-
New here? Register here now for access to all the forums, download game torrents, private messages, polls, Sportsbook, etc. Plus, stay connected and follow BP on Instagram @buckeyeplanet and Facebook.
LGHL Ohio State men’s basketball roster snapshot: How well do the pieces fit together right now?
- News
- 0 Replies
Ohio State men’s basketball roster snapshot: How well do the pieces fit together right now?
Connor Lemons 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
Jake Diebler continues to stack talent, but will the roster turn out to be as flexible as he is hoping it will be?
The Ohio State men’s basketball team still has two available scholarships, but nearly all of the 2024-2025 roster — Jake Diebler’s first as head coach — is together. The Buckeyes lost Jamison Battle and Dale Bonner to graduation, and Bowen Hardman, Roddy Gayle, Zed Key, and Scotty Middleton to the transfer portal. That’s 46.5 points per game the team lost, and thus far has added Aaron Bradshaw (formerly Kentucky), Meechie Johnson (formerly South Carolina, but also Ohio State), Juni Mobley (freshman), and Colin White (freshman) to replace them.
Diebler and his new-look staff needed to address three issues this off-season, and so far they’ve done one of them:
Bradshaw, a former McDonald’s All-American, five-star recruit, top-five player, and Kentucky Wildcat committed to Ohio State on April 15 after one season in Lexington. He played sparingly (13.8 minutes per game), but flashed potential as someone who could become a real menace to opposing bigs by stepping out and knocking down jumpers in addition to patrolling the paint. He was a projected lottery pick going into his freshman year, but a broken foot in June that took five months to heal took away his entire summer and pre-season. He wound up averaging 4.9 points and 3.3 rebounds per game in 26 games last season.
When Meechie Johnson announced on April 2 that he was coming back to Ohio State after two years away, it looked like Diebler was going to have a three-headed snake at guard with him, Bruce Thornton, and Roddy Gayle. This would’ve been a non-traditional lineup with two “smaller” guards plus Gayle, but then Gayle transferred away the very next day. Now it is pretty cut and dry that Thornton and Johnson will both start for Ohio State in a more traditional lineup.
Even with the additions of Bradshaw and Johnson, Ohio State has not done much to replace the three-point shooting that was lost, nor has it filled the void in the middle of the lineup at the forward spots. Presently, it looks like the 3 and 4 will be some combination of Devin Royal, Evan Mahaffey, and Bradshaw. That trio poses plenty of questions, despite the clear upside of all three.
Ohio State still has two scholarships available, and the transfer portal doesn’t close for another 12 days. It could be weeks until the final pieces of the roster are locked in. As of today, here is what the Buckeyes are working with:
Guards:
Bruce Thornton
Meechie Johnson
Taison Chatman
Juni Mobley
Forwards/wings:
Devin Royal
Evan Mahaffey
Kalen Etzler
Colin White
Centers:
Felix Okpara
Aaron Bradshaw
Austin Parks
Possible lineup 1:
Bruce Thornton
Meechie Johnson
Devin Royal
Aaron Bradshaw
Felix Okpara
If Ohio State does not add a forward who is clearly better than Royal, this very well may be your starting lineup against Texas on November 4. The success of this group will be very dependent on how well the 7-foot-1 Bradshaw can operate on the perimeter, guard away from the basket, and knock down the occasional jump shot. He doesn’t need to be a 40% three-point shooter, but if Bradshaw can’t hit jumpers, he and Okpara will not be able to work together.
This collective group shot a combined 31.1% last season from three-point range, so success will also be reliant on Thornton and Johnson hitting those at a rate closer to 35% than their career averages, and for Bradshaw and Royal to show gradual improvement in that area, too.
There’s a lot to like here, but some pretty clear red flags, too.
Possible lineup 2:
Bruce Thornton
Meechie Johnson
Juni Mobley
Aaron Bradshaw
Felix Okpara
Could Diebler go with a three-guard lineup, adding Mobley to the mix right away to inject some perimeter offense that is clearly lacking? Not to compare the two, but there’s some precedent for this. From 2020-2022 Justin Ahrens started 37 of the 63 games he appeared in, but averaged just under 20 minutes per game. By all accounts, Mobley has a more well-rounded game than Ahrens — who earned a reputation for being an all-or-nothing three-point shooter.
