Ohio State has added another key piece to its roster rebuild, securing a commitment from Duquesne transfer guard Jimmie Williams. The 6-foot-5, 215-pound wing joins head coach Jake Diebler and the Ohio State men’s basketball team with one season of eligibility remaining.
A three-star transfer and Solon, Ohio native, Williams is coming off a strong season at Duquesne, where he averaged 15.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.6 assists across 33 games—all starts—while shooting an efficient 40% from three-point range, making the Atlantic 10’s all third team. Prior to his time at Duquesne, Williams spent a season at South Florida, averaging 7.5 points per game while shooting 33.9% from beyond the arc on high volume, before starting his career at the Juco ranks, where he was a NJCAA All-American in 2023-24.
Possessing good size and length, Williams has garnered a reputation for his ability to score at all three levels, thriving in primarily an off-ball role for the Dukes last season. He put together an impressive stretch of 20 consecutive double-figure scoring games, during which he averaged 17.5 points while shooting 50% from the field (124-for-248), showcasing both consistency and efficiency.
As Diebler continues to reshape the roster through the transfer portal, Williams is expected to play a significant role in a reserve role as a two-guard, providing a much-needed offensive spark. His scoring ability, experience, and perimeter shooting should help bolster a Buckeye backcourt that lacked consistent production off the bench for much of last season.
With Williams now in the fold alongside recent portal addition Justin Pippen in the backcourt, Ohio State continues to strengthen its depth and versatility as it shapes a roster built to compete near the top of the Big Ten and make a serious postseason run in the 2026–27 season. With four roster spots still open, Jake Diebler is expected to target additional rotational help—likely another backcourt piece or two—along with a pair of players to round out the roster.
-Jason Harris