Roster Breakdown: Revamped OSU men's basketball personnel outlook for 2024-25 (2024)

* Job Description: This archetype is usually one of the set-the-table guards who owns a high assist rate. As modern basketball adapts, a pass-first point guard seems to be shifting toward the back burner, but there will always be room in our beautiful game for 'em. More often than not, your initiating point guard can get buckets, but he's best suited creating advantages and getting everyone organized. A heavy dose of pick-and-roll usage is usually a big part of their repertoire.

* Good Example: Purdue's Braden Smith.

* For Ohio State: Obviously, Bruce Thornton plays the point guard position. But we don't think this description fully captures everything he does for the Buckeyes. Translation: He does a little bit more than just this.

* Job Description: These guards can certainly handle the rock, but they are also fully comfortable playing next to an initiating point guard. Some teams have been getting away with having multiple combo guards on the floor together to share the point guard burden, but you might need an alpha wing and a stretch big man to make it work flawlessly. The best combo guards can do a little bit of everything well offensively.

* Good Example: UNC's R.J. Davis.

* For Ohio State: Sophom*ore Taison Chatman probably fits into this type of role. His freshman year was mired by injuries and he was limited just 17 games. He averaged only 4.2 minutes per outing and scored only 17 points on the season. Still, he hit some clutch three-point shots during the stretch drive and, provided he is healthy, should be ready for a larger role as a backup at shooting guard in 2024-25.

This could also describe senior Micah Parrish, a transfer from San Diego State. Parrish is a lower-usage guy who is on the floor to play defense, make catch-and-shoot threes, chip in on the glass and maybe attack some long closeouts. More often at SDSU, the 6-6 Parrish played without the ball than with it. He played on teams that reached the Final Four and Sweet 16 the last two years. He averaged 27.5 minutes, 9.3 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. He hit only 29 percent of his three-point tries this past year, however. He figures to be the starter at the wing position.

* Job Description: This guard is on the floor to shoot the cover off the ball. Being a high-level, catch-and-shoot assassin certainly helps open up the floor, but if they can make shots on the move, that raises the profile even more. Great offenses can use creative sets to free up elite snipers who only need an inch of space, but these guards likely would struggle if they had to handle a bulk of the initiating duties.

* Good Example: UConn's Jordan Hawkins.

* For Ohio State: This sounds like the role that South Carolina fifth-year senior Meechie Johnson will play for the Buckeyes. Johnson, a native of the Cleveland suburb of Garfield Heights, played his first two seasons at OSU before spending the last two years at South Carolina. He was the Gameco*cks' leading scorer at 14.1 points per game this past year. He is a career 33 percent three-point shooter, showing he is capable to catch-and-shoot or also hit threes on the move if needed. He figures to step right into the shooting guard spot after Roddy Gayle Jr.'s departure.

* Job Description: True wings usually have one or two things they do extremely well, but the top options are a handful on both ends of the floor. A true wing can guard multiple positions, scaling up or down based on opposing personnel. It's helpful when a true wing can knock down shots from all areas of the floor, but being a knockdown shooter isn't necessarily a must-have option. True wings can create for themselves, but also flash some ideal play-finishing abilities, too. You need your true wing to rebound, create, score and defend, so they better have great positional size and be one of the best athletes on the floor.

* Good Example: Illinois' Terrence Shannon Jr.

* For Ohio State: Freshman Colin White, although he is not as athletic as Shannon, ticks a lot of these boxes. He could also fall under the shooting guard category, although as a larger guard at 6-6, he should be able to guard several positions. White was Ohio's Mr. Basketball Award winner this season at Ottawa-Glandorf High School. He is comfortable scoring behind the three-point arc or by going to the basket.

White was ranked as the nation's No. 126 prospect in the final 2024 rankings for 2024 by 247Sports. With the roster filling up with older players, it may be hard for White to earn a ton of time this year as a true freshman. But he could be a key backup on the wing.

