Chris Holtmann sounds off on Ohio State's three new transfer additions

Ohio State did not have the season they wanted to last year, finishing the year 16-19 with a 5-15 record in conference play. But the additions of some key contributors through the transfer portal could be the difference in the team turning things around in Columbus this season.

Ohio State head coach Chris Holtmann brought in three players this offseason from the portal, and spoke about all of them and their potential impact at Big Ten Media Days on Tuesday.

“We really are pleased, Steve, with the three transfers that we have,” Holtman said. “They’ve had a really good summer and fall and I think as every coach will come here and talk about how excited he is about his team. But I really think that those three guys are gonna have a real significant impact on this group.”

Holtmann started with small forward Evan Mahaffey who joined the Buckeyes this offseason from Penn State after coming off of the bench as a young role player for the Nittany Lions.

“You mentioned Evan, Evan’s the youngest of the group, Evan’s just spent a year in college so he’s a sophomore and I think he is a growing, developing player,” Holtmann said.

Mahaffey may be bringing some youth to Ohio State, but Dale Bonner brings them experience. Bonner started off his career at Division II Fairmont State where he averaged 19 points a game for the first two seasons before transferring to Baylor, and after two seasons with the Bears, he’ll now be spending his final collegiate season as a Buckeye.

“Dale Bonner gives us something that we really haven’t had maybe in our entire time at Ohio State in terms of his quickness, his ability to shoot the ball, and how dynamic he can be,” Holtmann said. “It just gives us a different element and certainly you can play he and Bruce [Thornton] together and we plan to do that pretty consistently.”

Rounding out the trio of transfers is Jamison Battle, who like Mahaffey is staying within the conference after spending his last two seasons at Minnesota. Battle not only brings scoring and shooting to the Buckeyes averaging 14.4 points per game in his career with 257 career three-pointers made, but also experience with 103 games on his resume.

“And then Jamison Battle’s obviously a proven, multi-dimensional wing, guard, forward who’s been able to score in the Big Ten for the past couple seasons. So we’re excited about his shooting and scoring that he’s gonna provide,” Holtmann concluded.