Ohio State heads into next season with a very different look after finishing 21-13 overall and 12-8 in Big Ten play, a mark that left the Buckeyes in eighth place in the conference.
The biggest challenge is obvious: three of the team’s top four scorers are gone. Bruce Thornton led the way at 19.9 points per game, while Devin Royal followed at 13.7 and Cristoph Tilly added 11. That’s a lot of production to replace, and it puts extra weight on the pieces Ohio State does have coming back.
The good news for the Buckeyes is that John Mobley Jr. returns after finishing as the team’s second-leading scorer. He averaged just under 16 points a night last season, giving Ohio State a proven starting point as it tries to rebuild its offense.
The transfer portal brings two names worth watching. Jimmie Williams arrives from Duquesne after putting up 15.1 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. At 6-foot-5, he gives Ohio State a wing who can stretch the floor, hitting 34% from three, and he also has the ability to attack a hard closeout and get to the rim.
Justin Pippen is the other incoming transfer, and he comes with a familiar last name as the son of NBA legend Scottie Pippen. The former Cal guard averaged 14.2 points, 4.6 assists and 3.9 rebounds in about 31 minutes per game, though his shooting numbers were uneven.
He made just 37% of his shots overall and 32.7% from beyond the arc. If that efficiency climbs, he could become a real weapon for Ohio State.
There’s also a freshman to keep an eye on in Anthony Thompson, the No. 7 recruit. The 6-foot-9 forward brings a 7-foot-4 wingspan and enough versatility to play either the 3 or the 4.
He isn’t described as the most athletic prospect, but his length and scoring ability make him a serious addition. Thompson is currently projected as a late lottery pick in the next NBA draft, though there’s a chance he could keep rising and crack the top five.
In Other News...
Maddox Molony Just Put Oregon's Omaha Hopes In Limbo
Oregons infield picture got a lot more complicated when shortstop Maddox Molony came off the board in the 2026 MLB Draft, landing with the Detroit Tigers in the sixth round at No. 187 overall. Molony still has a year of college eligibility left, which keeps the Ducks in the conversation for one more run, but it also puts him in the middle of the familiar summer tug-of-war between a pro opportunity and a return to Eugene.
The timing matters because Oregon did not lose just one name on draft day. Second baseman Ryan Cooney went to the Blue Jays, commit Andruw Giles was taken by the Pirates, and pitcher Cal Scolari went to the White Sox, leaving the Ducks to sort through multiple draft decisions at once. Molonys choice will loom largest because of what he means to the lineup and because his path could help shape whether Oregons Omaha push stays intact or starts to thin before it even gets going. [Read more 🡒]
Why Koi Perich Could Change Oregon In More Ways Than One
Koi Perich arrives in Eugene with the kind of profile Oregon can use in more than one phase of the game. The former Minnesota safety is expected to matter on defense and on special teams, bringing a blend of vertical athleticism and ball disruption that should fit neatly into the Ducks plans. His ability to affect field position is part of the appeal, too, after showing real value as a returner.
Perichs college tape already points to a player who can change the feel of a game without needing a full workload to do it. He has been productive as a playmaker in the secondary and has also handled punt and kickoff returns, giving Oregon a versatile piece with a chance to influence games in ways that go beyond the usual safety responsibilities. The bigger question now is how quickly those traits translate once he gets fully plugged into the Ducks system. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Just Got A Ryan Cooney Update Fans Were Dreading
Ryan Cooneys draft stock finally turned into a real decision point for Oregon baseball, and it came with the kind of uncertainty Ducks fans were bracing for. The second baseman was taken in the third round of the 2026 MLB Draft, a sign that pro teams see enough upside to make the college-to-pro jump a legitimate option, even with more development still available in Eugene.
Cooney still has college eligibility left, which keeps Oregon in the conversation for now, but the clock is already ticking toward a July 27 decision. He is not the only Duck in that spot, either, with Cal Scolari and Maddox Molony also expected to hear their names called and then weigh the same choice between returning to campus and starting their pro careers. [Read more 🡒]