New Albany's Braylen Nash commits to Buckeyes as preferred walk-on
COLUMBUS — Braylen Nash helped lead New Albany High School to its first league championship in eight years this past season. He’s staying in-state for college and joining the Buckeyes as a preferred walk-on.
Nash announced his commitment to Ohio State and head coach Jake Diebler Thursday on X.
Nash, a 6-foot-4 guard, averaged 17.1 points and 3.8 rebounds per game his senior year, earning Ohio Capital Conference Ohio Division Player of the Year honors and helping OCC Ohio Division champion New Albany to a 20-5 record.
The Division I All-Ohio special mention became the second player in program history to eclipse the 1,000-point barrier. He did so with a 26-point outing against Westland.
Ohio State had two walk-ons on its roster in 2023-24: forward Owen Spencer and guard Colby Baumann. Spencer graduated this year but enjoyed a memorable moment during the 2022-23 season when he was put on scholarship for the rest of the year after a win over Iowa on Jan. 21.
Spencer transferred in from The Citadel and served as a reserve forward his two years at Ohio State, notably giving the Buckeyes help at the five in practice and even stepping in at Purdue against two-time National Player of the Year Zach Edey late in the 2022-23 campaign.
Baumann, meanwhile, just completed his sophomore year at Ohio State. After finishing his high school career at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, he joined the Buckeyes as a walk-on.
He played in three games as a freshman in 2022-23 and four more as a sophomore in 2023-24. Baumann logged five points last season, converting 5-of-6 attempts at the free throw line. Four of those came against New Orleans on Dec. 21.
Ohio State still has one scholarship spot remaining to fill for its 2024-25 roster. The Buckeyes currently have 12 scholarship players committed for the coming season, including four transfer additions and two incoming freshmen.
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