The top-50 freshman is going to bring more to Columbus than just shooting, but having him on the floor will stretch defenses and give others more space. If Thornton, Johnson, and Bradshaw don’t start hitting outside shots early in the season, you will see more of Mobley. The modern-day game is so reliant on teams being able to hit the triple, and Mobley was the best shooter in all of high school basketball the past few years.
Possible lineup 3:
Bruce Thornton
Meechie Johnson
Devin Royal
Evan Mahaffey
Felix Okpara
Look familiar? This is last year’s starting five, with Johnson swapped in for Gayle and Royal swapped in for Battle. This lineup will be on the floor together at times this season, but it won’t be plan A, B, or (hopefully) C. There’s not enough outside shooting in this collective group, and it will lead to quite a bit of isolation plays for Thornton and Johnson, since defenses won’t be afraid to give the other three space.
If this lineup is used and Bradshaw doesn’t start, the 7-footer will still get in and play “starter’s minutes.” This is a scenario where playing Bradshaw and Okpara together for 20+ minutes doesn’t work, and the coaching staff has to pivot.
Even after Chris Holtmann was fired, Diebler continued to start Mahaffey. He believes in the value he provides in all facets of the game, but both Mahaffey and Okpara still have limited offensive skill sets. Those two playing together wasn’t ideal at the tail end of last season. That won’t change unless they both make big strides this summer.
Diebler and his staff still need to find a way to add:
Oakland’s Trey Townsend is on campus as we speak, and could play alongside Royal or Mahaffey. He doesn’t bring much in the way of outside shooting, but if Ohio State adds him, he will be one of the best under-the-radar transfer additions in the country. The reigning Horizon League Player of the Year just finds ways to put the ball in the basket and rebounds like a madman.
Central Arkansas’ Tucker Anderson will visit Ohio State this weekend as well. He’s a 6-foot-9 knockdown three-point shooter who connected on triples at a clip of 38%, scored 14 points per game, and was named the ASUN Freshman of the Year. He didn’t rebound particularly well for his size (for comparison, 6-foot-4 Roddy Gayle averaged 4.6 per game while Anderson at five inches taller averaged 3.7) and there’s always the looming question of how well his game would translate to a higher level. Still, simply having a perimeter presence on the floor makes a difference.
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
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Jake Diebler continues to stack talent, but will the roster turn out to be as flexible as he is hoping it will be?
The Ohio State men’s basketball team still has two available scholarships, but nearly all of the 2024-2025 roster — Jake Diebler’s first as head coach — is together. The Buckeyes lost Jamison Battle and Dale Bonner to graduation, and Bowen Hardman, Roddy Gayle, Zed Key, and Scotty Middleton to the transfer portal. That’s 46.5 points per game the team lost, and thus far has added Aaron Bradshaw (formerly Kentucky), Meechie Johnson (formerly South Carolina, but also Ohio State), Juni Mobley (freshman), and Colin White (freshman) to replace them.
Diebler and his new-look staff needed to address three issues this off-season, and so far they’ve done one of them:
- Add some size to play center behind Felix/play the four at times
- Add three-point shooting
- Add a forward who can play the three/four and plug in next to Devin Royal and/or Evan Mahaffey
Bradshaw, a former McDonald’s All-American, five-star recruit, top-five player, and Kentucky Wildcat committed to Ohio State on April 15 after one season in Lexington. He played sparingly (13.8 minutes per game), but flashed potential as someone who could become a real menace to opposing bigs by stepping out and knocking down jumpers in addition to patrolling the paint. He was a projected lottery pick going into his freshman year, but a broken foot in June that took five months to heal took away his entire summer and pre-season. He wound up averaging 4.9 points and 3.3 rebounds per game in 26 games last season.
When Meechie Johnson announced on April 2 that he was coming back to Ohio State after two years away, it looked like Diebler was going to have a three-headed snake at guard with him, Bruce Thornton, and Roddy Gayle. This would’ve been a non-traditional lineup with two “smaller” guards plus Gayle, but then Gayle transferred away the very next day. Now it is pretty cut and dry that Thornton and Johnson will both start for Ohio State in a more traditional lineup.
