Every year is pivotal in the wild west of the college basketball transfer portal, which turns over even more production by percentage than football does. But this year is especially critical for Jake Diebler's Ohio State.
The Buckeyes have to replace roughly half of their roster this offseason, a share that would be larger were it not for the pending arrival of five-star prospect Anthony Thompson, expected to replace Devin Royal at small forward after he entered the transfer portal. Ohio State has several needs, including a new starting guard, a starting-caliber center and myriad depth pieces.
Meanwhile, its rival to the north, Michigan, won a national championship on Monday. The Big Ten sent six teams to the Sweet 16 as Illinois joined the Wolverines in the Final Four before losing to UConn, adding to the stakes of this portal class for Diebler as the conference builds up around him.
The Buckeyes made their first two transfer portal additions of the offseason on Friday as former Cal and Michigan guard Justin Pippen and former Kentucky forward Andrija Jelavić committed to Ohio State.
| POS | PLAYER | YEAR | 2025-26 STATS | STARS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | JUSTIN PIPPEN | JR | 14.2 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 4.6 APG, 1.9 SPG | ★★★★ |
| F | ANDRIJA JELAVIĆ | SO | 5.5 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 0.7 APG, 0.3 BPG | ★★★★ |
On the other end of the spectrum, four players from last year’s roster have left the team via the transfer portal: Taison Chatman, Gabe Cupps, Devin Royal and Colin White.
| POS | PLAYER | YEAR | 2025-26 STATS | SCHOOL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | TAISON CHATMAN | R-JR | 4.3 PPG, 1.2 RPG, 0.8 APG | |
| G | GABE CUPPS | R-JR | 1.7 PPG, 1.1 RPG, 1.1 APG | |
| F | DEVIN ROYAL | SR | 13.7 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 1.6 APG | |
| F | COLIN WHITE | JR | 0.9 PPG, 1 RPG, 0.4 APG |
Given the importance of this offseason, we're tracking all of Ohio State's portal movement here in one place, with analysis linked within. Get the full rundown on everything that's happened so far:
April 11, 2026
Buckeyes Make Final Three for Jalen Haralson
According to CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein, Ohio State is one of three schools still in the running for Notre Dame transfer Jalen Haralson, along with North Carolina and Tennessee.
Source: Notre Dame transfer Jalen Haralson has cut his list to the following programs.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) April 11, 2026
Tennessee
Ohio State
North Carolina
Averaged 16.2 PPG and 4.0 RPG last season.
A 6-foot-7, 220-pound wing who can play both forward and guard, Haralson averaged 16.2 points per game as a freshman for Notre Dame last season.
April 10, 2026
Kentucky Forward Transfers to Ohio State
Ohio State’s second transfer commitment of the offseason came from former Kentucky forward Andrija Jelavić, a 6-foot-11, 225-pound forward from Croatia who brings three years of eligibility to Columbus. Jelavić averaged 5.5 points and four rebounds per game as a freshman for the Wildcats.
April 10, 2026
Buckeyes Add Son of NBA Legend
Former Cal and Michigan guard Justin Pippen, the son of NBA legend Scottie Pippen, is Ohio State’s first transfer addition of the offseason. He averaged 14.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.9 steals per game for the Golden Bears in 2025-26.
April 8, 2026
Ohio State Recruiting Former Duquesne Guard Jimmie Williams
Lettermen Row reported Wednesday that Ohio State had a Zoom call with former Duquesne guard Jimmie Williams, a Solon, Ohio, native. Williams, who previously played at Wallace State and USF, scored 15.1 points per game last season and earned third-team All-Atlantic-10 honors. The 6-foot-5, 210-pound guard has one remaining season of eligibility.
April 7, 2026
Ohio State Set to Host Columbus Native, Former Davidson Guard
Ohio State athletics could soon add another Devin Brown. Sources told Eleven Warriors on Tuesday that Devin Brown – an Olentangy Orange graduate and former Davidson Wildcat, not the former Buckeye quarterback – will take an official visit to Ohio State.
Brown averaged 6.4 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game during his freshman season at Davidson. He shot 40.8% from the field and 31% from three-point range across 34 appearances. Brown would likely be a depth addition after Ohio State lost reserve guards Gabe Cupps and Taison Chatman to the transfer portal this offseason.
April 7, 2026
Ohio State Set to Meet with Former Florida Atlantic Guard
According to Lettermen Row’s Mick Walker, Ohio State is set to meet with former Florida Atlantic guard Devin Vanterpool this week.
The 6-foot-4, 175-pound Vanterpool appeared in 54 games over two seasons with the Owls. He started 24 games this past season, averaging 15.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game while shooting 43.8% from the field and 35.1% from three-point range. Vanterpool is the first reported player to schedule a meeting with Ohio State since the transfer portal opened Tuesday.
April 7, 2026
Ohio State's Transfer Portal Needs Include Starting Guard, Starting-Caliber Center and Multiple Depth Pieces
We run through Ohio State's transfer portal needs as the window opens, with a starting guard and starting-caliber center topping the list as obvious current holes in next year's lineup.
April 6, 2026
Michigan's Excellence Adds Pressure on Jake Diebler, Ohio State to Compete for Championships
As Ohio State is still hunting for its first NCAA Tournament win under Jake Diebler, Michigan is playing for national championships under Dusty May, who was in the running for the Buckeyes' head coaching job before they hired Diebler. The success of Ohio State's rival to the north and the Big Ten at large adds further pressure to what is already a critical offseason.
April 5, 2026
Guard Taison Chatman to Enter Transfer Portal
Ohio State's No. 3 guard in 2025-26, Taison Chatman, is set to enter the transfer portal after three seasons with the Buckeyes.
April 5, 2026
Guard Gabe Cupps to Enter Transfer Portal
After one lackluster season with Ohio State, former Ohio Mr. Basketball Gabe Cupps will be searching for his third destination in his college career. He also spent two years at Indiana.
April 4, 2026
Small Forward Colin White to Enter Transfer Portal
Small forward Colin White will search for a new home after two seasons coming off the end of Ohio State's bench.
March 29, 2026
Forward Devin Royal to Enter Transfer Portal
Royal spent three seasons at Ohio State, two as a starter, but likely would have had to come off the bench behind sophomore Amare Bynum and Thompson in 2026-27. As such, he entered the transfer portal for his fourth and final year of college basketball.
March 23, 2026
Where Ohio State Must Improve in 2026-27
To begin the offseason, we dove into where Ohio State must grow in 2026-27 as a program – and the transfer portal was a major area discussed. Staff discussions and X's and O's are delved into, too.
