Ohio State basketball was delivered a pair of key roster changes due to the transfer portal on Easter
The Buckeyes had two key rotational players make their intentions clear they were going to leave Ohio State via the transfer portal. Jake Diebler and the staff have a key week ahead with roster changes.
The transfer portal opens on Tuesday and it is set to be a busy time for Ohio State basketball. The Buckeyes will have some major roster decisions to make in the transfer portal with additions needing to be made.
Ohio State has had several players make their intentions clear on the portal already. Devin Royal started the exits for the Buckeyes last week and Colin White made his portal decision known on Saturday. By Sunday, two more Buckeyes were heading out of the program.
Ohio State basketball has a major need at guard after Sunday’s news
Backup point guard Gabe Cupps and backup guard Taisom Chatman both announced transfer portal decisions on Easter to bring the total to five Buckeyes set to depart Columbus. Ohio State is of course losing Bruce Thornton to graduation, the same can be said about Christoph Tilly.
John Mobley Jr. has declared for the NBA Draft, but still has his eligibility and can withdraw his name. Mobley has already been clear on Ohio State being the place for him if he does return.
Cupps spent one season at Ohio State and was the No. 4 guard in the rotation behind Mobley, Thornton, and Chapman. After two seasons at Indiana, Cupps played in 33 games for Ohio State with 12.3 minutes per game. The Ohio native averaged 1.7 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 1.1 assists for Ohio State during his third college season.
Losing Chatman hurts a bit more as more of a scoring threat off the bench at 4.3 points and 1.2 rebounds per game in 13 minutes on average. Chatman made three starts this season at Ohio State in the 28 games he appeared in. The Minnesota native spent three seasons at Ohio State but missed all of 2024-2025 due to injury.
Ohio State already needed another guard to come in and start alongside Mobley in a perfect world. Now, the Buckeyes will need at least two guards off the bench to be able to throw into action as well.
It’s safe to say next year’s team is going to look very different for Jake Diebler.
