After a turbulent 2024–25 campaign that ended in a third consecutive NCAA Tournament absence, the Ohio State Buckeyes men’s basketball program was looking to regroup with a mix of returning talent and new faces.
But just as the Buckeyes hoped to start building positive momentum, they’ve been dealt another setback concerning one of their few prized recruits.
Four-Star Guard Dorian Jones to Delay Ohio State Arrival Due to Academic Issues
Ohio State will now be without one of its top 2025 recruits as four-star shooting guard Dorian Jones is not expected to join the team this season due to academic concerns. Instead, Jones will enroll at a junior college for the 2025–26 academic year with the aim of addressing those issues before potentially joining the Buckeyes later on.
The 6-foot-3 guard from Richmond Heights, Ohio, was ranked No. 114 nationally and the No. 19 shooting guard in the 2025 class, per the 247Sports Composite rankings. His commitment was a bright spot in a slim freshman class for Ohio State, which also includes four-star forward A’Mare Bynum. Bynum may now shoulder a larger role earlier than anticipated.
While playing time wasn’t guaranteed for Jones in his freshman year, his future was seen as promising within head coach Jake Diebler’s rebuilding plans.
The Buckeyes had been counting on Jones as part of their long-term backcourt depth, especially as they work to stabilize a roster that lost multiple contributors—Aaron Bradshaw, Meechie Johnson Jr., Evan Mahaffey, Austin Parks, and Sean Stewart—via the transfer portal.
Ohio State has made several additions through the portal, including Gabe Cupps, Christoph Tilly, Brandon Noel, and Josh Ojianwuna, but Jones’ absence still stings for a program that lacked a deep 2025 recruiting class. The door remains open for his return to Columbus, but his journey will now take a detour through the junior college ranks.
With Jones sidelined, more will be expected from returning guard Taison Chatman, who is coming off an injury, and the returning trio of Bruce Thornton, John Mobley Jr., and Devin Royal. The Buckeyes are likely to carry a full scholarship roster of 13 players heading into the 2025–26 season.
This latest development underscores the ongoing challenges for a program trying to reestablish its footing in the Big Ten and return to national relevance.
