Ohio State men’s basketball: Transfer portal update

Now that school basketball has topped a champion and moved into the offseason, coaches are trying to finalize their rosters for subsequent season. Whether or not you just like the switch portal or not, it’s right here to remain and up to now this offseason there have been 1,400 Division I gamers within the switch portal.

Ohio State has already used the portal to their benefit, bringing in Tanner Holden from Wright State. Holden averaged 20.1 factors and seven.1 rebounds per sport final season. Holden was one of many high guys to hit the portal and he stated Ohio State was the primary program to contact him, so the Buckeyes wasted no time in bringing in some scoring.

Nevertheless, with at the least eight or 9 scholarship guys heading out of Columbus this offseason, and simply 5 freshmen coming in, the Buckeyes might want to get extra than simply Tanner Holden out of the switch portal, regardless of how good he’s. Fortunately, Ohio State has been extraordinarily lively since they had been eradicated from the NCAA Match by Villanova.

The scholarship state of affairs for the Buckeyes is lastly beginning to take form with the information that Justice Sueing is returning and Meechie Johnson and Justin Ahrens have entered the portal. E.J. Liddell and Malaki Branham entered the NBA Draft and Liddell is unquestionably going to maintain his identify within the draft whereas Branham may be very more likely to as properly.

With Seth Cities formally returning to Columbus, OSU can have two scholarships left to provide. They don’t have to make use of all of them this season and will depart one for the 2023 recruiting class to go get a man like Rayvon Griffith, however they are going to certainly add one or two extra transfers to the 2022 staff.

These names are liable to alter after gamers take visits, commit elsewhere, and different names hit the portal, however for proper now, listed here are some names to look out for in case you are on the lookout for Ohio State to lock down some transfers.

Sean McNeil – West Virginia guard

McNeil continues to be on the bingo card despite the fact that his teammate at West Virginia and Ohio State goal Jalen Bridges dedicated to Baylor. The Buckeyes possible have two scholarships open and presumably three, however I nonetheless consider the Buckeyes want so as to add a degree guard. Particularly with the departure of Meechie Johnson.

McNeil is thought for his capturing however he’s extra versatile than simply that. McNeil averaged 12.2 factors per sport and a couple of.5 rebounds per sport. These numbers ought to be taken with context although, since West Virginia is thought for a way sluggish they play. McNeil’s numbers will inevitably go up with the Buckeyes primarily based on tempo alone.

Nijel Pack – Kansas State guard

Pack is among the greatest scorers nonetheless left within the portal and could be a reasonably good addition to Holden. He would are available and instantly be a high scorer for the Buckeyes after averaging 17.4 factors and three.78 rebounds per sport. Throughout his freshman season, Pack began in each sport for the Wildcats and averaged 12.7 factors per sport. Pack has performed in 53 profession video games and began in 52 of them.

A man who instantly made an impression at a excessive main college and scored the ball at a excessive stage in his first two seasons could be enormous for this Ohio State staff who wants their transfers to play Day 1 of this season. Pack has already visited Ohio State, Miami and Purdue and all three ought to be thought of favorites. They’re additionally all fairly desperately in want of a degree guard.

Pack is among the high priorities for the Buckeyes and he ought to be.

Jermaine Couisnard – South Carolina guard

Couisnard was a late add to the Buckeyes curiosity record and is an fascinating one for the match of the Buckeyes. Couisnard comes from South Carolina and most significantly, an exceptional head coach in Frank Martin.

Couisnard averaged 12.0 factors, 3.2 assists, and a couple of.5 rebounds per sport whereas additionally being a real two-way participant and usually guarding a number of positions for the Gamecocks. He’s one other man that can are available and make a direct impression, possible on the 2 with Holden on the 3 and Sueing on the 4.

Manny Bates – NC State ahead

Bates is one other fascinating man as a result of he’s coming off of an damage the place he didn’t play most of final season and Ohio State already has Zed Key coming again on the 5 and Felix Okpara coming in. With the restricted scholarships that the Buckeyes have — and the present want for a degree guard — it’s but to be seen how a lot Ohio State is prioritizing going after a middle.

Nevertheless, Bates is a stable one who could be a actual power down low and is an elite shot blocker at 6-foot-11 with a big body. Including to the record under is Butler, who Bates just lately visited with.

Ben Vander Plas – Ohio ahead

Vander Plas was one of many extra talked about and apparent suits to the Buckeyes proper when he hit the portal. Final week, Jeff Goodman confirmed that Vander Plas had narrowed his record and the Buckeyes had been on it. Vander Plas averaged 14.3 factors and 6.8 rebounds per sport. He’s a stretch 4 that actually would match like a glove on the Buckeyes.

One of many issues is his dad performed at Virginia and Bennett Vander Plas is called after Virginia head coach Tony Bennett. So there’s that.

Antonio Reeves – Illinois State guard

Reeves is one other participant that may instantly are available and be a bucket-getter for the Buckeyes. The 6-foot-4 guard averaged 20.1 factors and three.5 rebounds per sport in over 35 minutes per sport for Illinois State. He additionally shot 39% from three-point vary and is a three-level scorer.

Reeves is among the extra quiet recruitments on the market proper now, however so was Tanner Holden. Including Holden and Reeves could be including over 40 factors per sport to an offense that desperately wants it.