The 2025-26 Ohio State Buckeye basketball roster is nearly complete with the announcement today that 6’8”, 240-pound forward Brandon Noel, formerly of Wright State, has elected to spend his final season of college basketball with Jake Diebler and the Buckeyes.

Noel, hailing from Lucasville, Ohio, played his prep ball at Chillicothe High School, where he was named first-team All-Ohio in his senior year. He helped lead Chillicothe to a conference championship as a junior, earning second-team All-Ohio honors along the way.

After redshirting his first two seasons at Wright State due to an ACL injury, Noel became a key player for the Raiders, starting 26 games and appearing in all 33 during the 2022-23 season. In that campaign, he averaged 29 minutes per game, ranking among the top 15 in the Horizon League with 13 points per game, the highest for any freshman that season. Additionally, he finished third in the conference with 8.7 rebounds per game. Noel’s impressive performance earned him Horizon League Freshman of the Year honors, and he also made the league’s All-Academic Team, along with being named Horizon League Winter Scholar Athlete of the Year.

Noel’s 2023-24 season saw further improvements as he started all 31 games and averaged over 34 minutes per game. His stat line grew to 14.5 points and 8 rebounds per game, earning him a spot on the Second-Team All-Horizon League and a continued place on the All-Academic Team.

This past season, Noel started all 33 games for the Raiders, averaging 19 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. He showcased his shooting touch by connecting on 55.2% of his field goals and knocking down 38 three-pointers in 106 attempts (35.8%) earning a second straight Second-Team All-Horizon League honor.

Now with one more year of eligibility, Noel’s addition to the Buckeyes provides depth and experience at the 3 or 4 positions. He is expected to compete for a starting or a key bench role and adds another threat to stretch the floor with his shooting ability and impressive rebounding skills, which are expected to bolster a roster that needs an infusion of size and toughness in the frontcourt.

As the offseason roster construction nears its conclusion, with Noel’s commitment, the Buckeyes are one step closer to finalizing their roster for the upcoming season. Ohio State is likely to add one more versatile player, probably on the wing, to compete for high-level minutes, as the offseason roster overhaul nears completion. On paper, the revamped roster looks strong, combining veteran leadership and exciting new talent. This combination makes the team poised to compete for a top spot in the Big Ten and earn a return to the NCAA Tournament with hopes of a deep run in March.

 

-Jason Harris