Even with the additions of Bradshaw and Johnson, Ohio State has not done much to replace the three-point shooting that was lost, nor has it filled the void in the middle of the lineup at the forward spots. Presently, it looks like the 3 and 4 will be some combination of Devin Royal, Evan Mahaffey, and Bradshaw. That trio poses plenty of questions, despite the clear upside of all three.
Possible lineup configurations — how bold will Diebler get?
Ohio State still has two scholarships available, and the transfer portal doesn’t close for another 12 days. It could be weeks until the final pieces of the roster are locked in. As of today, here is what the Buckeyes are working with:
Guards:
Bruce Thornton
Meechie Johnson
Taison Chatman
Juni Mobley
Forwards/wings:
Devin Royal
Evan Mahaffey
Kalen Etzler
Colin White
Centers:
Felix Okpara
Aaron Bradshaw
Austin Parks
Possible lineup 1:
Bruce Thornton
Meechie Johnson
Devin Royal
Aaron Bradshaw
Felix Okpara
If Ohio State does not add a forward who is clearly better than Royal, this very well may be your starting lineup against Texas on November 4. The success of this group will be very dependent on how well the 7-foot-1 Bradshaw can operate on the perimeter, guard away from the basket, and knock down the occasional jump shot. He doesn’t need to be a 40% three-point shooter, but if Bradshaw can’t hit jumpers, he and Okpara will not be able to work together.
This collective group shot a combined 31.1% last season from three-point range, so success will also be reliant on Thornton and Johnson hitting those at a rate closer to 35% than their career averages, and for Bradshaw and Royal to show gradual improvement in that area, too.
There’s a lot to like here, but some pretty clear red flags, too.
Possible lineup 2:
Bruce Thornton
Meechie Johnson
Juni Mobley
Aaron Bradshaw
Felix Okpara
Could Diebler go with a three-guard lineup, adding Mobley to the mix right away to inject some perimeter offense that is clearly lacking? Not to compare the two, but there’s some precedent for this. From 2020-2022 Justin Ahrens started 37 of the 63 games he appeared in, but averaged just under 20 minutes per game. By all accounts, Mobley has a more well-rounded game than Ahrens — who earned a reputation for being an all-or-nothing three-point shooter.
The top-50 freshman is going to bring more to Columbus than just shooting, but having him on the floor will stretch defenses and give others more space. If Thornton, Johnson, and Bradshaw don’t start hitting outside shots early in the season, you will see more of Mobley. The modern-day game is so reliant on teams being able to hit the triple, and Mobley was the best shooter in all of high school basketball the past few years.
Possible lineup 3:
Bruce Thornton
Meechie Johnson
Devin Royal
Evan Mahaffey
Felix Okpara
Look familiar? This is last year’s starting five, with Johnson swapped in for Gayle and Royal swapped in for Battle. This lineup will be on the floor together at times this season, but it won’t be plan A, B, or (hopefully) C. There’s not enough outside shooting in this collective group, and it will lead to quite a bit of isolation plays for Thornton and Johnson, since defenses won’t be afraid to give the other three space.
If this lineup is used and Bradshaw doesn’t start, the 7-footer will still get in and play “starter’s minutes.” This is a scenario where playing Bradshaw and Okpara together for 20+ minutes doesn’t work, and the coaching staff has to pivot.
Even after Chris Holtmann was fired, Diebler continued to start Mahaffey. He believes in the value he provides in all facets of the game, but both Mahaffey and Okpara still have limited offensive skill sets. Those two playing together wasn’t ideal at the tail end of last season. That won’t change unless they both make big strides this summer.
Existing needs
Diebler and his staff still need to find a way to add:
- Three-point shooting
- A wing/forward with some shooting ability
Oakland’s Trey Townsend is on campus as we speak, and could play alongside Royal or Mahaffey. He doesn’t bring much in the way of outside shooting, but if Ohio State adds him, he will be one of the best under-the-radar transfer additions in the country. The reigning Horizon League Player of the Year just finds ways to put the ball in the basket and rebounds like a madman.
