Ohio
Puff Johnson on campus but not ready to play for Ohio State yet
In-season roster addition Puff Johnson has arrived on Ohio State’s campus, but the sixth-year transfer won’t be in uniform for the Jan. 20 home game against Minnesota.
That was the message from coach Jake Diebler on Jan. 19, just three days removed from Johnson having a temporary restraining order approved by a Franklin County judge granting him immediate eligibility to join the Buckeyes during the 2025-26 season. He’s on campus, listed in the official game notes and is on the roster, but seeing him in action against the Golden Gophers would be too much, too soon according to Diebler.
“Gotten a chance to work him out a couple times,” the coach said. “It’s a daily evaluation as to when he’s going to be ready to play in a game … (but) no, do not anticipate him being on the court (against Minnesota).”
Johnson was granted eligibility on Jan. 16 and, logistically, couldn’t make it to campus on time for the 1 p.m. tip against UCLA. After the 86-74 win for the Buckeyes, Diebler said the next steps would involve physically getting Johnson in the building and starting to assess where he was physically while assimilating him with his new teammates. Although he had been taking classes, Johnson had not been on campus for months while hoping to be granted eligibility.
Suddenly, he’s a Buckeye, and now the 25-year-old wing is getting a crash course on this year’s team.
“There’s two things: there’s him physically being ready to play in a game and then there’s him within how we play and learning what we’re doing and things, being ready to play in a game,” Diebler said. “He’s working really hard at both to be ready as quickly as possible. I don’t know when that’s going to be quite yet, but we’ve at least gotten started and started working on it.”
Johnson was seeking this sixth year of eligibility in part because injuries limited him to 14 games as a freshman at North Carolina in 2020-21 and 17 games last year at Penn State. After the UCLA game, Diebler said Johnson had told him that he was in good shape, but the coach said exactly what that meant would remain to be seen.
On Jan. 19, Diebler said early impressions are positive.
“The thing we’ve got to check is game shape,” he said. “When you’re playing up and down multiple possessions against live bodies, that’s a different impact than just running up and down against no defense. That’s what we’re in the process of evaluating, but he’s a guy who’s wanted this and been preparing for this, but there’s a different type of game shape.”
As far as a baseline level of fitness, Diebler said, “I feel good about where he’s at.”
Johnson will wear No. 6 for the Buckeyes. He is listed at 6-foot-8, 200 pounds on the team’s updated official roster and is expected to slot into Ohio State’s rotation on the wing when he’s up to speed. In 111 career games, Johnson has averaged 5.3 points and 2.6 assists but is expected to help Ohio State on the defensive end.
“He’s got an ability to guard multiple positions,” Diebler said. “He’s got good positional size. He has familiarity with this conference. He’s shown an ability to rebound. All those things are really good. He’s been a guy who’s had some decent steal numbers in the last two years as well, which is an area we’ve got to continue to get better in. Defensively, that’s where it starts.”
Johnson averaged 1.4 steals per game for Penn State last season and averaged nearly one steal per game during his two years with the Nittany Lions. In 2024-25, he also averaged a career-best 10.2 points per game.
“He can play multiple positions,” Diebler said. “And, because of his experience and basketball IQ, we anticipate him being a guy who is a blender on the court, a guy who adds to what already is a really good chemistry this team has. He’s got to play to his strengths: cutting, rebounding, catch and shoot 3s, driving, scoring, but also within what we’re doing.”
Ohio State men’s basketball beat writer Adam Jardy can be reached at ajardy@dispatch.com, on Bluesky at @cdadamjardy.bsky.social or on Twitter at @AdamJardy.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio’s law requiring children under 16 to get parental consent to use social media apps must be restored, a divided panel of the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Thursday.
The decision comes as a blow to NetChoice, which has won court victories against identical digital identification laws in other states, including Arkansas, Louisiana and Georgia. The trade group representing TikTok, Snapchat, Meta and other major tech companies said the Ohio decision went against “clear national consensus” and that it intended to keep fighting.
“An unconstitutional law protects no one, and we remain focused on ensuring the First Amendment rights of Ohioans are protected,” said Paul Taske, director of the NetChoice Litigation Center.
Netchoice brought suit against Ohio’s law in 2024, arguing that it was overly broad, vague and represented an unconstitutional impediment to free speech.
The Cincinnati-based Sixth Circuit’s panel disagreed. In a 2-1 decision, it found that the law was not unconstitutional and sent it back to a lower court to have a block on the law’s enforcement vacated.
“At bottom, the Act imposes a parental consent requirement,” Judge Eric Clay wrote in the lead opinion. “That requirement constitutes a marginal burden that precisely targets the multi-faceted problem that Ohio has identified: Children’s unsupervised assent to terms and conditions for use of platforms that take advantage of and harm them.”