* Job Description: Bucket-getter. This is usually a hooper who can create offense out of thin air. They can pass a bit and can share some of the ball-handling load, but their job is to score, by any means necessary. The most optimal version of these players are three-level scorers who can play on or off the ball. The elite ones can beat you in pick-and-roll or down in the paint (maybe using some bootyball) when they have an advantage.

* Good Example: Tennessee's Dalton Knecht

* For Ohio State: We are pegging Thornton more under this category. He is much more than just a facilitator at the point guard spot. He led the Buckeyes in scoring (15.7 points per game), assists (4.8 per game) and steals (1.2 per game). He boasted a stellar 4-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. Thornton is at his best when he is hunting shots for himself, including his patented pull-up jumpers in the lane. He was also a 33 percent shooter on threes.

If Thornton can up that a few points, he could push the 18- or 20-point-per-game plateau. He figures to be one of the best point guards in the Big Ten – if not the country – in 2024-25.

We are also putting incoming freshman Juni Mobley in this category. Mobley has been listed at 6-1, but it has been reported he may now be closer to 6-3. He enjoyed a huge senior year at Wasatch Academy in Utahas he averaged 21.5 points, 5.4 assists, 2.4 rebounds and 2.0 steals per. He has the ball handling ability to bring the ball up the court and the passing ability to find others. He also has a knack for hitting threes in bunches and can create those opportunities for himself.

Mobley was ranked 43^rd nationally in 247Sports.com's final rankings for the 2024 class. We would look for Mobley to back up Thornton at the point and also play alongside him at the two in some sets.

* Job Description: These archetypes can periodically be a non-traditional point guard on offense, but they usually defend wings or forwards. Wing handlers are comfortable making reads, and they can usually be vital pieces to pressure weaker links of an opposing defense, but they aren't always top-of-the-scouting report guys.

* Good Example: Colorado's Cody Williams

* For Ohio State: This sounds like the role for junior guard Evan Mahaffey. The 6-6 Mahaffey transferred in from Penn State and started all season for OSU. He is not a player who OSU ran plays or sets to get him the ball. He was a good ball mover who got his points (4.3 per game) in garbage situations (i.e., on offensive rebounds, fast breaks or in emergency shot clock situations). He played just over 22 minutes per game as a defender.

Mahaffey may have to accept a lesser role with more talent on this roster. But he still figures to be on the court in some critical situations due to his defense. He more than likely moves from being the starter on the wing to being the backup.

* Job Description: Off-ball wings usually are low-usage, high-efficiency players who can stretch the floor. This archetype is usually a big-time shooter, but he isn't asked to put it on the deck often to create off-the-bounce.

* Good Example: Purdue transfer Mason Gillis (committed to Duke)

* For Ohio State: We are really struggling with a spot for sophom*ore forward Devin Royal. We will put the 6-6 Royal here, but he could honestly also be a Small-Ball Big, a Stretch Four or a Wing Handler. He does a little bit of everything. Royal played in 33 games as a freshman, averaging 4.7 points and 2.4 rebounds per game. He came on late in the season with three double-figure games in the final nine games. He did well scoring inside and hitting jumpers in the lane.

However, he was just a 15 percent three-point shooter. Extending his range this off-season will be job one for Royal. He could be a starter as an undersized power forward or as the sixth man to open the season.

* Job Description: This type of player has to be able to make 3-pointers to maximize the value they bring to the floor. It forces some awkward assignments for opposing big men when they can knock down jumpers or attack long closeouts with fluid, turbo drives. Based on how the roster is constructed, this archetype can sometimes play the 5 which is a huge asset offensively but can be a bit of a weakness on the other end. Usually, these athletic big men can switch ball screens and hang on the perimeter. Secondary rim protection is useful, but not required.

* Good Example: Alabama's Grant Nelson

* For Ohio State: This could be junior Kalen Etzler, although he only played 15 minutes over seven games this past season. It seemed like the 6-8 Etzler could be a transfer candidate, but he will apparently return as a fourth-year junior in 2024-25. He has never played in a game decided by single digits. Barring a huge off-season jump, it's hard to picture Etzler playing a meaningful role this coming season.

