Ohio State lost a guard on Wednesday and gained another one for this season on Thursday.
Just a day after Utah State transfer guard Abel Porter's basketball career ended due to a previously undiscovered rare heart disease, the Buckeyes learned the waiver to allow Bucknell transfer guard Jimmy Sotos to play was approved by the NCAA. The initial effort to have Sotos play right away had been denied by the NCAA weeks prior, but Ohio State put forth a successful appeal.
Time to hoop https://t.co/sd4EGHXqmw
— Jimmy Sotos (@SotosShow4) November 5, 2020
Chris Holtmann announced the news on Thursday afternoon.
"Jimmy Sotos, his waiver was approved. We got word on that this morning," Holtmann said in a video released on social media. "So we appreciate the work of our compliance and the NCAA's consideration."
A few scheduling and program updates. pic.twitter.com/qavdKOzr8M
— Chris Holtmann (@ChrisHoltmann) November 5, 2020
Sotos will become Ohio State's top backup guard behind CJ Walker and Duane Washington Jr.
Originally, he opted to transfer to play for the Buckeyes with the idea he'd sit out the 2020-21 season before playing his final year of eligibility in 2021-22. However, because of the lack of backcourt depth and the NCAA's decision not to count this year as a season of eligibility for winter athletes, Ohio State pursued a waiver for Sotos.
The 6-foot-3, 200-pounder averaged 11.5 points, 3.9 assists and 3.5 rebounds in 32.1 minutes per game last season for the Bison.