Central Arkansas’ Tucker Anderson will visit Ohio State this weekend as well. He’s a 6-foot-9 knockdown three-point shooter who connected on triples at a clip of 38%, scored 14 points per game, and was named the ASUN Freshman of the Year. He didn’t rebound particularly well for his size (for comparison, 6-foot-4 Roddy Gayle averaged 4.6 per game while Anderson at five inches taller averaged 3.7) and there’s always the looming question of how well his game would translate to a higher level. Still, simply having a perimeter presence on the floor makes a difference.
Continue reading...
LGHL Chip Kelly plans to visit in-state QBs, top 2026 defensive back reps the OSU brand
- News
- 0 Replies
Chip Kelly plans to visit in-state QBs, top 2026 defensive back reps the OSU brand
Caleb Houser 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
Ohio State continues to work hard at evaluating the 2026 quarterback class.
Ohio State has their guy in the 2025 class thanks to Ohio native, Tavien St. Clair. The No. 17 player nationally and fourth best signal caller in the class per the 247Sports Composite, St. Clair has been committed for nearly a year now and is a major part of the Buckeyes’ future at the position. Obviously one of the more important positions to land in a recruiting cycle, St. Clair’s leadership and ability to peer recruit make him that much more valuable.
Knowing they have a real dude in 2025 already locked in, it allows the coaching staff to focus more attention on the upcoming 2026 class. Ohio State has sent out several offers to 2026 quarterbacks all over the country, and as both Day and Kelly begin to sort through their top targets and options, names are going to rise to the top.
The Buckeyes under Day have recruited the quarterback position about as well as anyone, and bringing in Kelly looks to only continue that successful trend. Set to get out on the road visiting 2026 prospects as early as next week, Kelly already has a few guys in mind from right inside Ohio’s borders.
Plans to see Ashland native Nathan Bernhard, the No. 91 player nationally and seventh best quarterback in the 2026 cycle per the 247Sports Composite does not yet hold an Ohio State offer, but is certainly on their radar. At 6-foot-5, 230 pounds, Bernhard has the stature of a true drop-back quarterback. While Kelly’s scheme includes mobility from the position, Bernhard is garnering some serious attention.
With nearly double-digit offers to his name and from schools such as Louisville, Indiana, Michigan State, and Penn State, this is another high-profile athlete Ohio is developing. A great sign for the state and for the Buckeyes, having these caliber of quarterbacks right in their backyard helps ensure that there’s always going to be strong in-state options worth taking a close look at.
Kelly will also stop in to see Olentangy Orange product Levi Davis. A 5-foot-11, 175 pound athlete, Davis has offers from several MAC schools such as Bowling Green, Miami, UMass, and Toledo to his name early on. Another player that’s just a short trek from campus, the Buckeyes are well aware of Davis’ abilities, and taking the time to visit him shows they are impressed with his game thus far.
With still two full seasons of prep ball still to be played, Davis’ stock may continue to rise and surely this staff will pay close attention to his recruitment. Though there’s more national guys Day has shown he is after, these two Ohio products won’t be left out of the mix when it comes to talking potential options for the 2026 signal caller.
Not a bad sign at all, looking at Dorian Barney in the 2026 class shows the Buckeyes are very much in the mix for the four-star cornerback. The No. 32 player nationally and third best cornerback in the class per the 247Sports Composite, Barney has well over 30 offers to his name and from every top program in the country.
Much like the players Tim Walton has been able to lock up the last two recruiting cycles, Barney is another top tier athlete and would be a major boom for any defensive secondary. The fortunate part, Barney has already listed the Buckeyes in his top schools that he put out earlier this month. Though apparel isn’t a major sign of a recruit’s allegiance, it also doesn’t hurt to see a top prospect repping the brand.
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
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Ohio State continues to work hard at evaluating the 2026 quarterback class.
Ohio State has their guy in the 2025 class thanks to Ohio native, Tavien St. Clair. The No. 17 player nationally and fourth best signal caller in the class per the 247Sports Composite, St. Clair has been committed for nearly a year now and is a major part of the Buckeyes’ future at the position. Obviously one of the more important positions to land in a recruiting cycle, St. Clair’s leadership and ability to peer recruit make him that much more valuable.
Knowing they have a real dude in 2025 already locked in, it allows the coaching staff to focus more attention on the upcoming 2026 class. Ohio State has sent out several offers to 2026 quarterbacks all over the country, and as both Day and Kelly begin to sort through their top targets and options, names are going to rise to the top.
