2024-2025 Ohio State Men's Basketball

[ScriptOhio]

JAKE DIEBLER​

• On how the summer has gone thus far: "It's been great. We haven't been as healthy as I've preferred, we've had a couple of nagging injuries. ... We've introduced some offensive things, some defensive concepts ... but most importantly I think some chemistry is being formed."
• As new players develop, Diebler's been impressed with the leadership on his squad. "What I've been really impressed with is our group, collectively, has figured out ways to use their voice even when they're out of drills."
• Diebler has challenged Bradshaw to progress as a shooter and distributor this offseason. "Shooting threes ... we want him to do that, it creates space for us, creates driving lanes for guys. ... Our forward are going to have the ball in their hands in the middle third sometimes and have to make decisions."
• On the experience of welcoming his fourth child into the world: "It's like a blur after two, honestly. I'm just fortunate to have married the woman I married."
• Basketball IQ is a strength for both of Ohio State's freshmen, Diebler said. "They both love Ohio State ... they came here ready to go, ready to work. They have freshman moments, freshman days, but I've been impressed with Colin's physicality. ... Juni's ability to get a shot off and do that, create space for himself, has been impressive too."
• On how the team is improving at rebounding: "We recruited to that, certainly. (Bradshaw) will help with that, Sean Stewart. ... Evan will be an important part for that moving forward ... he had some big rebounding games (last year). ... Some of it's a mentality too ... it has the potential to be a real strength for us."
• On how he envisions the rest of the roster taking shape with one scholarship available: "I think we'll be able to speak more specifically on that here in the near future, it's fluid. ... As we have looked to finalize things, we've looked to build around the pieces that we have and complement the guys that we have because we're really excited about this group."
• Asked if there could be more than one addition, Diebler again said that will be "fluid."
• On what he pictures when he thinks of what a Jake Diebler team should look like: "I want people to see an aggressive, confident, tough team and a team that has fun. ... We're gonna operate with a sense of joy and pride in what we do. ... There will be pace involved in that certainly, that's in my DNA, that's well-documented."

 

[ScriptOhio]

Realistic expectations for every 2024-25 Big Ten basketball transfer

Scouting reports and intel on the fit for each of the 85 new transfers heading to the Big Ten this upcoming season.

247sports.com

Realistic expectations for every 2024-25 Big Ten basketball transfer​

Scouting reports and intel on the fit for each of the 85 new transfers heading to the Big Ten this upcoming season.​

OHIO STATE​

(Photo: Getty)

Meechie Johnson, from South Carolina
Expected role: Starting guard
Johnson was a top-of-the-scouting report killer for South Carolina last year. He had a ton of responsibilities on his plate offensively. That experience should reap benefits in Round II at Ohio State. Johnson should slide right next to Bruce Thornton and form one of the top bucket-getting guard duos in the league next season. Johnson was the best version of himself at South Carolina with a pick-and-pop big man like BJ Mack. That's still a question for Ohio State's frontcourt. But there's no doubt Johnson's drives are impactful. That first step is nasty. He'll be productive in his return to Ohio State.

Micah Parrish, from San Diego State
Expected role: Potential starting wing
Parrish is an off-ball wing who has been part of two good teams at San Diego State. He's played in NCAA Tournament games. He's been in big moments. Parrish knows the drill defensively and he'll chip in on the glass, but he's a bit limited offensively. When his jumper is not going in, he can sort of disappear on that end of the floor. If he can bounce back and shoot closer to the 35% range from 3-point range, that'll be a big help for Ohio State's spacing. He won't be asked to create much, but Parrish won't take many bad, selfish shots.

Aaron Bradshaw, from Kentucky
Expected role: Starting center
Bradshaw is the biggest X-Factor on the team. If his production matches his potential, Ohio State could be one of the best teams in the league. Bradshaw's ability to stretch the floor would open up the paint for Johnson and Thornton to get to the rack. The former five-star, 7-foot-1 center was also regarded as a big-time rim protector during his high school days. Ohio State is banking on a Kel'el Ware-ish bounceback season in a new place with a full bill of health.

Sean Stewart, from Duke
Expected role: Starting forward
Stewart is another five-star recruit who landed at Ohio State looking for a bigger role. He should be able to find it. Ohio State desperately needed more thump in its frontcourt, and Stewart is an outstanding rebounder with incredible athleticism and a motor that never flips off. He will hunt rebounds and provide secondary rim protection. Stewart was only a play-finisher last year at Duke, and Thornton and Johnson should spoon-feed him good looks in the paint.
There's still a question of whether Stewart or Devin Royal starts at the 4, but Stewart should pair nicely next to Bradshaw and Royal might be more polished for an off-the-bench, scorer role. Both will play often.

 

[ScriptOhio]

Meechie Johnson, Bruce Thornton believe they can form 'one of the best backcourts in the country' this season

The Buckeyes have two talented guards who have long wanted to play together.

247sports.com

Meechie Johnson, Bruce Thornton believe they can form 'one of the best backcourts in the country' this season​

The Buckeyes have two talented guards who have long wanted to play together.​

Bruce Thornton's visit to Ohio State did not go as expected. Although he was already committed, the point guard from Alpharetta, Georgia, came in the fall of 2021 and got to go to his first college football game. He expected to watch the Buckeyes win, as they typically do at Ohio Stadium.

Instead, Thronton witnessed the Scarlet and Gray lose 35-28 to Oregon, the team's first defeat at Ohio Stadium since 2017.

This loss could have derailed Thornton's visit and changed his mind about where he wanted to play college basketball, as many on campus were not thrilled with what they saw from Ohio State. However, Thornton's host, guard Meechie Johnson, ensured the high schooler had a good time.

"When I was here, he was my host on my visit here," Thornton recalled recently.

"It was crazy because it was bad at first because that was when Ohio State lost to Oregon. So that was something. So that was my first college football game; they really lost to Oregon. But after that, just going to the dorm and being with Eugene Brown and Zed Key, just being around the team, just understanding what was Ohio State… But it's crazy how everything comes full circle."

The full circle moment occurred in early April when Johnson, a Cleveland native who transferred to South Carolina following the 2021-22 season, returned to Ohio State for his final year of college basketball. At the time of his visit, Thornton thought he'd get to share the backcourt with Johnson for the next two years, but the move appeared to make that a pipe dream.

However, in late June, Johnson and Thornton sat side by side, giving interviews to the local media.


.
.
.
continued