Ohio State has landed a commitment for the 2026 class, and coach Jake Diebler didn’t have to go far to get it.
Alex Smith, a power forward from Upper Arlington, has verbally committed to the Buckeyes. A 6-foot8, 195-pound junior, Smith committed while on an unofficial visit during the weekend.
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“I have had a long relationship with Diebler and a great connection,” he said. “They have supported me a ton and have been straight up to me about things and I think that’s really hard to find in a program. There’s a ton I could speak on but that, plus the school being 15 minutes away from me, just all puts the pieces together.”
Smith earned an offer from the Buckeyes earlier this summer after a strong camp performance at Ohio State’s team camp. The Buckeyes were the second Big Ten school to offer him, after Indiana.
He joins five-star guard Marcus Johnson from Garfield Heights in Ohio State’s class of 2026.
“Everything just kind of clicked,” Smith said. “When I would think about recruiting, I would think about Ohio State. I realized this is where I wanted to play, so I saw no reason to wait.”
Smith said he came to that realization while on a visit about a week ago when he got to spend time with Diebler and watch the current team go through a workout.
Now he won’t have to go far to play his college basketball.
“It feels great to have made a decision,” he said. “Lots of anxiety and stress gone, and I know I made the right decision. And I know that my community and people around me will support this decision.”
Smith is unranked as a recruit by 247Sports.com.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Upper Arlington forward Alex Smith commits to Ohio State