The Buckeyes under Day have recruited the quarterback position about as well as anyone, and bringing in Kelly looks to only continue that successful trend. Set to get out on the road visiting 2026 prospects as early as next week, Kelly already has a few guys in mind from right inside Ohio’s borders.
Plans to see Ashland native Nathan Bernhard, the No. 91 player nationally and seventh best quarterback in the 2026 cycle per the 247Sports Composite does not yet hold an Ohio State offer, but is certainly on their radar. At 6-foot-5, 230 pounds, Bernhard has the stature of a true drop-back quarterback. While Kelly’s scheme includes mobility from the position, Bernhard is garnering some serious attention.
With nearly double-digit offers to his name and from schools such as Louisville, Indiana, Michigan State, and Penn State, this is another high-profile athlete Ohio is developing. A great sign for the state and for the Buckeyes, having these caliber of quarterbacks right in their backyard helps ensure that there’s always going to be strong in-state options worth taking a close look at.
Kelly will also stop in to see Olentangy Orange product Levi Davis. A 5-foot-11, 175 pound athlete, Davis has offers from several MAC schools such as Bowling Green, Miami, UMass, and Toledo to his name early on. Another player that’s just a short trek from campus, the Buckeyes are well aware of Davis’ abilities, and taking the time to visit him shows they are impressed with his game thus far.
With still two full seasons of prep ball still to be played, Davis’ stock may continue to rise and surely this staff will pay close attention to his recruitment. Though there’s more national guys Day has shown he is after, these two Ohio products won’t be left out of the mix when it comes to talking potential options for the 2026 signal caller.
Quick Hits
- While visits and interviews definitely give the best insight to where a prospect is at, you can look at social media as well to see what schools are at or near the top of a player’s thought process.
Not a bad sign at all, looking at Dorian Barney in the 2026 class shows the Buckeyes are very much in the mix for the four-star cornerback. The No. 32 player nationally and third best cornerback in the class per the 247Sports Composite, Barney has well over 30 offers to his name and from every top program in the country.
Much like the players Tim Walton has been able to lock up the last two recruiting cycles, Barney is another top tier athlete and would be a major boom for any defensive secondary. The fortunate part, Barney has already listed the Buckeyes in his top schools that he put out earlier this month. Though apparel isn’t a major sign of a recruit’s allegiance, it also doesn’t hurt to see a top prospect repping the brand.
Continue reading...
LGHL You’re Nuts: Creative ideas to slyly skirt Ohio’s nepotism rule and get Jon Diebler on staff
- News
- 0 Replies
You’re Nuts: Creative ideas to slyly skirt Ohio’s nepotism rule and get Jon Diebler on staff
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 Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
We are not attorneys, nor do we claim to be.
It’s week three of the offseason, but the college basketball offseason barely even feels like it these days with the transfer portal, NIL moves and coaching changes. Ohio State has been particularly busy, as Chris Holtmann’s old staff has mostly trickled out of the building.
Meanwhile, first-year head coach Jake Diebler took on the transfer portal with the help of just one assistant coach initially (Dave Dickerson), but has been filling out his staff over the last two weeks. Diebler has now hired four assistants: Joel Justus, Jamall Walker, Luke Simons, and Dickerson. One spot remains, and we will talk about that in a moment.
Last week, Connor and Justin debated which player from the men’s team will take the biggest step forward next season. Connor won the poll with 61% of the vote and his pick of sophomore forward Devin Royal. 26% sided with Justin, who picked Taison Chatman. 13% of the readers picked “other.”
Connor- 74
There’s one open spot on Jake Diebler’s staff, and according to multiple reports (Columbus Dispatch, Buckeye Huddle, and 247Sports, to name a few), Diebler was intending on hiring his younger brother, Jon, to be the final piece of the staff. Jon just finished his second season on Butler’s staff as the director of recruiting, is the greatest three-point shooter in Ohio State history, and played professionally overseas. Not to mention, he’s a TBT champion.
That should suffice to be the final assistant on a high-major staff, right?
