Who's staying and who's leaving? Ohio State men's basketball roster tracker
This time of year, it’s a challenge to keep up with the status of a college basketball roster. As seasons end and the transfer portal hums along, it’s become the new normal for teams to cycle through multiple players each offseason.
That is the case at Ohio State, where new coach Jake Diebler is in the process of sorting out the 2024-25 roster during his first offseason in charge of the program. With what The Dispatch has learned is a significant commitment to assisting the program’s efforts via name, image and likeness rights through THE Foundation, the primary collective supporting the program, the Buckeyes are expected to be aggressive in addressing roster needs via the portal.
You can keep tabs on players the Buckeyes have been linked with via the transfer portal by checking this link, which will be updated throughout the offseason.
At the same time, multiple players have already announced their decisions to transfer out as others weigh their decisions. With all that to process, here’s a look at where the Ohio State roster stands for 2024-25. This page will be updated as more players make decisions.
Who has entered the transfer portal?
Five members of the 2023-24 class have decided to transfer out with eligibility remaining.
On March 28, second-year guard Bowen Hardman announced that he was entering the transfer portal. He appeared in 25 games during his two seasons with the Buckeyes, averaging 1.8 points while shooting 44.8% (13 for 29) from 3-point range. He has two years of eligibility remaining. On April 27, he committed to Akron.
On April 1, first-year wing Scotty Middleton became the second Buckeye to enter the portal. He appeared in 30 games in 2023-24, averaging 4.4 points and 1.4 rebounds while shooting 45.2% (28 for 62) from 3-point range. He has three years of eligibility remaining. On April 24, he committed to Seton Hall.
On April 3, second-year guard Roddy Gayle became the third Buckeye to enter the portal. In two years with the Buckeyes, Gayle averaged 9.1 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.0 assists while playing in 71 games including 36 starts at Ohio State. He has two years of eligiblity remaining. On April 22, Gayle committed to Michigan.
On April 5, fourth-year forward Zed Key became the fourth Buckeye to enter the portal. In four years with the Buckeyes, Key averaged 7.4 points and 5.0 rebounds while playing in 121 games including 49 starts. He has one year of eligibility remaining. Key has committed to play at Dayton.
On April 21, second-year center Felix Okpara became the fifth Buckeye to enter the portal. In two years with the Buckeyes, he averaged 5.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.8 blocks while appearing in 70 games including 45 starts. He has two years of eligiblity remaining. On April 25, he committed to Tennessee.
Who exhausted their eligibility?
Ohio State had two fifth-year seniors on its 2023-24 roster. Jamison Battle averaged 15.3 points and shot 43.3% (91 for 210) from 3-point range while Dale Bonner averaged 4.9 points and 2.3 rebounds while playing 19.3 minutes per game in 36 appearances including two starts.
Battle spent two years at George Washington and two at Minnesota before transferring to Ohio State. Bonner began his college career at Division II Fairmont State, where he played for two years before transferring to Baylor for two years and then to Ohio State.
How many open roster spots does Ohio State have?
When the final whistle sounded to mark Ohio State’s 79-77 loss to Georgia on March 26, the Buckeyes entered an offseason with every spot on the 2024-25 roster already spoken for. With the departures of Hardman, Gayle, Middleton, Key and Okpara, Ohio State opened up five spots for next season.
On April 2, South Carolina transfer Meechie Johnson committed to Ohio State, occupying one of those spots. On April 15, Kentucky transfer Aaron Bradshaw committed to Ohio State, taking a second spot. On April 20, San Diego State transfer Micah Parrish commited to the Buckeyes, filling a third spot.
On May 3, Duke transfer Sean Stewart committed to Ohio State, filling a fourth spot.
That leaves one roster spot remaining..
Who is on the Ohio State roster?
Here’s who is able to return and be part of the 2024-25 roster:
Meechie Johnson (four years played, one year remaining)
Micah Parrish (four years played, one year remaining)
Kalen Etzler (three years played, two years remaining)
Evan Mahaffey (two years played, two years remaining)
Bruce Thornton (two years played, two years remaining, has publicly announced his plans to return)
Aaron Bradshaw (one year played, three years remaining)
Taison Chatman (one year played, three years remaining, has publicly announced his plans to return)
Austin Parks (one year played, three years remaining)
Devin Royal (one year played, three years remaining, has publicly announced his plans to return)
Sean Stewart (one year played, three years remaining)
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How many freshmen are signed for 2024?
The Buckeyes signed a two-man recruiting class, and both players have reaffirmed their commitments to the program.
*John “Juni” Mobley Jr., a four-star guard from Reynoldsburg who finished his prep career at Mount Pleasant (Utah) Wasatch Academy. He is the No. 42 national prospect according to 247Sports.com.
*Colin White, a three-star small forward from Ottawa (Ohio) Ottawa-Glandorf, who was named Ohio Mr. Basketball as a senior. He is the No. 125 national prospect in the 247Sports rankings.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Who's on the Ohio State basketball roster for 2024-25?
