Former Ohio State starter Devin Royal has found a new home in the college basketball transfer portal
Devin Royal was the first Buckeye to enter the transfer portal after the season. Now, the former Ohio State starter has found a new home on the east coast.
Devin Royal spent the last three seasons with the Ohio State basketball program as a Columbus area native and was the first Buckeye to enter the transfer portal when it opened last week.
The 6-foot-7 forward from Pickerington, Ohio committed to a new school out of the transfer portal on Monday night. Royal will finish out his college basketball career on the East Coast.
Former Ohio State F Devin Royal is heading to the Big East
Royal will finish out his college hoops career with the Villanova Wildcats in the Big East. It was rumored to be UConn that was the school to watch for Royal, but it’s Villanova and Royal will be heading to Philadelphia for his senior season.
As a junior, Royal started 32 games for the Buckeyes while averaging 13.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. Royal was a starter as a sophomore as well when he put up 13.7 points a night. The now former Buckeye played in 33 games as a true freshman putting up 4.7 points a night as a bench option.
Ohio State’s roster construction for next season ousted Royal out of the equation unless he was okay with coming off the bench. Amare Bynum returns as a starting forward and incoming five-star McDonald’s All-American Anthony Thompson is going to man the other forward spot. Ohio State will start either Josh Ojianwuna or Kentucky transfer Andrija Jelavic at center.
Royal should get a chance to start at Villanova with the Wildcats coming off a 24-9 season. Villanova isn’t the college basketball power it once was, but it’s still a strong landing spot for a player who was a key piece for the Buckeyes the last couple of seasons.