Normally yes, but in this particular case — no. Ohio State’s legal office informed Diebler recently that due to Ohio’s nepotism laws, Diebler would not be able to hire his brother for a position that he would oversee him in. He also cannot “give” a public contract to a family member, as he himself is a public employee.
In other words, Jon Diebler is free to work for Ohio State, and could work for any athletic team at the university as long as it’s not one where his brother would be his boss. There’s no way around this, and Jake Diebler will have to go a different direction with his final assistant coach spot.
Or... does he?
We aren’t advocating for the Diebler family to take these drastic measures to get Jon on staff. We also aren’t discouraging them from looking into these avenues. Are they a bit extreme? Perhaps! But you’ve got to crack a few eggs to make an omelette, or something.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25408045/usa_today_3650024.jpg "NCAA Basketball: Division I Championship-Ohio State vs Siena")
Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
I don’t see any way around this issue that doesn’t involve Jon and Jake somehow severing their family ties and no longer (legally) being related to each other. It’s a drastic measure, but are the Diebler brothers in it for the feel-good story, or are they in it to make Ohio State a winner?
If the answer is the latter, then 35-year old Jon Diebler needs to be adopted by someone else, so that he and Jake are no longer brothers — technically. Jake gets to remain the son of Keith Diebler, because he is older and wins the tiebreaker. Sorry, Jon.
If someone adopts Jon, he would no longer be Jake’s brother, and therefore could be hired by his former brother, Jake. This would not violate Ohio’s nepotism rules, because Jon would not fall under any of the statuses that the Ohio Ethics Commission lays out:
“For purposes of the Ohio Ethics Law, a public official or employee’s “family” includes parents, step-parents, grandparents, children of any age, step-children (whether dependent or not), grandchildren, spouse, or siblings (regardless of where these family members reside). Therefore, public officials or employees cannot participate in these hires even if their family members live in other households. A public official or employee also cannot hire anyone to whom he or she is related by blood or marriage (aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and in-laws) and who is also residing in the same household with the official or employee.”
If Jon Diebler is adopted by someone else, he would not fall under any of these titles. But who would do Jon such a momentous favor? Well, why not Thad Matta?
Matta recruited Jon from Upper Sandusky High School. He coached him for four years at Ohio State, reassuring him that he was going to be a great three-point shooter even after shooting just 28.9% as a freshman — boy was he right. Then, he hired him to his staff at Butler in 2022, despite having never worked in college athletics before. They seem pretty tight, no?
It wouldn’t become an odd Step Brothers situation where Jon would have to live with Thad or anything — literally nothing would change other than the fact that Jon and Jake would no longer be related. Jon could continue living his life as he already had, but would also need to hastily pack, because his brother would have an office ready with his name on it at the Schottenstein center soon after.
It’s foolproof, truly.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25408065/usa_today_16453873.jpg "Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch")
Nicolas Galindo/The Columbus Dispatch via Imagn Content Services, LLC
To fix this for good, we need to get someone on the inside, undercover, and for one purpose. We have to have someone run for office, get into the Ohio General Assembly, and simply change the law.
I watched “When a Bill Becomes a Law” growing up, and I am sure you did, too, so we all know how this works. Actually, to be honest, I have no idea how this works. But I don’t need to know how it works. The guy that we put on the inside does.
Jon Diebler is my favorite Buckeye of all time. I tried to mirror my shot after his when I was growing up and playing AAU, and I made a living (not literally) on the cardio three coming off two ball screens. So, I would love to see him on the staff after he has spent time learning under Thad Matta and a short stint in the NBA.
I think our best choice would be Aaron Craft. He is respected in Columbus and is beloved, so he should be able to make waves and people will respect what he says. He can run for office in Hancock County, where he grew up, change the law, and then the Dieblers can be reunited.
The next election is Nov. 5. That’s plenty of time to get Aaron an office in the Ohio State House.
Simple as that.
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 Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
We are not attorneys, nor do we claim to be.
It’s week three of the offseason, but the college basketball offseason barely even feels like it these days with the transfer portal, NIL moves and coaching changes. Ohio State has been particularly busy, as Chris Holtmann’s old staff has mostly trickled out of the building.
