duke
Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports

Jake Diebler and his new staff (but mostly Diebler) have been uber-aggressive in the transfer portal this off-season. It’s been a stark contrast from the way former head coach Chris Holtmann approached the portal — Holtmann mostly added ancillary pieces to the equation to support what was already in place. Jamison Battle and CJ Walker are two exceptions, but there were far more Joey Brunks and Isaac Likekeles added via the transfer portal under Holtmann than Walkers or Battles.

The first-year head coach went after starting-caliber players in the portal right off the rip, adding Meechie Johnson within the first few weeks of the off-season. Johnson returns to Ohio State after playing the last two years at South Carolina but was a Buckeye for two years before that. Micah Parrish also transferred in after averaging 8.4 points per game at San Diego State the last two seasons. Parrish is a reliable, safe addition — he’ll probably average somewhere between 8-10 points per game and will play solid defense in a starting or “first off the bench” role.

But the x-factors that will ultimately decide how good this team is? That would be Aaron Bradshaw and Sean Stewart — two former McDonald’s All-Americans who played at Kentucky and Duke last season, respectively. They were both top-20 recruits in the class of 2023, but neither played significant roles at Blue Blood programs last year.

The two of them combined to score 7.5 points per game last season, with Bradshaw playing just under 14 minutes per game and Stewart playing just a tad over eight minutes per game. Bradshaw was universally mocked as an early to mid-first-round NBA Draft pick last fall, even after breaking his foot in the summer and missing five months. Both he and Stewart have sky-high potential — potential that, if it translates to on-the-court production, could make Ohio State a Big Ten title contender.

But that right there is my biggest concern. There will be quite a lot of pressure and expectations put on two sophomores who did not play much last season at Kentucky and Duke. Both Bradshaw and Stewart could wind up averaging 10+ points and/or 10+ rebounds per game. Either of them could be First Team All-Big Ten selections if they hit their ceiling at Ohio State.

But not every McDonald’s All-American turns into a great college player. Some are just okay. A few fizzle out. For this Ohio State team to compete at the top of this 18-team Big Ten and make its first Sweet Sixteen in 12 years, neither Bradshaw nor Stewart can fizzle out. Heck, I’m not sure if this team can afford for either of them to fall into the “just okay” category. Both need to play big roles and be very impactful this season, and that just seems like a murky bet to make on two players who started a combined 10 games last year and combined to hit a combined three shots per game.


Justin: Meshing together the roster

Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

As the Ohio State men’s basketball roster shapes up for the 2024-25 season, we have a good picture of who will be suiting up for the Buckeyes.

And I know some people have concerns about the three-point shooting, but I have been pretty vocal that I think that aspect of this team is better than it is getting credit for, and that will show. I am actually not too worried about that part.

Ohio State has added four transfers and has room for one more. That is looking like it will be a backup center after losing Felix Okpara and Zed Key to the transfer portal, so the starting lineup looks like it is set.

Heading into the next season, the starting lineup will likely be Bruce Thornton, Meechie Johnson, Micah Parrish, Sean Stewart, and Aaron Bradshaw. This would be Thornton returning as the starting point guard for the third straight season and then four transfers.

There is a chance sophomore Devin Royal will start at the four in front of Stewart, but I think Stewart will slide in there to add some length and height to the starting rotation.

So, while that starting lineup has a ton of potential and talent, new head coach Jake Diebler will be tasked with getting the lineup to work together and mesh from day one, with four transfers not only playing significant rotation minutes but starting. It will also be the responsibility of Bruce Thornton to make this work, not only as the returning starter but also as the returning starting point guard.

The talent on this team is undeniable, and as long as the team chemistry is there, next year could be a return to the norm for Ohio State hoops, which is competing for a conference title.



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LGHL Ohio State offers 2025 defensive lineman, coaches head south to visit top recruits

Ohio State offers 2025 defensive lineman, coaches head south to visit top recruits
Caleb Houser
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch

Larry John | Doral Chenoweth / USA TODAY NETWORK

Ohio State sends out their latest offer to 2025 defensive lineman, Andrew Maddox

Ohio State’s staff isn’t showing any signs of slowing down on the recruiting front, as on Thursday, they continued dishing out new offers. Yesterday, the Buckeyes sent out another offer, this time to 2025 Mississippi native Andrew Maddox out of Oak Grove High School.

