'26 OH F Alex Smith is a Buckeye!!!

[ScriptOhio]

Alex Smith Becomes Ohio State's Second Basketball Commitment for the Class of 2026

In-state forward Alex Smith is Ohio State's second commitment in the 2026 class, fulfilling a lifelong dream for the 6-9 prospect.

www.elevenwarriors.com

Alex Smith Becomes Ohio State's Second Basketball Commitment for the Class of 2026​

An Upper Arlington High School standout completed a lifelong dream on Monday.

Alex Smith, a forward in the recruiting class of 2026, committed to Ohio State over offers from Cincinnati, Indiana, Nebraska and Xavier.



"Ever since I could walk, ever since I could talk, I've always been a Buckeye fan," Smith told Eleven Warriors. "It's my dream to go to OSU. Just to be able to commit now, it's kind of a surreal feeling to think that all the hard work that I've put in has now paid off and it's my dream school."

He hit a growth spurt this past year to sprout up to 6-9, and with it came constant time in the gym to improve his craft. Smith went from a player well off the radar of major programs to picking up five Power Five offers in a matter of months.

Smith was one of the top standouts at Ohio State's recruiting camps in June, and with that came an offer from the Buckeyes on June 17.



While Smith is unranked in the 247Sports composite, which could change with time, Ohio State is a believer in Smith's growth over the past year as he's developed incredible ball-handling and shooting skills at his size.

"My range has extended," Smith said. "I could shoot the ball really well on the high school line, now I'm shooting NBA 3s. Nobody in high school can really guard the NBA line. Then I also took strides becoming (more like) a bigger guard. Just dribbling, passing, facilitating, all that type of stuff."

Smith fits with some of the versatile additions Jake Diebler has made to the Buckeyes' roster. With his size and skill combination, he could play power or small forward at the next level. While Diebler hasn't attached a specific label to Smith or many of his players, the plan for Smith is to play as a power forward with a real shooting threat.

"(Diebler) doesn't necessarily tag people as numbers, but if you want to play the numbers game, he sees me as a stretch 4," Smith said. "Someone who can step outside, knock the three-ball down. Of course, I need to add some muscle and some weight to me to be able to play the 4 coming in my freshman year. So that's definitely something me and Jake will look at and start now, my junior year of (high school), instead of starting it when I get into college."
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[ScriptOhio]

Upper Arlington's Alex Smith joins Ohio State men's basketball recruiting class of 2026

Ohio State men's basketball coach Jake Diebler has secured a verbal commitment who will join Marcus Johnson in the 2026 class.

www.dispatch.com

Upper Arlington's Alex Smith joins Ohio State men's basketball recruiting class of 2026​

Ohio State has landed a commitment for the 2026 class, and coach Jake Diebler didn’t have to go far to get it.

Alex Smith, a power forward from Upper Arlington, has verbally committed to the Buckeyes. A 6-foot-8, 195-pound junior, Smith committed while on an unofficial visit during the weekend.

“I have had a long relationship with Diebler and a great connection,” he said. “They have supported me a ton and have been straight up to me about things and I think that’s really hard to find in a program. There’s a ton I could speak on but that, plus the school being 15 minutes away from me, just all puts the pieces together.”

Smith earned an offer from the Buckeyes earlier this summer after a strong camp performance at Ohio State’s team camp. The Buckeyes were the second Big Ten school to offer him, after Indiana.

He joins five-star guard Marcus Johnson from Garfield Heights in Ohio State’s class of 2026.

“Everything just kind of clicked,” Smith said. “When I would think about recruiting, I would think about Ohio State. I realized this is where I wanted to play, so I saw no reason to wait.”
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[ScriptOhio]

Ohio State lands commitment from local 2026 prospect Alex Smith

Alex Smith, a 6-foot-8 power forward in the class of 2026 and Columbus native, has committed to Ohio State, he told On3.

www.on3.com

Ohio State lands commitment from local 2026 prospect Alex Smith​

Alex Smith, a 6-foot-8 power forward in the class of 2026 and Columbus native, has committed to Ohio State, he told On3.

The rising junior out of Upper Arlington (OH) makes an early pledge to the hometown Buckeyes over offers from programs such as Indiana, Xavier, Cincinnati, Nebraska, and more.

Smith, a versatile four-man with the ability stretch the floor and put the ball on the deck, is currently unranked nationally in the 2026 class, but is rated as a three-star recruit by On3.

Smith talks commitment to Buckeyes​

Smith went in-depth on his decision to choose Ohio State.

“I decided to commit to Ohio State because me and Diebler have had a consistent relationship for a year,” he said. “The fact that he has specifically been the main one recruiting and once he got the head coaching job, he didn’t stop or slow down with the recruiting process. Someone on the Ohio State staff has been at almost every game that they could have, if not all of them.”

His trust in head coach Jake Diebler and the staff was important.

“Diebler and the whole staff kept it 100% real with me the whole time and that’s really hard to find in a program. I’ve also been around Ohio State basketball a ton. Diebler’s open to having me come watch a practice or take a visit.”

In his own words, what type of player is Ohio State getting in Alex Smith?

“Ohio State is getting a unselfish gritty player who’s going to leave it all on the court. Someone who stretches the floor with my ability to shoot the ball, and I use that to help me get to the rim or facilitate.”

He has a message for Ohio State fans.

“My message to Buckeye nation is that I’m going to do whatever it takes to get that Natty and to bring back the old OSU tradition!”
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Just sayin': Alex Smith really isn't rated (yet); but he does (potentially) have a very high upside. And remember, starting for 2025/2026 season the NCAA sets the roaster limit at 15 and allows 15 scholarships in basketball. There won't be anymore walk-ons, etc.

 

[Bestbuck36]

Love it!

 

[brodybuck21]

Welcome to Buckeyes Nation Alex!!!

 

[DZ83CK]

Welcome, Alex! Looks pretty skilled at handling the ball for a bigger guy - clearly that was a major factor in him earning the OSU offer. I didn't realize IU wanted him also, that's significant. Xavier with Sean Miller in charge isn't gonna offer just anybody, either. In spite of the lack of ranking, clearly high major coaches see this young man as having some real potential.

 

[brodybuck21]