Five Ohio State players that could be plucked from transfer portal
1. are listed in NCAA basketball. Bruce Thornton 2023–24 season statistics: 4.2 assists and 15.8 points per game
Thornton, a former top-50 recruit in the 2022 class, had an immediate impression right away. As a freshman, the 6’2 playmaker started all 35 games and averaged 10.6 points and 2.6 rebounds per game. He made 46% of his field goals and 38% of his three-pointers. Thornton’s raw stats have gone up this season with an even bigger role in the offense, but his shooting splits (41% FG and 33% 3PT) have declined.
The sophomore guard, though, has established himself as an All-Big Ten player. In 21 of 25 games, he has scored 11 points or more; in a win over Alabama, when the team was winning, he scored 29 points. Recently, in a double-overtime victory over Maryland, Thornton scored 24 points.
In addition, Thornton has made less mistakes this season and has a 4:1 assist-to-turnover ratio. Although he isn’t the best defender, if he were to enter the NCAA Basketball this offseason, he would undoubtedly rank among the best players in a position that desperately needs guards.
2. 2023–24 season statistics for SO Roddy Gayle Jr.:
Gayle, a former top-50 talent in the 2022 class, averaged 16 mpg off the bench while scoring 4.6 points per game on 44% of his shots. So far, his sophomore year has been quite successful statistically. He is averaging 10 more points per game and improving in all areas except three-point shooting, where he is only shooting 30% of the field on three attempts a game.
The 6’4 shooting guard has performed admirably inside the arc. In 19 out of 25 games, Gayle has scored in double figures. In an overtime victory over West Virginia, she recorded a career-high 32 points, six rebounds, and five assists. His best Big Ten game came in a 20-point outing against Illinois.
Despite his tendency to commit turnovers, Gayle is a natural shooting guard who can create well for both himself and others. Even though he has the natural skills to try and make it eventually, his lack of pure shooting makes the NBA Draft unfeasible beyond this season. His defense is adequate though.
Though Gayle is from New York, he played his high school ball in Utah. Teams that will be losing their starting guards, such as Syracuse, St. John’s, Seton Hall, and other local programs, will therefore be interested. But, if he chooses to leave, then prepare for everyone to view him as a 15 point per game scorer with two years remaining in his eligibility.
3. Zed Key SR
Season statistics for 2023–2024: 7.2 ppg and 4.3 rpg
Among the few players on this team who wasn’t a top-100 recruit coming out of high school is Key. He is an undersized 6’7 forward/center from New York who was rated as a three-star talent in the 2020 class. Nevertheless, he started the two seasons prior to this one and has managed to establish himself as a vital member of the squad.
With a career-high 10.8 points per game and 7.5 rebounds per game in 25 minutes per game, including 22 points and 14 rebounds versus Rutgers, Key had his greatest season as a junior. In a home victory over No. 1 Duke as a sophomore, he scored 20 points, setting a record for him.
Key had been benched in favor of Okpara throughout the previous season. He’s currently averaging 7.2 points and 4.3 rebounds a game, or just 16 minutes. And lately, the minutes have been declining even more—playing fewer than 15 mpg and posting two goose eggs in the last two weeks.
Regardless of the coach, Key would probably prefer a new beginning somewhere else, especially with a fifth year available if he so desires. St. John’s, which will lose Joel Soriano at the end of current season, is a possible possibility. Although Key has been playing more lately, he might not want to compete with Zuby Ejiofor.
4. SO Felix Okpara
Season statistics for 2023–2024: 6.4 rpg, 6.7 rpg, and 2.5 bpg
The 6’11 center had a great freshman season, starting 11 games when Zed Key was out and scoring 4.0 and 3.6 points per game in 16 minutes. Okpara was selected as the starting center despite Key being back and healthy, and he had a few standout preseason performances as a sophomore candidate.
It’s difficult to conclude that Okpara has performed as expected given the team’s poor performance. The center is shooting 62% from the field in 24 starts at about 24 mpg. He has four games with double-digit scoring, including a game a few weeks ago against Iowa where he scored 14 points and pulled down eight rebounds.
The sophomore center’s ability to block shots is what makes him stand out. With at least one block in every game this season, Okpara is eighth nationally and second in the Big Ten in terms of blocks per game. Against Michigan, he recorded a career-high five points, nine rebounds, and five blocked shots in one game.
Okpara would be an even more effective defender if he could stay out of foul trouble (he averages 4.8 fouls per 40 minutes). The native of Tennessee might be a target for SEC schools; several were initially considering him.
5. Devin Royal, FR; 2023–24 season stats: 3.2 points per game and 1.9 steals
A four-star prospect in the 2023 class, Royal is a 6’6 combo forward from Pickerington, Ohio, who was ranked in the top 60 overall by 247sports. He chose the Ohio Buckeyes over teams like Michigan State and Alabama because he was Mr. Basketball in the state.
Although Royal has started in almost all of the games this season as a substitute, only eight of his twenty-four minutes have seen him play for at least ten points. His one game of double digit scoring (11 points in 12 minutes against Central Michigan) has an impact on his entire productivity.
He’s been effective, hitting 51% of his shots overall. With only nine three-pointers made this season, Royal primarily plays inside the arc. We should see more of them because he’s a good face-up player who has been playing more minutes.
If Royal were to click on the portal, he has the recruiting history to spark curiosity. However, considering what Michigan State and Alabama have in store for their 2024 recruiting classes, it’s difficult to imagine them taking him on. In 2025, he might be a breakout prospect to keep an eye on at the proper time.
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