Jake Diebler’s early work on the 2027 recruiting trail just keeps paying off.
After Ohio State picked up its first commitment in the class on Monday from four-star small forward Deng Ngor, the Buckeyes landed a second pledge in as many days on Tuesday when four-star point guard Jaxson Davis announced for the program.
Davis, who plays at Monarch Academy in Kansas City, Kansas, is rated the 46th-best prospect and the 16th-best point guard in the 2027 class on Rivals. He’s also listed as the top recruit in Kansas.
Originally from Illinois, Davis played at Warren Township High School before moving to Monarch Academy this offseason for his senior year. While there, he was named Illinois Mr.
Basketball twice in 2025 and in 2026. Just like former Buckeye All-American EJ Liddell.
The guard trimmed his list to Ohio State, Michigan State, Iowa, Minnesota, Creighton and Marquette back in July. He took his official visit to Columbus two weekends ago during the football game vs.
Ball State. Outside of the Buckeyes, his only other visit was to Creighton.
Davis also had planned trips to Iowa and Minnesota, but both were canceled. That left Ohio State with a clean shot after the visit, and the Buckeyes took advantage.
On the floor, Davis brings plenty to like. He’s a left-handed scorer who can get buckets from just about anywhere, whether that means pulling up off the dribble, knocking down catch-and-shoot looks or using his strength to finish through contact.
He’s more than a scorer, though. Davis is a capable creator for others, too, and that showed in his junior season when he averaged 23.8 points and 5.3 assists per game.
There’s defensive upside here as well. Davis uses his quickness to stay in front of opposing guards and has active hands that help him swipe at the ball, which helped him average 3.5 steals per game last season.
At 6-foot-1, he has the kind of all-around skill set that lets him run an offense, score it himself and keep growing on the defensive end. For Ohio State, that makes him a real candidate to step in and contribute early in Columbus.
Pairing Davis with Ngor gives the Buckeyes a strong foundation for the 2027 class, and it’s another sign that Diebler is finding his rhythm on the recruiting trail. The start has been fast, and Ohio State doesn’t appear ready to slow down anytime soon.
In Other News...
Dan Lanning Just Gave Ohio State Fans More Reason To Hate Him
Oregons 84-0 win over Portland State came with a bit of extra edge, even for a game that was over long before the final whistle. The Ducks set a new program record for points in a single game, but it was Dan Lannings choice late in the rout that stirred the most reaction, since he opted to keep pushing and score again rather than simply run out the clock.
For Ohio State fans, the timing only adds to the anticipation. The Buckeyes are set to face Oregon on November 7, and the recent history between the programs has already carried plenty of intensity. If this latest episode is any indication, that matchup could arrive with even more frustration, and more motivation, than usual on both sides. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Needs More Than A Win To Calm Growing Doubts
A trip to Kent State gives Ohio State the kind of chance teams usually crave after a messy week: a lopsided matchup, a softer stage and room to reset after a game that exposed issues on both sides of the ball. The Buckeyes have spent the days since that setback evaluating what went wrong defensively and offensively, and there is obvious pressure on the staff to show the roster can respond quickly rather than let the frustration linger.
The emphasis now is on cleaner execution and a better running game, which should be the safest place to start against an overmatched opponent. There will also be a shuffle up front because of injury, adding another layer of urgency to an offensive line that needs to settle in fast. Ohio State is expected to win decisively, but the larger test is whether the performance looks like a team steadying itself or one still searching for answers. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State's Rout Revealed Just How Dangerous This Roster Could Be
Saturdays 59-3 rout of Kent State at Ohio Stadium was the kind of lopsided win that can tell you plenty about a team, even before the opponent level is factored in. Ohio State was dominant on both sides of the ball, piling up eight touchdowns while the defense forced multiple turnovers and never let the game drift out of hand.
The bigger takeaway for the Buckeyes may have been the kind of history layered into the blowout. Jeremiah Smith kept adding to his place in the program record book, and Ryan Day reached another coaching milestone, a reminder that this roster is producing both on-field force and long-term significance at the same time. [Read more 🡒]
