Ohio State basketball: Does Diallo transfer open the door for Efton Reid?

With the big man transferring, that leaves one scholarship open for this upcoming season. Does that mean the Ohio State basketball team still has a shot at Efton Reid?

Ibrahima Diallo is transferring from the Ohio State basketball program. Diallo is a 6’10 center who came in the class of 2019. In those two years, Diallo has played in only 13 games, mostly in garbage time. He never really played significant minutes for Chris Holtmann’s squad.

Diallo leaving opens up a scholarship for the basketball team this season. They now have one left for this upcoming campaign. Not only that, but Diallo was the second-biggest player the Buckeyes had behind the newly transferred in Joey Brunk.

Does a big man leaving open the door for another big man to come in? Possibly a big man who postponed his school decision a few weeks ago? A big man like five-star center Efton Reid? Reid would be able to slide into an open spot for a big man.

While Reid had Ohio State as one of his final schools, we said that the recruitment of Brunk likely ended any chance the Buckeyes had at landing him. That still seems likely to be the case. Diallo wasn’t a part of Ohio State’s rotation anyway, which is why he’s leaving. His absence doesn’t change much in terms of the minute distribution.

Reid has still not made any public remarks as to when he could make his college decision, but you have to think it would be soon. Deadlines to enroll in school are coming up. Not only that, but you would like to have some offseason workouts to get to know your new teammates.

In the end, the last scholarship will likely go to someone from the transfer portal who won’t be significant or to a walk-on. Reid is extremely unlikely to be a part of the equation for Holtmann’s squad this season.