Which players have been linked to Buckeyes
Right now, there is no accurate way to predict what the 2022-23 Ohio State men’s basketball roster will look like. With multiple current players still in the process of making decisions about next season, and preparing to welcome in a five-man freshman class, the Buckeyes find themselves as major players in the transfer market this offseason.
It requires a strange mixture of both urgency and patience. Ohio State has the bargaining chip of the potential for significant playing time while bringing those aforementioned five freshmen along, and the Buckeyes have been linked with nearly a dozen Division I transfer players since their season ended in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Rob Oller:The secret to dancing deep into March? Talent trumps all. Just ask Big Ten
Joey Brunk:After final year at Ohio State, center pens goodbye letter to college basketball
It’s also not immediately clear how many players the Buckeyes figure to add via the portal. Ohio State has not yet had any current players enter the portal, but it’s possible that the addition of someone new could result in someone else opting to transfer out.
As Ohio State looks for answers, what follows is an alphabetical list of players known to have been contacted by the Buckeyes. It is by no means a comprehensive list, as Ohio State has contacted more players than those who have made that information publicly known. More names will be added as they become available.
Manny Bates, N.C. State
A four-star power forward prospect in the class of 2018, Bates has averaged 7.1 points and 4.8 rebounds in two-plus seasons with the Wolfpack. The 6-11, 230-pound Bates made just one appearance last season before suffering a right shoulder separation in the first minute of the season opener.
During the prior two seasons, Bates led the ACC in blocked shots. According to EvanMiya.com, which updates it rankings with each addition to the transfer portal, Bates is a four-star prospect and the No. 44 transfer prospect in the nation as of Thursday night.
Jalen Bridges, West Virginia
The Buckeyes are on a short list of favorites to land the 6-7, 225-pound forward from Fairmont, West Virginia. A four-star prospect out of high school according to the 247Sports.com composite database, Bridges averaged 7.3 points and 4.2 rebounds while shooting 35.6% from 3 and 45.2% from the floor in 61 games including 52 starts for the Mountaineers.
Bridges has taken an official visit to Ohio State. Miya ranks him as a five-star player and the No. 14 overall transfer.
Nelly Cummings, Colgate
A veteran guard who played for Bowling Green in 2017-18, transferred to Colgate and sat out a year before playing three season for the Raiders, Cummings has averaged 10.2 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists in four seasons.
The 6-0, 180-pound Cummings averaged 14.7 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists last season, all career-high numbers. Cummings is a four-star transfer prospect ranked No. 29 according to Miya.
Sean McNeil, West Virginia
A 6-3, 205-pound guard from Union, Kentucky, McNeil averaged 10.1 points and 2.0 rebounds while shooting 86.1% from the free-throw line, 36.8% from 3 and 40.4% overall during three seasons with the Mountaineers. A junior-college player, McNeil was ranked the No. 24 JUCO prospect in the 2019 class per 247Sports.
A four-star player according to Miya, McNeil is the No. 31 overall transfer prospect.
Tristen Newton, East Carolina
The Buckeyes are one of roughly two dozen schools to reach out to the 6-5, 190-pound guard who averaged 17.7 points in 30 games for the Pirates last season.
In three seasons, Newton has averaged 13.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists while shooting 85.2% from the line, 40.4% from the floor and 31.6% from 3. Miya ranks him No. 105 overall and a four-star prospect. He was an unranked prospect out of El Paso (Texas) Burges.
Dylan Penn, Bellarmine
A 6-3, 190-pound native of Evansville, Indiana, Penn spent the last four seasons helping the Knights transition to Division I and averaged 15.1 points and 4.0 rebounds during his two seasons at the highest level of men’s college basketball.
Around two dozen schools have reached out to Penn, who is ranked No. 129 overall and a three-star transfer according to Miya.
Rob Phinisee, Indiana
Ohio State is one of at least seven schools to reach out to the 6-1, 187-pound guard who spent the last four seasons with the Hoosiers. A native of Lafayette, Indiana, Phinisee visited Ohio State during the summer of 2017 and was among the first wave of phone calls coach Chris Holtmann made after being hired.
In 111 games at Indiana, Phinisee averaged 6.5 points and 2.8 assists while making 69 starts. Miya ranks him as the No. 54 overall transfer in the nation and a four-star player.
Antonio Reeves, Illinois State
The Buckeyes lost assistant coach Ryan Pedon to Illinois State, but the new coach for the Redbirds might not retain a second-team all-conference guard who averaged 20.1 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists in his third season with the program.
The 6-6, 185-pound native of Chicago is a three-star prospect and the No. 137 transfer according to Miya.
Will Richard, Belmont
An unranked combo guard prospect out of high school, the Atlanta native averaged 12.1 points and 6.0 rebounds for Belmont as a freshman before entering the portal.
According to Stadium.com’s Jeff Goodman, other schools to reach out to the 6-5, 195-pound Richard include Penn State, West Virginia, Florida, among others. Miya ranks him as a five-star player and the No. 11 transfer.
Get more Ohio State news by listening to our podcasts
Read More: Which players have been linked to Buckeyes