Meanwhile, first-year head coach Jake Diebler took on the transfer portal with the help of just one assistant coach initially (Dave Dickerson), but has been filling out his staff over the last two weeks. Diebler has now hired four assistants: Joel Justus, Jamall Walker, Luke Simons, and Dickerson. One spot remains, and we will talk about that in a moment.
Last week, Connor and Justin debated which player from the men’s team will take the biggest step forward next season. Connor won the poll with 61% of the vote and his pick of sophomore forward Devin Royal. 26% sided with Justin, who picked Taison Chatman. 13% of the readers picked “other.”
After 148 weeks:
Connor- 74
Justin- 55
Other- 15
(There have been four ties)
There’s one open spot on Jake Diebler’s staff, and according to multiple reports (Columbus Dispatch, Buckeye Huddle, and 247Sports, to name a few), Diebler was intending on hiring his younger brother, Jon, to be the final piece of the staff. Jon just finished his second season on Butler’s staff as the director of recruiting, is the greatest three-point shooter in Ohio State history, and played professionally overseas. Not to mention, he’s a TBT champion.
That should suffice to be the final assistant on a high-major staff, right?
Normally yes, but in this particular case — no. Ohio State’s legal office informed Diebler recently that due to Ohio’s nepotism laws, Diebler would not be able to hire his brother for a position that he would oversee him in. He also cannot “give” a public contract to a family member, as he himself is a public employee.
In other words, Jon Diebler is free to work for Ohio State, and could work for any athletic team at the university as long as it’s not one where his brother would be his boss. There’s no way around this, and Jake Diebler will have to go a different direction with his final assistant coach spot.
Or... does he?
We aren’t advocating for the Diebler family to take these drastic measures to get Jon on staff. We also aren’t discouraging them from looking into these avenues. Are they a bit extreme? Perhaps! But you’ve got to crack a few eggs to make an omelette, or something.
This week’s question: Creative ideas to slyly skirt Ohio’s nepotism rule to get Jon Diebler on staff
Connor: Thad Matta adopts Jon Diebler
I don’t see any way around this issue that doesn’t involve Jon and Jake somehow severing their family ties and no longer (legally) being related to each other. It’s a drastic measure, but are the Diebler brothers in it for the feel-good story, or are they in it to make Ohio State a winner?
If the answer is the latter, then 35-year old Jon Diebler needs to be adopted by someone else, so that he and Jake are no longer brothers — technically. Jake gets to remain the son of Keith Diebler, because he is older and wins the tiebreaker. Sorry, Jon.
If someone adopts Jon, he would no longer be Jake’s brother, and therefore could be hired by his former brother, Jake. This would not violate Ohio’s nepotism rules, because Jon would not fall under any of the statuses that the Ohio Ethics Commission lays out:
“For purposes of the Ohio Ethics Law, a public official or employee’s “family” includes parents, step-parents, grandparents, children of any age, step-children (whether dependent or not), grandchildren, spouse, or siblings (regardless of where these family members reside). Therefore, public officials or employees cannot participate in these hires even if their family members live in other households. A public official or employee also cannot hire anyone to whom he or she is related by blood or marriage (aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and in-laws) and who is also residing in the same household with the official or employee.”
If Jon Diebler is adopted by someone else, he would not fall under any of these titles. But who would do Jon such a momentous favor? Well, why not Thad Matta?
Matta recruited Jon from Upper Sandusky High School. He coached him for four years at Ohio State, reassuring him that he was going to be a great three-point shooter even after shooting just 28.9% as a freshman — boy was he right. Then, he hired him to his staff at Butler in 2022, despite having never worked in college athletics before. They seem pretty tight, no?
It wouldn’t become an odd Step Brothers situation where Jon would have to live with Thad or anything — literally nothing would change other than the fact that Jon and Jake would no longer be related. Jon could continue living his life as he already had, but would also need to hastily pack, because his brother would have an office ready with his name on it at the Schottenstein center soon after.
It’s foolproof, truly.
Justin: Put someone on the inside
To fix this for good, we need to get someone on the inside, undercover, and for one purpose. We have to have someone run for office, get into the Ohio General Assembly, and simply change the law.
I watched “When a Bill Becomes a Law” growing up, and I am sure you did, too, so we all know how this works. Actually, to be honest, I have no idea how this works. But I don’t need to know how it works. The guy that we put on the inside does.
