Reports have indicated that Roddy Gayle Jr.’s transfer portal emigration from and Meechie Johnson’s immigration to Ohio State had little to do with each other.
Both individuals likely made the best decision for themselves and those around them. But when a direct swap is likely to happen between the two in the Buckeyes’ starting lineup, comparisons emerge.
As Johnson takes over for Gayle at the shooting guard spot for Ohio State, returning to his original collegiate destination from South Carolina, he’ll bring a set of tools distinct from the departed sophomore.
The pseudo-swap also provided more answers for what the Buckeyes need to add from the transfer portal.
| Name | Pos | Ht | Wt | 2023-24 Stats |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bruce Thornton | G | 6-2 | 215 | 15.7 PPG, 4.8 APG |
| Meechie Johnson | G | 6-2 | 170 | 14.1 PPG, 2.9 APG |
| Evan Mahaffey | G | 6-6 | 200 | 4.3 PPG, 4.2 RPG |
| Devin Royal | F | 6-6 | 210 | 4.7 PPG, 2.4 RPG |
| Felix Okpara | C | 6-11 | 235 | 6.6 PPG, 2.4 BPG |
Differences on offense with Johnson at shooting guard
The first difference between Johnson and Gayle is how ball-dominant the former is.
Gayle held the rock plenty in Ohio State’s offense this year; otherwise, he wouldn’t have managed 13.5 points and 3.1 assists per game. But Johnson paced the Gamecocks in scoring with 14.1 points and joined Gayle in finishing second on his squad with 2.9 assists per contest.
Shot attempts are the most telling statistic here, however. Johnson attempted 11.8 field goal tries per game compared to 10.4 for Gayle during the 2023-24 season.
Johnson ran the Gamecocks’ offense at point guard, much like Bruce Thornton runs Ohio State's. The dynamic between the two will do a lot to dictate how the Buckeyes’ offense flows in the half-court.
It could give Thornton, Ohio State’s leading scorer in 2023-24, a chance to create more off the ball with a trusted ballhandler at his side. Gayle can dribble the rock, but he’s more turnover-prove than Johnson, averaging 2.4 giveaways a game this year to Johnson’s 1.6.
With Jake Diebler instilling a new play style based on aggression and tempo – the Buckeyes’ fast break numbers surged under his leadership – Johnson should help replace much of the fast break production Gayle leaves behind. Both players have the athleticism to make plays in the open floor.
Lastly, Johnson’s been a more consistent perimeter threat, even if he’s not dominant in that area. He’s shot between 32-33% from behind the arc in each of his last three seasons. Gayle shot just 28.4% from beyond the arc in 2023-24.
Portal needs going forward
The loss of Gayle leaves Ohio State with two open scholarships. There’s a good chance that more roster attrition is still to come.
With that in mind, there are three main identifiable needs in the portal for Diebler and company.
| Name | School | Pos | Ht | Wt | 2023-24 Stats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matt Allocco | Princeton | G | 6-4 | 197 | 12.7 PPG, 3.3 APG |
| Jalen Sullinger | Kent State | G | 5-10 | 172 | 15.4 PPG, 2.4 APG |
| Adou Theiro | Kentucky | F | 6-8 | 222 | 7.2 PPG, 5.0 RPG |
| Carey Booth | Notre Dame | F | 6-10 | 203 | 6.4 PPG, 4.3 RPG |
Wing Scorer
The Buckeyes’ top need is on the wing. Scotty Middleton and Jamison Battle are both gone from that spot in the lineup, both taking deadly shooting marks of at least 43% from three with them.
Devin Royal is the top power forward left on the roster and a good candidate to replace Battle there, providing some interior to mid-range scoring. Evan Mahaffey is slated to return after starting at small forward this year, a player who contributes in myriad ways but is less of a scoring factor.
Neither player is a long-range shooter. Even if that’s within their arsenal to develop, Ohio State needs someone to replace Battle as a surefire perimeter threat and, if possible, an all-around scoring threat on the wing. After Mahaffey and Gayle, the top wing left on the roster is the rarely seen Kalen Etzler. Colin White is also coming in as a three-star prospect this summer after winning the 2024 Ohio Mr. Basketball award.
Limited options have been identified here for the Buckeyes, though more targets are bound to emerge in the portal if they go looking. Kentucky rising junior Adou Thiero, a four-star in 247Sports’ transfer rankings, is one that the Buckeyes have been in contact with. He scored 7.2 points with five rebounds per game in 2023-24, shooting 31.8% from downtown.
Another big
Battle’s rebounding presence and length on the interior can be filled in by Royal, though he still has work to do as a defender. Ohio State is thin down low, though, especially if Zed Key leaves the Buckeyes with one year of eligibility left.
Felix Okpara will return at center after finishing second in the Big Ten with 2.4 blocks per game. But Royal and rising sophomore Austin Parks – who seems a decent bit away from contributing – are the only other two true frontcourt players left.
Diebler needs a staunch interior defender for when Okpara isn’t on the floor, especially given Royal’s struggles on that end as a freshman.
Ohio State has been in contact with former Notre Dame forward Carey Booth. Booth stands 6-foot-10 with a slender 203-pound frame. He only averaged 0.6 blocks in 19.9 minutes per game as a freshman, but he averaged 6.4 points and 4.3 boards per contest. He's the son of Calvin Booth, a former NBA player and Central Ohio native.
Guard depth
With Gayle and Johnson in tow, the Buckeyes would have had a lethal top three in their guard rotation. Now that Gayle is gone, adding a second guard in the portal seems necessary. Preferably one that can shoot and distribute the basketball.
Former Princeton guard Matt Allocco fits that mold, shooting 42.7% from three en route to scoring 12.7 points per game for the Tigers. He added 3.3 assists per contest. Originally hailing from Hilliard, Ohio, Allocco has received an offer from and visited Ohio State.
Former Kent State guard Jalen Sullinger is another great option with firmer Buckeye ties as the son of former Ohio State guard JJ Sullinger and nephew of two-time All-American center Jared Sullinger. Both Allocco and Sullinger, much like Johnson, would provide additional experience in the backcourt as they enter their final years of eligibility.
Sullinger scored a team-high 15.4 points per game for the Golden Flashes, shooting 39.2% from beyond the arc with 2.4 assists per contest.
Currently behind Thornton and Johnson are rising sophomore Taison Chatman and incoming recruit Juni Mobley.
Potential additional depth piece
Ohio State is thin enough on the wing that it could consider bringing in a second player at the position, preferably in a different mold from whoever is the first player it lands. The Buckeyes could, in theory, pick up a shooting and slashing 3 to replace Middleton and combine him with a 4 who can offer some rebounding and interior defense with the potential to shoot.
Added attrition is still a possibility elsewhere, and part of Diebler’s aggressive strategy is to roll nine to 10 players to keep legs fresh. Right now the team has six hoopers that played a significant role for their respective programs in 2023-24. That number could dip to five with Key’s decision still looming.
So, four more transfer additions is in the realm of possibility for Ohio State. Three is the minimum it should pursue.
