Video: Ohio State’s Jake Diebler as the Columbus Crew’s ‘Match Ignitor’
Ohio State coach Jake Diebler is the Columbus Crew ‘Match Ignitor’ for a Leagues Cup game against NYCFC on Oct. 17, 2024.
One week after landing a commitment from a prospect in the 2026 class, the Ohio State men’s basketball team will host a handful of visitors this weekend.
As the Buckeyes host Western Michigan in a Saturday night football game at Ohio Stadium, first-year coach Jake Diebler will have at least four players on campus including one on an official visit. Last weekend, Ohio State hosted Darryn Peterson, a five-star prospect ranked No. 3 nationally in the class of 2025 by 247Sports.com, on an official visit and also picked up a commitment from a local prospect while on an unofficial visit.
Alex Smith, a power forward from Upper Arlington, committed to the Buckeyes as their second player in the 2026 class. Smith joins Marcus Johnson, a five-star guard from Garfield Heights, Ohio, in the class. Smith is unranked by 247Sports but is the No. 3 prospect in the state in his class according to prephoops.com.
Ohio State has one commitment in 2025. Dorian Jones, a four-star shooting guard from Richmond Heights, Ohio, committed to the Buckeyes during the summer. He is the top prospect in Ohio and the No. 58 national prospect according to 247Sports.com.
Here is a list of the recruits expected to be on campus at Ohio State this weekend.
Isaiah Denis, official visit
A 6-5, 165-pound combo guard from Davidson (North Carolina) Day, Denis is the top prospect from his state, the No. 8 combo guard and overall No. 41 national prospect in the 2025 class according to 247Sports.
On August 1, Denis cut his list of schools to 10: Cincinnati, Kansas, Miami, Michigan, Mississippi State, North Carolina, Ohio State, Pittsburgh, Tennessee and Wake Forest. He was scheduled to take an official visit to Pitt last weekend and has visits set for Miami (Sept. 14), Michigan (Sept. 21) and Tennessee (Oct. 12).
Denis picked up a number of high-major scholarship offers during the spring. He reported an Ohio State offer May 29.
Landon Evans, unofficial visit
A 6-4, 180-pound small forward from Pickerington Central, Evans is a member of the class of 2027. He holds offers from Ohio and Kent State and is the No. 6 player from Ohio in his class according to prephoops.com.
Shawn Foster, unofficial visit
Listed as a 6-2 combo guard from Lima Senior, Foster holds early offers from Cincinnati, Toledo, Duquesne and Murray State. There are no 2027 rankings for 247Sports, but prephoops.com ranks him as the No. 2 player from Ohio in his class.
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Isaiah Mack Russell, unofficial visit
Mack Russell is a 6-3, 160-pound shooting guard in the 2027 class who is known to already hold offers from Cincinnati, Toledo, Washington and Liberty. Prephoops.com ranks him as the No. 1 player from Ohio in the class. Mack Russell plays for Toledo Central Catholic.
Julian Washington, unofficial visit
A combo guard in the 2026 class, Washington plays for Castalia (Ohio) Margaretta. He is not listed in the 247Sports database, but Washington posted a public thank-you on his Twitter page to Ohio State assistant coach Luke Simons for visiting him at his school during the week. This will be his first visit to Ohio State. Washington plays AAU basketball for Ohio Buckets, the same program that helped produce Ohio State sophomore center Austin Parks from St. Marys (Ohio) Memorial.
