Now that Ohio State Buckeyes men’s basketball team has essentially finalized the rotational portion of its roster and the Big Ten schedule has been released for the 2026–27 season, the time has come for a clear-eyed evaluation of how the program navigated a pivotal offseason. Although they still have 2 roster spots available that most likely will be filled by ‘practice only’ depth type players, the portion of the roster that will impact games is largely in place. In today’s college basketball landscape, transfer portal decisions are driven by four primary factors: exposure, development, playing time, and NIL compensation. Examining Ohio State through that lens reveals both encouraging progress and lingering concerns.

Exposure: Strong Brand, But Not Elite Tier

From a national visibility standpoint, Ohio State remains one of the most recognizable brands in college athletics. However, when it comes specifically to basketball, the Buckeyes fall just short of true “blue blood” status. Instead, they occupy a second tier — a program capable of high-level success, but one that has experienced inconsistency over the years. That perception can matter when competing for elite transfer talent.

Development: Still Something to Prove

Player development remains a legitimate question mark under head coach Jake Diebler. While his tenure is still relatively young, there is not yet a clear track record of transforming players into NBA-ready prospects.

Bruce Thornton stands as the closest example, but even he projects as more of a fringe NBA candidate than a surefire draft pick. Until Ohio State can point to multiple players making that leap, it may continue to trail top programs in this category. That may be changing rapidly with the potential of 3 or 4 legitimate prospects on the current roster.

Playing Time: Limited Openings for Elite Transfers

Opportunity is often king in the portal — and this is where things get complicated for Ohio State.

The Buckeyes return a strong core:

• John Mobley Jr. at shooting guard
• Amare Bynum in the frontcourt
• Incoming five-star freshman Anthony Thompson expected to start on the wing
• Josh Ojianwuna returning from injury, likely at center

With three to four starting spots essentially accounted for, the most glaring need was at point guard, along with additional depth in both the frontcourt and primarily the backcourt. Beyond that, however, available minutes become scarce — and most high-level transfers are not looking to leave one program just to come off the bench elsewhere.

This reality likely limited Ohio State’s appeal to certain top-tier portal targets they were initially tied to.

NIL and Financial Strategy: Focused, But Costly

If playing time wasn’t a major selling point, NIL had to be. Reports suggest Ohio State increased its financial commitment to basketball, but much of that investment was already allocated.

Retaining Mobley and Bynum while securing a commitment from a five-star talent like Thompson required significant resources. Rather than spreading NIL funds across the entire roster, the Buckeyes opted for a “quality over quantity” approach — prioritizing key rotational players.

That strategy is sound in theory, but it may have required overpaying in certain cases to attract transfers willing to compete rather than walk into guaranteed roles.

Roster Turnover: A Massive Overhaul

Ohio State entered the offseason needing to replace a substantial portion of its production:

• 67% of minutes
• 68% of scoring
• 62% of rebounding
• 73% of assists

Departures were significant.

Graduation losses included:

• Starters: Thornton, Christoph Tilly
• Reserves: Brandon Noel, Puff Johnson

Transfer portal exits:

• Devin Royal (to Villanova)
• Gabe Cupps (to UIC)
• Taison Chatman (to Utah)
• Colin White (to Akron)
• Mathieu Grujicic (TBD)

Of the players eligible to return, Royal’s exit is the most notable from a statistical standpoint, though his role next season likely would have been diminished with Thompson joining the roster leading him to find a more stable role at Villanova. Ohio State also would have liked to have had Chatman back, as he was starting to show signs of living up to his four-star pedigree after two injury-plagued seasons. However, defensive inconsistency and offensive lapses contributed to uneven minutes and production off the bench this past year, ultimately leading him to look for a fresh start elsewhere, ultimately landing at Utah.

The Additions: Fit Over Flash

While Ohio State missed out on several high-profile transfer targets, the players they did land appear to fit specific needs. This is not a class headlined by a surefire All-American, but rather one built on versatility, depth, and lineup flexibility — areas where last year’s team struggled.

The addition of Thompson — the program’s highest-rated recruit since Jared Sullinger — provides a foundational piece with immediate impact potential. While relying on a freshman always carries risk, Thompson is widely viewed as one of the safest bets in his class and a potential NBA lottery pick.

Outlook: Higher Floor, Flexible Ceiling

Ultimately, Ohio State’s offseason can be viewed as pragmatic rather than flashy.

They addressed key needs, improved depth, and maintained a strong core. Internal development — particularly from Mobley, Bynum, and Ivan Njegovan — will be critical in determining whether this team merely improves or takes a significant leap.

The ceiling for the 2026–27 Buckeyes may not yet be championship-level on paper, but the floor appears higher. And in a rapidly evolving college basketball landscape that balance between stability and upside could prove more valuable than a single headline-grabbing addition and certainly provides them the foundation of a potential championship-type season if things break in their favor.

New Portal Additions

Justin Pippen: While Pippen may draw attention as the son of an NBA legend, his impact on Ohio State goes far beyond his name. Expected to step in as the starting point guard, he brings a polished, NBA-caliber skill set with the ability to score at all three levels and defend at a high level, giving the Buckeyes a true two-way floor general. His presence fills a major need in the backcourt and immediately elevates the team’s ceiling heading into the 2026–27 season.

Andrija Jelavic: Jelavic, a former European professional, arrives at Ohio State after one season at Kentucky where he averaged 5.5 points and 4 rebounds in a limited role, however his role did expand later in the season. The 6-foot-11 stretch forward/center brings mobility, shooting touch, and versatility, allowing him to impact the game on both ends while fitting into multiple frontcourt lineups. He’s expected to compete for high level minutes right away, adding depth and flexibility to a Buckeyes frontcourt that now features a blend of size and skill.

Jimmie Williams: Williams, a Solon, Ohio native and three-star transfer, is coming off a standout season at Duquesne where he averaged 15.1 points and shot 40% from three, earning Atlantic 10 Third Team honors. Known for his size and three-level scoring ability, he thrives in an off-ball role and brings proven production and shooting to the Buckeyes. Slated as a key reserve at the two or at the three in small lineups, he adds valuable depth and scoring punch to Ohio State’s bench.

Curtis Givens III: The 6-foot-3 guard averaged 9.4 points, 2.3 assists, and 2.1 rebounds last season at Memphis after a year at LSU, showing a smooth, pace-driven game built around shot creation and playmaking. A former 4-star and Top 100 recruit out of HS, Givens can score at all three levels and operates as a secondary facilitator, though his consistency from deep is still developing. Defensively, he brings solid size and instincts, and he’ll initially provide depth behind Justin Pippen while projecting as a developmental lead guard with upside.

Overall Summary

Ohio State will enter the 2026-27 season with intriguing upside, though its true ceiling will depend on internal development—particularly from key returners and whether its top talent lives up to expectations. This roster is deeper and more talented from top to bottom than a year ago, featuring legitimate 1–9 rotation strength and multiple NBA-caliber players, something the program hasn’t had in quite some time. As a result, bench production should be significantly improved, giving the Buckeyes more consistency and flexibility throughout games.

Although Ohio State didn’t land a definitive top-10 transfer, the Buckeyes successfully filled key roster needs and should benefit from improved overall depth. Losing Thornton is significant, particularly because of his leadership and experience, but this roster is bigger, more athletic, and projects to be much stronger on the defensive end. If the Buckeyes can stay healthy, they have the look of a legitimate Top 25 team and should be safely in the field for the expanded NCAA Tournament, likely landing somewhere around a 5-7 seed, with the potential to contend near the top of a loaded Big Ten and make a deep March run if everything clicks.

Portal Grade B-

– Jason Harris