Ohio State is trying to turn the corner as a basketball program, and being represented on lists like this is a very good first step.
The Buckeyes had to scratch and claw their way to a tournament appearance last year, and they needed a miracle to get it done. Now, as they enter the 2026-27 season, they are looking to take the next step and make it to the second weekend of the tournament.
They are going to have to find a way to do it without the help of one of the all-time great Buckeyes, Bruce Thornton, but that doesn't mean their roster isn't upgrading.
After a really good offseason in the transfer portal, the Buckeyes look to next year with a loaded roster and a new star on the team.
John Mobley Jr. is the guy that the Buckeyes are going to be leaning on next year to be the star on their team. After testing the draft waters, he made the decision to return to Columbus for one more year of development.
Mobley Jr. comes back to Ohio State after a really strong season last year. He averaged over 15 points per game and shot a ridiculous 41 percent from behind the arc.
He joins a group that retained its best players and added Justin Pippen from California, Andrija Jelavic from Kentucky, Curtis Givens III from Memphis, and Jimmie Williams from Duquesne.
College Basketball Report ranked the Top-60 returning players in college basketball next year, and there was one lone Buckeye on the list, John Mobley Jr.
Mobley Jr. was slotted at the 41st position around guys like Andrej Stojakovic, David Punch, and Cayden Boozer.
Good company to keep but also a bit of motivation on that side to prove that he isn't the 41st best returning player, rather, he is one of the best and he ahs what it takes to get Ohio State basketball over the top next year.
The Buckeyes have one thing on their mind, reaching the second weekend of the tournament. Last year, Athletic Director Ross Bjork said that a "long tournament run" is the standard and that's what the Buckeyes are trying to reach.
They are going to have the horses to do it next year, and it will be a very fun and important season for them.
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