Ohio State women's basketball has added another transfer to its roster this offseason.
After former Duke guard Celeste Taylor, an All-ACC honoree and ACC Defensive Player of the Year, committed to Ohio State on April 20, the Buckeyes returned to the transfer portal for additional roster depth by landing former Michigan State forward Taiyier Parks, who announced her commitment on Thursday.
Parks hails from North Royalton, Ohio, a suburb located 24 minutes southwest of Cleveland. The 6-foot-3 forward entered the transfer portal in March after four seasons at Michigan State in which she averaged 7.1 points on 50.8% shooting and 5.5 rebounds for the Spartans. Last season, Parks collected 8.3 points and 5.2 boards per contest and recorded a career-best 57.5% field-goal percentage.
Before her time at Michigan State, Parks was a standout player for North Royalton High School and became a four-star recruit in the class of 2019. As a junior, she averaged 19 points, 16 rebounds, three blocks, and three steals per contest. Parks missed her senior season due to a torn ACL.
At Ohio State, Parks will provide consistency in the post for head coach Kevin McGuff, an area the team has lacked production since Dorka Juhász transferred to UConn in 2021 following multiple All-Big Ten caliber seasons for the Buckeyes.
With Taylor, Jacy Sheldon, Cotie McMahon and Taylor Thierry expected to start for McGuff next season, Parks will contend with Rebeka Mikulasikova and Eboni Walker for the final spot in the starting five. Mikulasikova appeared in 35 games with 25 starts for Ohio State last season, collecting 10.1 points and 3.7 rebounds per contest, while Walker appeared in 34 games with 11 starts, averaging 4.9 points and 3.6 rebounds.