Jon Diebler is my favorite Buckeye of all time. I tried to mirror my shot after his when I was growing up and playing AAU, and I made a living (not literally) on the cardio three coming off two ball screens. So, I would love to see him on the staff after he has spent time learning under Thad Matta and a short stint in the NBA.
I think our best choice would be Aaron Craft. He is respected in Columbus and is beloved, so he should be able to make waves and people will respect what he says. He can run for office in Hancock County, where he grew up, change the law, and then the Dieblers can be reunited.
The next election is Nov. 5. That’s plenty of time to get Aaron an office in the Ohio State House.
Simple as that.
Continue reading...
LGHL I-80 Football Show: The Big Ten will be well represented at next week’s NFL Draft
- News
- 0 Replies
I-80 Football Show: The Big Ten will be well represented at next week’s NFL Draft
JordanW330 via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images
The NBA Playoffs are on deck as well.
Welcome to a new episode of Land-Grant Podcast Network’s I-80 Football Show. On this show, we travel down I-80 to talk all things Big Ten Football. After every week of action, we will catch you up on all the conference’s games and look ahead at the matchups, storylines, and players you should be paying attention to for the next week. My name is Jordan Williams, and I am joined by my co-host Dante Morgan.
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
The guys are back, and there is a lot to talk about. The spring transfer portal is open, and while there are not many key Big Ten players in the portal, the system isn’t going anywhere.
The NCAA just approved unlimited transferring, which means players finally have freedom of movement. While we agree that the players should be able to move freely, Jordan thinks there needs to be a few guidelines in place to protect the players. Most of the players who transfer more than once are not going to be headed to the NFL, so what obligation does the NCAA have to protect them academically?
The NFL Draft is around the corner, and there are a bunch of current or future Big Ten schools represented in the first round. Led by USC’s Caleb Williams, the top of the draft will have representation all over the board. Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr. and Washington’s Rome Odunze are at the top of the board, while Penn State’s Olu Fashanu is one of the highest-rated offensive linemen in the draft.
It may be a bit of a reach if you ask us, but Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy is projected to hear his name called in the first five picks! Stay tuned as the Big Ten will be heavily represented in the top-10 picks.
The NBA playoffs are here. Does anyone have a chance to stop the Nuggets and Celtics from making the finals? Plus, are Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic on track to be better than LeBron James? Dante thinks so.
Follow the show on YouTube: @JordanW330
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @I80FootballShow
Connect with us on Twitter: Jordan: @JordanW330 and Dante: @DanteM10216
Continue reading...
JordanW330 via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images
The NBA Playoffs are on deck as well.
Welcome to a new episode of Land-Grant Podcast Network’s I-80 Football Show. On this show, we travel down I-80 to talk all things Big Ten Football. After every week of action, we will catch you up on all the conference’s games and look ahead at the matchups, storylines, and players you should be paying attention to for the next week. My name is Jordan Williams, and I am joined by my co-host Dante Morgan.
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
The guys are back, and there is a lot to talk about. The spring transfer portal is open, and while there are not many key Big Ten players in the portal, the system isn’t going anywhere.
The NCAA just approved unlimited transferring, which means players finally have freedom of movement. While we agree that the players should be able to move freely, Jordan thinks there needs to be a few guidelines in place to protect the players. Most of the players who transfer more than once are not going to be headed to the NFL, so what obligation does the NCAA have to protect them academically?
The NFL Draft is around the corner, and there are a bunch of current or future Big Ten schools represented in the first round. Led by USC’s Caleb Williams, the top of the draft will have representation all over the board. Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr. and Washington’s Rome Odunze are at the top of the board, while Penn State’s Olu Fashanu is one of the highest-rated offensive linemen in the draft.
It may be a bit of a reach if you ask us, but Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy is projected to hear his name called in the first five picks! Stay tuned as the Big Ten will be heavily represented in the top-10 picks.
The NBA playoffs are here. Does anyone have a chance to stop the Nuggets and Celtics from making the finals? Plus, are Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic on track to be better than LeBron James? Dante thinks so.
Follow the show on YouTube: @JordanW330
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @I80FootballShow
Connect with us on Twitter: Jordan: @JordanW330 and Dante: @DanteM10216
Continue reading...