Judge Alice Batchelder concurred, writing that “a statute is not vague just because it has a wide berth.”
Known as the Social Media Parental Notification Act, the Ohio law was part of an $86.1 billion state budget bill that Republican Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed into law in July 2023.
The administration pushed the measure as a way to protect children’s mental health, with then-Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, now a U.S. senator, saying at the time that social media was “intentionally addictive” and harmful to kids.
The law requires companies to get parental permission for social media and gaming apps and to provide their privacy guidelines so families know what content would be censored or moderated on their child’s profile.
Republican Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson called Thursday’s ruling “a win for Ohio families.”
“The court agreed that parents –- not social media companies –- should get a say in what kids see online,” he said in a statement. “We have an obligation to keep our children safe, and today, the most dangerous place for our kids is the internet. This decision gives parents the tools to be involved and provide oversight.”
Piketon, Ohio (WSAZ) – Folks in southern Ohio are waking up to power outages and road closures.
Route 32 in Pike County is down to one westbound and one eastbound lane due to debris on the roadway.
Drivers are also dealing with tree limbs on roadways.
The Athens County 911 dispatcher told WSAZ that it’s not believed a tornado touched down, but there is storm damage.
The dispatcher said storm damage from flooding and trees being knocked down has affected US 50.
Power outages are being reported in Athens, Pike, Vinton, Scioto and Meigs Counties and even as far south as Boyd County, Ky.
If you’re in a tornado warning area, you’re urged to get to the lower part of your home.
Keep checking the WSAZ app for the latest.
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YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (MyValleyTributes) – Clarence Burley, II, affectionately known as “Lil Man,” entered eternal rest on Thursday, June 5, 2026, at the age of 60, at Summa Health Akron City Hospital in Akron, Ohio.
Born on May 22, 1966, in Youngstown, Ohio, Clarence was the beloved son of Clarence L. Burley and Jacqueline Wilkinson-Burley.
He attended Ursuline High School and graduated with the Class of 1984.
Clarence was a hardworking and dedicated man who spent many years employed at Classic Optical Corporation as a Lens and Frame Specialist. Known for his skill and precision, he was recognized as one of the top lens shapers during his tenure with the company. He also worked for Goodwill Industries, where his exceptional work ethic earned him recognition and awards for outstanding service.
A devoted fan of the Oakland Raiders, Clarence enjoyed football, boxing, roller skating, and bowling. In his younger years, he was also an accomplished swimmer. He loved life and cherished spending time with family and friends. Whether enjoying a cruise vacation, visiting the lake to admire the water, debating sports statistics from A to Z, or simply sharing laughter with loved ones, Clarence brought joy wherever he went.
Known for his impeccable style, Clarence was often dressed to perfection. He was especially proud of his many Cadillacs, but none more than his beloved Cadillac Seville, affectionately known as “the baby caddy.” He could often be found cruising through the city, listening to music and enjoying the ride. His infectious smile, strength, humor, and generous spirit will forever be remembered by those who knew and loved him.
In 1999, Clarence met the love of his life, the former Cathy Winphrie. Their friendship blossomed into a lasting bond, and they were united in holy matrimony in 2015. Together they shared a life filled with love, companionship, and cherished memories.
Clarence leaves to cherish his memory his loving wife, Cathy Burley; his children, Shannie (Meisha) Burley of Atlanta, Georgia; DeShawn Burley (fiancée Ziah) of Warren, Ohio; Eddie W. Matthews; and Montell Cochrane; his beloved grandchildren, Zaira, DeShawn, Jr., Deondra, Audrionna, Eddie, Jr., Quiara, Azel, Anyia, Marquel, Aiden, Adalese, Meadow, and Amatureas; five great-grandchildren; his mother-in-law, Eula Winphrie; brothers-in-law, James (Jamie) Winphrie and Timothy (Kori) Winphrie; sisters-in-law, Regina Winphrie and Azella Burley; niece Helleenia Winphrie; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives, and dear friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence L. Burley and Jacqueline Wilkinson-Burley; his brother, Wesley Burley; and his grandmother, Carrie Davis.
Though Clarence’s earthly journey has ended, his legacy lives on through the lives he touched, the family he loved, and the countless memories he leaves behind. His strength, perseverance, laughter, and love will continue to inspire all who were blessed to know him.
“To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.”2 Corinthians 5:8
A homegoing celebration will be held 10:00 a.m. Saturday June 20, 2026 at Jerusalem Baptist Church , a visitation with the family will be 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. at the Church.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Gregory-Martin Funeral Home. For additional information, please call (330) 743-4098.
To send flowers or plant a memorial tree in memory, please visit our flower store.
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