Analyzing impact as West Virginia transfer Sean McNeil commits to Ohio State

COLUMBUS — Ohio State is continuing to address roster needs through the transfer portal this offseason: transfer guard Sean McNeil committed to the Buckeyes on Sunday.

McNeil decided to join the Buckeyes, who beat out Louisville, Indiana and Virginia for the talented shooter from Union, Kentucky.

The 6-foot-3 guard entered the transfer portal after 89 games played — 55 of them as a starter — for West Virginia over the last three seasons. He will have multiple years of eligibility remaining with Ohio State.

Lettermen Row is breaking down the commitment of McNeil to Chris Holtmann and the Buckeyes. What does he bring on the court? How does he fit into the lineup and the scholarship count? Let’s dive in.

What Sean McNeil gives Ohio State on court

Simply put, the Buckeyes now have an elite shooter on their roster to help create offensive spacing, something that was missing a year ago. McNeil was 13th in the Big XII last season as a 36-percent 3-point shooter, knocking down 55 3s for the Mountaineers in 32 games played. He averaged 12.2 points per game in each of the last two years with the Mountaineers, becoming one of the best shooters in his conference. That will help the Buckeyes roster that will largely feature athletic guards who can get to the rim — creating open opportunities for McNeil from beyond the arc.

If he can find those chances, McNeil can add a layer to the Ohio State offense that was missing a lethal 3-point shooter a year ago.

Where Sean McNeil fits into Buckeyes lineup

After starting 55 games in the last two seasons for West Virginia, McNeil entered the transfer portal with a shot to find a starting role elsewhere. Will he start for the Buckeyes? The chances of that seem high. Ohio State has Justice Sueing returning to the program after being out nearly all of last season. He can play point guard. From there, Wright State transfer guard Tanner Holden and McNeil could round out a deep back court with talented freshman coming off the bench. Maybe McNeil can be a shooting option in a sixth-man role, but the odds of him leaving a starting role in the Big XII for a bench role in the Big Ten are extremely low. The Buckeyes are set with their back court and may need to keep looking for another forward or post player to complete the roster. Lineup-wise, though, McNeil fits right in as a shooter who can impact games.

How Sean McNeil impacts roster construction this offseason

With the loss of at least seven players to graduation or early entry to the NBA, the Buckeyes knew they would need to do some roster building in the transfer portal. .McNeil is the second big piece of that to join the roster this offseason, along with Wright State transfer guard Tanner Holden. The Buckeyes lose Cedric Russell, Kyle Young, Justin Ahrens, Jamari Wheeler, Joey Brunk and Jimmy Sotos. They’ll also be without star E.J. Liddell and likely Malaki Branham to the NBA draft process. McNeil has a chance to be a featured scoring option as the sharpshooter can help spread the floor for Justice Sueing and the aforementioned Holden.

With the addition of incoming freshmen Bruce Thornton, Brice Sensabaugh, Flex Okpara, Roddy Gayle Jr. and Bowen Hardman, Ohio State is quickly turning its roster over and filling up scholarship spots. McNeil gives the Buckeyes what they need to remain a player in the Big Ten with one scholarship spot. Holden will occupy another one, meaning at least seven new faces will join the program. Ohio State still has room for another transfer — likely a bigger forward. But the spots in the starting lineup and on the bench are filling up. McNeil is certainly a big piece of the equation.