The Ohio State basketball team finally took a step last season after making the NCAA Tournament. It was the first time they had made it in four years. While they lost the game after a last-second shot, it was still a step in the right direction. Next season, the Buckeyes have real expectations from fans.
Anthony Thompson comes in as a five-star recruit to help them at the forward spot. He is expected to be one of the best players on the roster. Jake Diebler has added quite a few transfers from the portal, as well. Still, they had an open roster spot, and now we know why that was the case.
Other than Thompson, Diebler also had landed LJ Smith as a five-star recruit. However, Smith was in the 2027 recruiting class. Now, Smith has decided to reclassify, meaning that both Smith and Thompson will share the court together next year for the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Five-star Ohoi State recruit LJ Smith reclassifies to the 2026 recruiting class
Smith has made the decision to come to Columbus a year early. That gives the Buckeyes a massive amount of help in the backcourt, as he is a combo guard. Ohio State is without Bruce Thornton, so they need help at the guard spot in a big way, even though they added some transfers.
With Smith on board, the starting lineup becomes a little murkier for the Buckeyes. Initially, it was thought that Justin Pippen would be the point guard next to John Mobley Jr. With Smith added to the roster, there's a chance that he can compete for the starting point guard spot.
Regardless of whether or not he starts, Smith is going to get a lot of playing time next season. He stands at 6'4 and 180 pounds, so he has a lot of size. That will help, since Mobley Jr. is a small guard. Smith is also someone who can create his own shot, which is something Ohio State struggled with last year.
Ohio State should be a contender to finish towards the top of the Big Ten
This is great news for Diebler, as he gets to add a premier talent to the roster a year earlier than expected. However, that also means increased expectations for the Ohio State basketball team. Before, they were expected to finish in the top half of the league and make the NCAA Tournament again.
Now, the expectations have gone up. Adding Smith should make the Buckeyes a top-four team in the Big Ten. It also means they should get to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, at the very least. Anything less than either of those finishes for Ohio State will be considered a disappointment.
Diebler has more pressure on him than ever to succeed late in the season. If he isn't able to live up to these expectations, then fans will call for a new head coach to be put in place. Yet, this is a great opportunity for Diebler. Winning big also has its rewards.
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