Ohio State's most-used freshman from the 2023-24 season will be playing elsewhere next year.
Scotty Middleton entered his name into the transfer portal on Monday, leaving Columbus after just one year with the Buckeyes.
Ephesians 2:8#LLDON pic.twitter.com/7lnfaj3Dj8
— Scotty Middleton (@ScottyMiddleto9) April 1, 2024
Middleton was Ohio State's top option on the wing off the bench this past year, playing 15.3 minutes per game. He saw the most minutes among the team's freshmen and third-most among its bench players.
Within those minutes he averaged 4.4 points, 1.4 rebounds, 0.7 assists and 0.4 steals per game. He also provided a perimeter threat, knocking down 28 of his 62 three-point attempts (45.2%) on the season.
Middleton hit double-figures twice this year with 13 points in the season opener against Oakland and 11 against Iowa in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament.
Ohio State's subsequent Big Ten quarterfinal game against Illinois proved to be Middleton's last game as a Buckeye. He missed the Buckeyes' first two NIT games while tending to a family matter. Despite returning to the team the weekend before Ohio State's NIT quarterfinal loss to Georgia, he didn't play in that game while still “processing” what occurred within his family. Middleton missed two other games during the season, one with a foot injury and another for a violation of team rules.
A core piece of Ohio State's 2023 recruiting class – which ranked No. 8 nationally – Middleton was considered the country's No. 50 overall prospect by the 247Sports composite rankings. He was the 10th-ranked small forward and fourth-ranked player from the state of Kansas.
Middleton's departure increases the impetus for the Buckeyes to add a wing in the transfer portal. Ohio State is also losing the services of Jamison Battle after he used up his last year of eligibility.
Fellow freshman and forward Devin Royal saw a surge toward the end of the year, scoring at least five points in each of Ohio State's last nine games including three double-figure scoring outings. Starting small forward Evan Mahaffey is expected to return after averaging 4.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists, one steal and 0.7 blocks per game in 2023-24.
Outside that duo, however, the only forwards on scholarship next year will be the rarely seen Kalen Etzler and incoming freshman Colin White, a three-star prospect who recently won Ohio Mr. Basketball.
With Middleton joining Bowen Hardman in the transfer portal, Ohio State has two open scholarships for the 2024-25 season.
