Which potential transfers has Ohio State men's basketball been linked with?
Adam JardyLike most teams, Ohio State figures to spend some time looking for roster additions via the transfer portal this spring.
When the Buckeyes closed the 2022-23 season, they did so with every roster spot for the upcoming season technically spoken for. The 2023-24 roster is set to feature one fifth-year senior, two fourth-year players, a third-year player, five second-year players and four freshmen. That could put Ohio State at 13 scholarship players, but the likelihood is that at least one or two spots will likely open up in the coming weeks.
It could be from a player or two opting to transfer out, or it could come from projected first-round NBA draft pick Brice Sensabaugh should he decide to enter the draft and not return for a sophomore season. Until decisions are made by the projected members of the roster, it’s difficult to project how many spots could be available and what exact needs the Buckeyes will be targeting. In addition, more players from high-major programs will continue to enter the portal in coming weeks.
With that in mind, here’s a running list of players in the portal Ohio State has been linked with. This list will be updated as more names surface.
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Joe Girard, Syracuse
Ohio State initially recruited the three-star point guard prospect from Glens Falls, New York, in the class of 2019. Now, according to Zagsblog.com, the Buckeyes are again in pursuit of the 6-1, 190-pound guard who averaged a career-high 16.4 points in his fourth season with the Orange.
Girard is a career 36.3% 3-point shooter who has averaged 13.2 points and 2.9 assists in four seasons at Syracuse.
John Tonje, Colorado State
In his fourth year with the Rams, the 6-5, 210-pound guard averaged a career-high 14.6 points and 4.7 rebounds per game while shooting 38.9% (61 for 157) from 3-point range. He also led the team in free-throw rate according to KenPom.com.
Tonje is a native of Omaha, Nebraska. He has averaged 8.6 points and shot 45.2% from the floor in his four seasons at Colorado State.
Payton Sparks, Ball State
Listed as a 6-9, 240-pound center, Sparks posted the third-highest scoring season for a freshman in school history when he averaged 13.5 points per game in 31 games, all starts, in 2021-22. He has started all 62 games the Cardinals played during his two seasons with the program.
He has averaged 13.3 points and 8.6 rebounds while playing 28.6 minutes per game. He was the Mid-American Conference rookie of the year and a third-team all-conference pick as a first-year player and was second-team all-league last season as the Cardinals went 20-12.
Keyshawn Hall, UNLV
According to Twitter account @247HSHoops, Ohio State is one of several schools to reach out to the 6-7, 250-pound guard who averaged 5.4 points and 1.6 rebounds in only 10.7 minutes per game as a freshman for the Runnin' Rebels.
Hall is an Ohio native originally from Cleveland Heights. He played at Denver Prep Academy as a high school senior.
Johnny O'Neil, American
The Patriot League rookie of the year in 2020-21, O'Neil was named to the conference's all-defense team this year and averaged 11.3 points and 6.6 rebounds. He has appeared in 70 games including 60 starts during his three seasons, averaging 10.0 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.4 blocks.
O'Neil is listed at 6-9, 200 pounds and primarily played power forward last season for the Eagles.
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Jace Carter, Illinois-Chicago
A 6-5, 215-pound forward who has also spent some time in the backcourt, Carter led the Flames in scoring at 16.5 points per game, tied for the lead in rebounding at 6.8 per game and shot 45.5% (158 for 347) from the field. He was a second-team all-conference selection in UIC's first season in the Missouri Valley Conference.
In 2021-22, Carter was named to the Horizon League's all-freshman team after averaging 12.9 points and 8.6 rebounds.
Jamison Battle, Minnesota
After spending his first two seasons at George Washington, Battle played 56 games in the last two seasons for the Golden Gophers and averaged 15.1 points last season. A 6-7, 220-pound forward, Battle averaged a career-high 17.5 points per game in the 2021-22 season.
In four seasons at the two schools, he has averaged 14.4 points, shot 35.0% from 3-point range and pulled down 5.2 rebounds per game. In three games against Ohio State, Battle averaged 12.3 points with the Gophers. 247Sports.com reported Ohio State's contact.
Jordan Minor, Merrimack
Entering his fifth year of college basketball, the 6-8, 240-pound forward has averaged 12.6 points and 7.4 rebound in 107 games including 76 starts. Last season, he scored a career-high 17.4 points per game and spulled down 9.4 rebounds while shooting 52.6% from the floor.
