Ohio State's freshman phenom is back for his sophomore year.
On Monday, forward Amare Bynum announced that he'll return to Ohio State in 2026-27.
Run it back Buckeye Nation pic.twitter.com/eIkxsOFGDF
— Amare bynum (@amarebynumm) March 30, 2026
Bynum emerged as a star with his high-flying athleticism and skill at the power forward position in his first collegiate season this past year, posting 9.7 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. He claimed a starting spot in the Buckeyes' lineup 11 games into the season, surpassing senior forward Brandon Noel.
The No. 61 overall prospect and No. 13 power forward in the 247Sports composite rankings for the recruiting class of 2025, Bynum averaged 14.3 points per game during the four-game March winning streak that effectively secured an NCAA Tournament berth for the Buckeyes. He added a three-point component to his game as the year progressed, shooting 39.5% from three in his final 14 games to bring his season total to 30.8%.
Bynum's return is crucial for Ohio State with the departure of starting small forward Devin Royal, who announced that he intends to enter the transfer portal ahead of his senior season on Sunday. Royal started at power forward for Ohio State in 2024-25 before moving to small forward in 2025-26, but likely didn't have a starting spot for 2026-27 with five-star freshman Anthony Thompson coming in to likely start at small forward.
Ohio State is still likely to add frontcourt depth, including potentially a new starting center, through the portal.
