The Ohio State men's basketball season tips off on Monday, Nov. 6 against Oakland at the Schottenstein Center. Before the season begins, we're here to help you get to know Team 125.

Familiar faces

Bruce Thornton | Sophomore | Thornton emerged as a leader during his freshman season. He was named a team captain, averaged 10.6 points per game, had a team-high 29 total steals, and was the only player to start all 35 games.
Roddy Gayle Jr. | Sophomore | In his first year with OSU, Gayle Jr. showed his defensive skills with 21 total steals, 12 total blocks, and an impressive Big Ten Tournament run complete with nine three-pointers.
Zed Key | Senior | Prior to Key's shoulder injury and season-ending surgery, he averaged 13.4 points and 8.4 rebounds. He is the oldest returner.
Felix Okpara | Sophomore | The 6'11" center played in every game last season and finished as one of the best rim defenders in the Big Ten with 44 total blocks.
Head coach Chris Holtmann returns for his seventh season.

Okpara put on nearly 30 pounds in the offseason. | Photo by CBUStoday

Get to know some newcomers

Jamison Battle | Fifth year | Battle played his past two seasons at Minnesota and was recently named to the Julius Erving Top 20 Watch List.
Dale Bonner | Fifth year | The Shaker Heights-native played his last two seasons at Baylor, where he had multiple six-plus steal games and appeared in four NCAA Tournament games.
Evan Mahaffey | Sophomore | Originally from Cincinnati, Mahaffey played his freshman season at Penn State, where he appeared in 34 games and shot nearly 57% from the field.
Devin Royal | Freshman | Royal was named Ohio’s Mr. Basketball in 2023 and averaged 19.6 points as a Pickerington Central senior.
Scotty Middleton | Freshman | The five-star prospect joins the Buckeyes from Miami, FL, where he averaged 12 points in his senior season.
Taison Chatman | Freshman | Chatman was the No. 1 recruit out of Minnesota and won back-to-back state titles at Totino-Grace. He is currently recovering from a preseason procedure.
Austin Parks | Freshman | The 6'10" center was one of the best players to come through St. Mary's High School. He broke 13 school records, including career points and career rebounds.

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