A 6-foot-3, 265-pound defensive lineman, Maddox took to social media to share that Ohio State was the most recent school to get into the mix for his services. The No. 138 player nationally and 17th best at his position per the 247Sports Composite grades, it’s not hard to see why he is currently rated as a four-star prospect with over 20 offers to his name.

Programs such as Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Ole Miss, Tennessee, and several others have been in on this recruitment for a while, but Ohio State — even late to the party — sticks out. Ole Miss is the leader on the crystal ball predictions, but now that Larry Johnson is in the mix, that could eventually change.

With it being later in the cycle for Andrew, it’s important for the OSU staff to get him on campus at least once this summer in order to have a shot. If they are able to do so, Ohio State can be looked at as a player as he gets closer to a decision. The first step was offering him and now it’s all about getting him to Columbus.

Checking in with 2025 running back target


Obviously, it's not new news to say that Ohio State’s top two running back targets in the 2025 class are Jordon Davison and Bo Jackson. They are both players that the Buckeyes have a real shot to land, so it’s full-steam ahead until the job is done, but even with those two backs being the top priorities, new position coach Carlos Locklyn has to have backup plans ready to go if he’s not able to land both Davison and Jackson.

Since his arrival, Locklyn has been all over the country doing his part to get his tenure off on the right foot. With that has come a bevy of new offers, even with the two aforementioned guys being the clear top choices. Bringing new names to the table as potential Buckeyes, it’s likely a situation where the staff knows they need other guys in the fold to turn to if things don’t go their way. Sure, the idea of taking even potentially a third at the position has been discussed, two has always been the ideal scenario.

That said, Locklyn is still doing what he can to show other names that Ohio State is still interested and yesterday he made a stop in Tennessee to check in with Shekai Mills-Knight.

A three-star prospect per the 247Sports grades, Mills-Knight checks in as the 31st running back in the class, but has offers from the likes of Alabama, Florida, Michigan, Oregon, Tennessee, and plenty more proving that his three-star status is probably due for a rankings boost.

The Buckeyes have offered and a visit in person definitely shows the interest Locklyn and Ohio State have. Again, Davison and Jackson are the two this staff wants and needs to land, but other prospects are more than just names. These players are also very real possibilities.

Appreciate you stopping by‼️#GoBucks @Locklyn33 @OhioStateFB pic.twitter.com/uQBa2jVgIq

— Shekai Mills-Knight ⭐️ (@sk_begreat) May 9, 2024

Quick Hits:


A busy day on the road, Johnson found time to make the trek down to Louisiana on Thursday where he spent time taking a look at five-star talent, Jahkeem Stewart.

The No. three player nationally and the top defensive lineman in the 2026 class per the 247Sports Composite grades, Johnson — like every other coach in the country — is making him a priority and right now, the Buckeyes are in a solid position with LSU as the other school making the biggest pushes early on.

Ohio State hasn’t recruited Louisiana as a state very hard historically, but guys like Stewart make it more than worth it, and this staff is going to do all they can to change their fortunes in that region. Plenty of time to go before a decision is made, and the Buckeyes should be heavily in the mix.

Ohio State DL coach Larry Johnson and LSU DL coach Bo Davis out at St. Augustine in New Orleans to check in on 5-star DL Jahkeem Stewart.

Ohio State and LSU among the top contenders for the No. 1 prospect in 2026. pic.twitter.com/Wonb0UQ7JX

— Marshall Levenson (@MarshallRivals) May 9, 2024

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LGHL Buckeyes offer two 2023 DMV prospects, check in on top California quarterback recruit

Buckeyes offer two 2023 DMV prospects, check in on top California quarterback recruit
Caleb Houser
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch

Brooke LaValley/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Buckeyes send out two new offers on Wednesday to 2026 targets.

It’s clearly offer season for Ohio State’s coaching staff as Wednesday saw another pair of new names pick up offers from the Buckeyes. Evaluating players across the country at a pretty rapid rate, the Buckeyes are focusing on their pursuit of elite talent to add to the 2025 and 2026 classes.

As summer approaches, Ohio State appears poised and ready to bring in an incredible number of prospects for camps and visits in just a few weeks, which hopefully will result in some early summer fireworks.

