Ohio State’s men’s basketball team is rolling out the red carpet this weekend, hosting two top prospects for official visits during the Buckeyes’ first home football game of the season. Coach Jake Diebler is bringing in two players from the class of 2027, Jaxson Davis and Deng Ngor, for the Ball State game experience on September 5th at Ohio Stadium, and the timing couldn’t be more interesting given the team’s future roster outlook.
Ohio State’s 2027 Roster Puzzle Is Getting Wild
Listen, the situation with Ohio State’s 2027 class is already looking complicated. They *did* have a commitment from five-star guard LJ Smith, but he graduated early and is already getting his freshman season started. Beyond that, of the 15 players currently on the Buckeyes’ roster, only fifth-year guard Jimmie Williams is definitely out of eligibility after this season. That leaves 14 other players who technically *could* still be on the roster for 2027-28. Now, let’s be real, with NIL and the transfer portal, that scenario is highly unlikely. But it still decreases the likelihood of Ohio State signing a massive 2027 class. So why these two big visits? Because you still need to find those difference-makers, no matter what.
These Prospects Are What Diebler Needs
First up, we’ve got Jaxson Davis, a 6-foot, 165-pound four-star point guard. He’s originally from Chicago and is set to play his senior season at Kansas City (Kansas) Monarch Academy. This kid is no joke: he’s the No. 41 national prospect in the 247Sports.com composite, the No. 9 point guard in the country, and the No. 1 player in Kansas. This visit to Ohio State is just the first of four planned trips for Davis, with Minnesota on September 11, Iowa on September 19, and Michigan State on October 1 all on his radar. He’s got options.
Then there’s Deng Ngor, a 6-8, 200-pound power forward who has seen his recruiting stock absolutely explode this summer. Ngor was sitting at No. 150 nationally until late August, and then BOOM, the rankings refreshed and he shot all the way up to No. 55. That’s a 95-spot jump! That’s the kind of rise that makes every coach pay attention. Ngor is a senior at Fort Erie (Ontario) International Academy, and he’s also got visits lined up for Washington on September 18, Florida on September 22, and Duke on October 15. The competition for these guys is fierce, and getting them on campus early is a huge move for Coach Diebler.
So, what’s next? After this weekend’s critical visits, Diebler and his staff will be playing the waiting game as Davis and Ngor check out other schools. Keeping these two impressed is key as the Buckeyes navigate an interesting roster situation. Their decisions could really shape the future of Ohio State basketball!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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