The Ohio State basketball program was expected to have a two-player 2025 recruiting class. One of those players was supposed to be shooting guard Dorian Jones. Jones is a shooting guard from Cleveland and is rated as a four-star recruit. The Buckeyes were excited to have him.
Instead, Jones recently announced that he was not going to enroll at Ohio State. Jones mentioned something about keeping his relationship with the Ohio State Buckeyes, but that seems incredibly unlikely now, especially after the step he took on Wednesday.
Jones officially asked to be released from The Ohio State University. That means that Jones will no longer be a part of Ohio State's future. He will likely go the JUCO route, and he might not play D-I basketball in his career. It's clear he has some eligibility problems.
Dorian Jones asks for his release from the Ohio State basketball program
Jones was expected to be a big part of the Ohio State basketball team moving forward. His length on the perimeter was supposed to help the Buckeyes on defense, and he was one of the best shooters in the class. Instead, he will be playing basketball for someone else.
Jake Diebler did a good job of finding two replacements for him in the 2025 recruiting class, but this still isn't the best look for the Buckeyes. Diebler is already coming into this season with a lot of pressure, and having a freshman leave before ever putting on the uniform is not ideal.
Ohio State does have some talent on the roster, but they need to make the NCAA Tournament this year. Their three best players from last season are back, and they need to help carry the team to the Tournament. Diebler is already getting pressure from fans who never thought he should have been hired.