One of Ohio State basketball's top remaining transfer targets will play elsewhere in 2024-25.
Former Oakland forward Trey Townsend, tabbed to help replace Jamison Battle's scoring and rebounding production at power forward, chose Arizona over the Buckeyes on Wednesday.
NEWS: Oakland transfer forward Trey Townsend (@treyt430) has committed to Arizona, his agent @georgelangberg of GSL Sports Group tells @On3Sports.
— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) April 24, 2024
The Horizon League POY averaged 17.3 PTS, 8.1 REB, and 3.1 AST this season.https://t.co/eyR47VwcBt pic.twitter.com/C8t2QWrRsB
Considered a four-star portal prospect, Townsend is ranked as the No. 57 overall player and No. 10 small forward in the 247Sports transfer rankings.
Townsend scored more and more in each of his four seasons with the Golden Grizzlies. Hitting the ground running with 8.4 points per game as a freshman, Townsend posted 13.3 per contest as a sophomore, 16.5 as a junior and 17.3 in his final season in Oakland.
His performances as a senior included a 17-point, nine-rebound outing in the team's season opener at none other than Ohio State. Townsend racked up 38 points in Oakland's Horizon League Tournament Championship victory over Milwaukee and 30 points against N.C. State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, two of five games this past season in which he scored 28 points or more.
Townsend also led Oakland in rebounding (8.1 per game), assists (3.1) and steals (1.3) in 2023-24. He visited Columbus on April 18th and 19th, visiting Arizona beforehand but canceling his visit to Louisville afterward.
Ohio State will now have to look elsewhere in the portal for a versatile power forward to help replace Battle. Central Arkansas' Tucker Anderson visited this past weekend and likely emerges as the top Buckeye target. Duke's Sean Stewart, Alabama's Kris Parker and South Florida's Kasean Pryor could also be options.
The Buckeyes will also be looking for a center to replace the loss of Felix Okpara in the frontcourt.
