Rikki Harris will have a new home next season.
On Wednesday, the Ohio State guard announced she will enter the transfer portal after five years with the Buckeyes.
Harris’ future at Ohio State has been unclear since Ohio State’s 75-63 loss to Duke in the NCAA Tournament’s second round. After the game, Harris acknowledged she could return to the Buckeyes for a sixth season but said the question would be better served for Kevin McGuff. When asked about Harris’ potential return, the Ohio State head coach said he would discuss the matter within the next week.
“What I do with every player is schedule a meeting,” McGuff said. “Sometimes the season ends, and it’s raw, like, ‘I want to come back,’ or, ‘I don’t want to come back.’ Then, a week later, once the emotions have gone out of it you’re thinking something different. We’ll meet with everybody who has eligibility left and figure out who’s coming back and what the right fits are.”
This season, Harris appeared in all but one game for Ohio State, coming off the bench and contributing 4.4 points and 1.7 rebounds in 17.3 minutes per contest. The Indianapolis native started 19 games in 2021-22 and 2022-23 after Madison Greene and Jacy Sheldon suffered injuries.
With Sheldon and Celeste Taylor departing the program, Harris could have been in the mix to start at point guard or shooting guard next season. Instead, Ohio State will return sixth-year Madison Greene, junior Kaia Henderson and redshirt sophomore Kennedy Cambridge at the positions. The Buckeyes will also add guards Jaloni Cambridge and Ava Hobbs in the 2024 class. Both are ranked among ESPN’s Top 100 incoming freshmen in women’s college basketball.
Harris is the Buckeye to enter the transfer portal, joining fellow guards Diana Collins and Emma Shumate. Harris will use her final season of eligibility at her new school.