Minor has attempted 32 career 3-pointers. Stockrisers.com reported that the Buckeyes have made contact.
Ishmael Leggett, Rhode Island
A prolific scorer in his final of three seasons with the Rams, the 6-3, 190-pound guard averaged 16.4 points in 31 games for Rhode Island last season. He has started all 62 games during the last two seasons and is a career 39.6% shooter (205 for 475) from the field.
Last season, Leggett also averaged 5.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists.
Khalif Battle, Temple
According to On3Sports.com, Ohio State is one of multiple schools to reach out to the 6-5, 175-pound guard who spent the 2019-20 season at Butler, coach Chris Holtmann's prior school. After one season with the Bulldogs, he transferred to Temple, where he averaged a team-high 15.0 points per game in a 2020-21 season that saw the program only manage to play 16 games.
He suffered a season-ending left foot injury after seven games in the 2021-22 season and averaged 17.9 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists this year for Temple but did not play in the final six games for undisclosed reasons.
Jackson Paveletzke, Wofford
The 6-3, 175-pound guard was named Southern Conference freshman of the year after averaging 15.1 points and 3.7 assists per game. He started all 33 games for the Terriers.
Kevin Miller, Central Michigan
Ohio State is one of many schools to make contact with the 6-0, 165-pound guard who just finished his sophomore season with the Chippewas according to Stockrisers.com. A member of the All-MAC freshman team, Miller was second-team preseason all-conference this year and averaged 18.5 points, 5.3 assists and 3.8 turnovers in only four games.
He missed the remainder of the season with a foot injury. Miller averaged 13.1 points per game as a freshman.
Cobe Williams, Louisiana Tech
According to Adam Zagoria, Ohio State is one of multiple schools to reach out to the 6-0, 180-pound guard who was a two-time Conference USA all-defensive team selection who averaged 18.8 points per game in his fourth and final season with the program. Williams left the team for what were announced as "personal reasons" before season's end.
Williams saw his scoring increase each season. This year, he shot a career-best 34.4% (45 for 131) from 3-point range and averaged a career-best 4.1 assists and 3.4 rebounds per game before leaving the team after a Feb. 11 loss to Florida Atlantic.
Nick Timberlake, Towson
A 6-4, 205-pound guard, Timberlake will be playing his sixth season of college basketball. He took a redshirt after playing in nine games including five starts during the 2018-19 season and, in 2022-23, averaged 17.7 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists, setting new career highs in scoring and assists.
He’s also a dangerous 3-point shooter, having hit on 92 of 221 attempts (41.6%) this season and 78 of 192 (40.6%) last year.
March 19 update: According to Stockrisers.com, Ohio State and North Carolina have scheduled in-home visits for the upcoming week.
Kamari Lands, Louisville
A 6-8, 220-pound forward from Indianapolis, Lands was a four-star prospect in the 2022 class and rated No. 69 nationally according to the 247Sports.com composite database. After playing prep ball for Phoenix Hillcrest Prep as a senior, Lands signed with the Cardinals after landing offers from Kansas, Arizona State, Xavier, Texas Tech and others.
In his one season at Louisville, Lands appeared on all 32 games and had six starts, averaging 5.9 points and 1.9 rebounds per game. After posting three double-digit scoring efforts in the first 21 games of the year, Lands had had four in his final 11 games.
Dame Adelekun, Dartmouth
In his fourth season with the program, the 6-8, 220-pound forward averaged 13.8 points and 7.2 rebounds in 2022-23. The Ivy League did not participate for the 2020-21 season, and he only played in nine games as a freshman in 2019-20.
Adelekun has appeared in 56 games including 38 starts and averaged 9.6 points and 5.9 rebounds while shooting 58.2% from two-point range and only attempting 19 career 3-pointers. He was primarily used as a center last season.
Chris Ledlum, Harvard
A 6-6, 225-pound wing, Ledlum was a five-time Ivy League rookie of the week in the 2019-20 season and steadily increased his scoring from there. In 2022-23, Ledlum averaged 18.8 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.7 assists while playing in 28 games with 27 starts.
He's a career 52.0% shooter from two-point range and primarily played power forward for the Crimson last season.