2026 edge rusher grabs OSU offer


So far, Ohio State is off to a strong start when it comes to their defensive line recruiting in the 2025 class. Boasting commitments from both Zahir Mathis and London Merritt, the Buckeyes still have work to do to land additional players. With likely at least two more players needed to complete their 2025 defensive line haul, OSU’s staff is keeping one eye on the current class, while also looking at 2026 guys as well.

On Wednesday, the Buckeyes sent out one of their latest offers to 2026 edge rusher, Zion Elee. A 6-foot-5, 225-pound athlete, Elee is the No. 38 player nationally and fifth best player at his position per the 247Sports Composite grades. The top player in Maryland for 2026 as well, as a DMV native, Buckeye fans have to feel good about the potential to land him, given Larry Johnson’s track record of landing elite pass rushers from the region.

With nearly 20 offers to his name, Zion currently has schools such as Florida State, Georgia, Penn State, Tennessee, and now Ohio State in the fold with others sure to come in the very near future.

Elee knows of those who have suited up for the Buckeyes before him from similar areas and now he too will hear the pitch of why Ohio State has done so well not only at his position but with other guys from his area. With this latest offer, Zion Elee is a name worth monitoring for the foreseeable future.

Grateful to receive an offer from Ohio State@R2X_Rushmen1 @RivalsFriedman @BrianDohn247 @ChadSimmons_@__CoachTrey @OhioStateFB @FTRreport ig: zionbgs pic.twitter.com/tlToCLw4o9

— Zion “ Rẽy ” Elee (@D1zion26) May 8, 2024

Another big-time lineman hears from Ohio State


Sticking in the DMV, the Buckeyes weren’t done with the 2026 class as they also sent out an offer to offensive lineman, Immanuel Iheanacho. A big-time athlete at 6-foot-7, 340 pounds, it’s easy to see why the staff threw OSU’s name into the mix with the several others that have already followed suit.

The No. 92 player nationally and ninth best at his position per the 247Sports Composite grades, Iheanacho has Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Miami, Tennessee, and a host of other impressive schools already on his offer list. Looking like OSU’s next major national offensive line target, it sure would be nice to see Justin Frye land one of these top players at a critical position, which has been fairly tough for him to do in his first few seasons in Columbus.

At any rate, though Ohio State is working hard to take care of 2025’s offensive line haul first and foremost, certainly the staff is making top guys in 2026 a priority as well. Casting a wider net than in years past these latest two cycles, the staff is doing all they can to make sure the narrative of missing out on top national tackles is a thing of the past.

Blessed to receive an offer The from Ohio State University! #AGTG #GoBucks #EFTF⚡pic.twitter.com/JYYDdCbXjA

— Immanuel Iheanacho (@immanueli24) May 8, 2024

Quick Hits:


Chip Kelly is really getting after the quarterback recruiting this week as he already was able to stop in on Tuesday to watch four-star signal caller Brady Smigiel throw and yesterday he made another stop in California to check in with Ryder Lyons.

The No. 9 player nationally and second-best quarterback in the 2026 class per the 247Sports Composite grades, the Buckeyes and Kelly are wasting no time getting out to see him and others as well knowing their 2025 leader is already wrapped up.

It’s anyone’s guess right now as to who the Buckeyes will target the heaviest in the 2026 cycle for their quarterback of choice, but with multiple offers already dished out, and more to possibly come, Kelly and Day are putting in the hours to try and find “their guy.”

Ohio State offensive coordinator Chip Kelly to see 2026 five-star QB Ryder Lyons from Folsom, Calif., later today.

More here: https://t.co/cDcaVkcdAj pic.twitter.com/prdVq601qL

— Adam Gorney (@adamgorney) May 8, 2024

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Google Ohio State Buckeyes: Will Howard is Open to Ryan Day's Hard Coaching | Ohio State Buckeyes Podcast - NewsCenterMaine.com WCSH-WLBZ

Ohio State Buckeyes: Will Howard is Open to Ryan Day's Hard Coaching | Ohio State Buckeyes Podcast - NewsCenterMaine.com WCSH-WLBZ
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".

Ohio State Buckeyes: Will Howard is Open to Ryan Day's Hard Coaching | Ohio State Buckeyes Podcast NewsCenterMaine.com WCSH-WLBZ

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