Ohio State is getting some help in the backcourt by way of the transfer portal.
The Buckeyes got a roster boost on Sunday evening as West Virginia transfer guard Sean McNeil committed to Ohio State.
O-H @OhioStateHoops pic.twitter.com/45JR82LSVj
— Hot Boy 22 (@SeanMcNeil22) April 24, 2022
McNeil chooses Ohio State over Cincinnati, Louisville, Indiana, Texas Tech and Virginia. After three seasons with the Mountaineers, he has one season of eligibility remaining at Ohio State.
Views from @SeanMcNeil22s commitment to @OhioStateHoops! pic.twitter.com/NB5hqxGB3N
— Chris McNeil (@ChrisMcNeil__) April 24, 2022
The McNeil File
- Year: Senior
- Size: 6-foot-3, 210 pounds
- Pos: Guard
- School: West Virginia
- Stats: 12.2 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists per game last season
McNeil appeared in all 32 of West Virginia's games during the 2021-22 season and finished the season second on the team scoring with 12.2 points per game while shooting a team-best 36.8 percent on three-pointers.
The addition of McNeil is the second transfer portal pickup of the offseason for Chris Holtmann and company, who signed Wright State transfer guard Tanner Holden earlier this month. Holden averaged 20.1 points per game for the Raiders and led Wright State to its first-ever NCAA Tournament win before announcing he would switch schools.
Ohio State lost out on coveted transfer guard Nijel Pack on Saturday, as the former Kansas State Wildcat selected Miami instead of the Buckeyes, among other programs, but the subsequent addition of McNeil helps address an obvious need in a Buckeye backcourt that has lost plenty of talent in recent weeks.
Jamari Wheeler, Cedric Russell and Jimmy Sotos all exhausted their eligibility this past season, Malaki Branham declared for the NBA draft and Meechie Johnson and Justin Ahrens have both entered the transfer portal this offseason.
Ohio State will also welcome in incoming freshmen Bruce Thornton, Roddy Gayle and Bowen Hardman at the guard positions, but now with McNeil and Holden, the Buckeyes have veteran experience in the backcourt that should be meaningful as the scarlet and gray continue to retool for the 2022-23 campaign.
