Scarlet and Game
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3 players in the transfer portal Ohio State basketball should target

By Ryan Stano

COLUMBUS, OH - JANUARY 23: Marcus Carr #5 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers handles the ball against D.J. Carton #3 and Kaleb Wesson #34 of the Ohio State Buckeyes in the first half of the game at Value City Arena on January 23, 2020 in Columbus, Ohio. Minnesota defeated Ohio State 62-59 (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH - JANUARY 23: Marcus Carr #5 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers handles the ball against D.J. Carton #3 and Kaleb Wesson #34 of the Ohio State Buckeyes in the first half of the game at Value City Arena on January 23, 2020 in Columbus, Ohio. Minnesota defeated Ohio State 62-59 (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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Mar 14, 2021; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini center Kofi Cockburn (21) defends against Ohio State Buckeyes forward E.J. Liddell (32) in the first half at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 14, 2021; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini center Kofi Cockburn (21) defends against Ohio State Buckeyes forward E.J. Liddell (32) in the first half at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

We start with former Illinois big man Kofi Cockburn. He’s leaving his name in the NBA Draft for now but has also decided to enter the transfer portal if he does not get taken. Cockburn killed the Ohio State basketball team all season long with his length and shot-blocking.

Cockburn stands at 7 feet tall and 285 pounds. He was an absolute monster at times for Illinois down low. He averaged 17.7 points and 9.5 rebounds a game for the Illini, while also adding 1.3 blocks a game. He also shot a whopping 65% from the field.

Cockburn isn’t a prolific shot blocker by any means, but his presence is very imposing in the middle and deters players from driving in the middle for layups and dunks. That is something the Buckeyes are lacking in a big way. They don’t have anyone that blocks shots.

Adding Cockburn would immediately make up for Washington leaving the team. It would vault Ohio State back into a preseason top 5 team yet again. They would be really good and would perhaps even be the favorites to win the Big Ten.

The question is whether or not Cockburn would consider staying in the conference. If he did, Ohio State would be a really good option. He would start and be on a team that could actually contend for something.

The next player on this list also used to play in the Big Ten. He would also really help the Buckeyes right away.

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