* Job Description: Some undersized big men don't necessarily have those elite measurables, but they more than make up for it with skill and/or power. This archetype is not a 7-footer. Most of the small-ball bigs can step out and knock down some 3-pointers, but that's not a must.

* Good Example: San Diego State All-American (and former Buckeye) Jaedon LeDee

* For Ohio State: This seems like a spot for sophom*ore Sean Stewart, who is transferring in from Duke. The 6-9 Stewart was a 2023 McDonald's All-American. But he struggled to find playing time with the Blue Devils as he backed up All-American center Kyle Filipowski and forward Mark Mitchell. He played in 33 games, averaging 8.4 minutes, 2.6 points and 3.2 rebounds. He is regarded as a great athlete who set a Duke program record for vertical leap.

It's unlikely he will step right in and be a double-double machine for the Buckeyes. But he could start at power forward and also back up some at center against smaller lineups. Finding minutes for Stewart should not be an issue. His biggest task will be to build out his offensive game.

* Job Description: This is the closest thing to a traditional center. Think of a 7-footer who can protect the rim. This archetype is someone who can bang down low with the bruisers and set road-grating screens. A glass-cleaner. A rim-runner who is a lob threat in ball screens. You can post them up if needed. If they can stretch the floor or operate as a decision-making hub of the offense, that's a massive plus.

* Good Example: UConn's Donovan Clingan

* For Ohio State: The Buckeyes have two centers on the roster in sophom*ores Aaron Bradshaw and Austin Parks. The 7-1 Bradshaw is transferring from Kentucky, where he scratched the surface of what he could do. He was hampered a bit by injuries and limited to 26 games. He averaged 13.8 minutes, 4.9 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. He hit 58 percent of his shots from the floor. He was a 2023 McDonald's All-American coming out of Roselle, N.J.

Bradshaw is a guy who just needs to keep working the plan. With continued improvement, he can be an upgrade to Felix Okpara at the offensive end. He also has the size to be an impact player as a rim protector as well. He figures to be OSU's starting center if everything checks out.

The 6-10, 250-pound Parks was lightly used behind Okpara and Zed Key this past season. He played a total of 20 minutes over just nine games. If OSU does not add another post player, Parks would be counted on to back up Bradshaw at center. He just needs to keep working on his offensive moves in the post. He should be able to hold his ground as a defender.

This analysis shows this roster is full of players who can each play a variety of positions. That gives Jake Diebler plenty of options for lineups and rotations once the season tips off.

There is one scholarship available. We have not scoured the available transfer portal players to know what is out there or what Diebler could be thinking.

But it seems to us that if a player is added that player could fill one of two glaring holes. Probably more glaring is the lack of a Stretch Four/Big, although a case could also be made for a True Wing.

Outgoing senior Jamison Battle filled the Stretch Four role for the Buckeyes this past season. The team may be lacking a true catch-and-shoot three-point threat beyond the 6-2 guard Meechie Johnson. A larger three-point threat would definitely help the cause.

Going forward, OSU would lose the seniors Johnson and Parrish to graduation. Those departures would leave gaping holes at the shooting guard and wing positions. Those could be spots to fill in the transfer portal next off-season or through 2025 high school signees.

Luckily, the Buckeyes are in on a pair of the best in Ohio natives Darryn Peterson (ranked third nationally) and Jerry Easter (ranked 20^th). The 6-5 Peterson, now at Huntington (W.Va.) Prep, could play any of the three guard positions at the college level. The 6-3 Easter, currently at La Lumiere (Ind.), could play as a freshman at the point guard or shooting guard positions.

Also, OSU could seek that elusive Stretch Four with another Ohio prospect in Niko Bundalo. The 6-10 Bundalo is currently at Western Reserve Academy in Hudson, Ohio.

We shared our full list of key Ohio prospects to track this spring here.