Ohio State basketball handed tough transfer portal news thanks to a move made by a good SEC team
The Ohio State basketball program has two transfer portal commitments so far. Jake Diebler’s squad was in the mix to land one of the best players remaining and the latest development shows it won’t happen.
The Ohio State Buckeyes got off to a decent start with the transfer portal, but the noise has died down.
Ohio State basketball has made a pair of transfer portal additions so far with former California G Justin Pippen and Kentucky F Andrija Jelavic joining the team from the portal.
There are still at least three transfer portal additions needing to be made and two of them have to be guards. Ohio State was after one of the top remaining guards in the portal, but news broke on Wednesday that they wouldn’t land him.
Ohio State misses on Notre Dame transfer heading to Tennessee
The Buckeyes were among the final three schools for former Notre Dame G Jalen Haralson, but he’ll be heading elsewhere. Haralson announced his commitment to the Tennessee Volunteers on Wednesday, signaling a miss for Ohio State.
Haralson was the No. 3 combo guard in the transfer portal, per 247 Sports. The former Notre Dame guard has a high ceiling coming off a freshman season where he averaged 16.2 points, four rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game. Haralson was the No. 24 overall player in the transfer portal.
Landing Haralson would have given the Buckeyes a starting guard alongside John Mobley Jr. for next season — and it would allow Ohio State to bring Pippen off the bench as a sixth man. Missing out on Haralson probably confirms Pippen will be a starting guard for Ohio State next season.
Ohio State still being in on Haralson after getting Pippen was a good development for the roster. Unfortunately, the Buckeyes couldn’t land him, because it would have been a true difference-making addition.
Jake Diebler and the Buckeyes still need a couple of guards to come off the bench with Gabe Cupps and Taison Chatman no longer on the team. Haralson is out of the picture, but other options remain for Ohio State basketball to add.
