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Bruce Thornton lands with the Houston Rockets with the No. 31 overall pick in the 2026 NBA draft.
The Brotherhood of the Ohio State men's basketball program has always been important to Jake Diebler, and this week, specifically, is a great example of that.
It not only brings former Ohio State players and even coaches back to the program to practice with, work out with and talk to the Buckeyes, but it also allows the current players to be mentored and learn from some of the best to ever don the scarlet and gray.
"A lot to unpack as far as value for what the next two days are going to mean for us," Diebler said on Wednesday. "I think it’s important when you’re in this position to bridge any gaps that may exist between current and former. This is certainly an opportunity for us to do that.
"We have other events throughout the season, but I think when you have a chance for our guys to play against and get coached by and work out with former players or former players that are currently playing, there’s so much value in it," he continued. "It’s one thing to have dinner – which we’ll do – and it’s another thing to have meetings and stuff, but when you can do it between the lines, I think that’s really, really special.
Gotta love family visits
— Ohio State Hoops (@OhioStateHoops) June 24, 2026
Great start to Vet Camp today, happy to have our guys back in town ‼️#GoBucks | #FightToTheEnd pic.twitter.com/Y9ljBy6dom
Some of the current players who returned for Wednesday's practice and workouts include Greg Oden, David Lighty, Jared Sullinger, Brice Sensabaugh, Jae'Sean Tate, Evan Ravenel, Keyshawn Woods and Scoonie Penn.
WORKIN. pic.twitter.com/mb4JeBoeHp
— Ohio State Hoops (@OhioStateHoops) June 24, 2026
"I care deeply about our former players. We owe them a sense of gratitude. ... So this program should always be a home for them, and we want to make them feel as at home as possible and as often as possible. It's great to see multiple generations in the gym. ... It couldn't be better.
Along with former players, Thad Matta, who retired from coaching in March, returned to Ohio State to be on the sidelines for the festivities on Wednesday.
Buckeyes back in the building #GoBucks | #FightToTheEnd pic.twitter.com/O76EsZqvQE
— Ohio State Hoops (@OhioStateHoops) June 24, 2026
“That’s been a long time coming,” Diebler said of Matta. “His influence on me as a coach and as a man, I’ve spoken about that before. He means the world to me and my family. He means a ton to our basketball family. Being able to get him back here says something about just how close this basketball family is. He’s in the rafters. He’s in the record books. I’ve talked about the peaks of our program, and he’s certainly been a part of some of those. For him to be here means a great deal to me personally, but it also means a great deal to our program because he’s a guy we celebrate around here.
“When you take over a program, you can either hide from the success and the tradition or kind of keep it behind the curtain, or you can celebrate it," he continued. 'You can strive to get the program back to that level,” Diebler said. “That’s the route I’ve chosen because I care deeply about this program. I’ve seen what it’s meant to my family and my brother. I’ve watched those peaks as a fan; I’ve watched those peaks with great investment when my brother was playing. I absolutely want to celebrate that.”
While Wednesday consisted of a practice and workouts, current and former Ohio State players will take part in a scrimmage on Thursday, with additional former Buckeyes joining the ones from Tuesday for the scrimmage.
"This is some of my favorite days of the entire year, and the dinner (with everyone) tonight will be special," Diebler said.
