Scarlet Sunrise: Jacy Sheldon returning to Ohio State for fifth season
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Jacy Sheldon returning to Ohio State for fifth season
Ohio State women’s basketball veteran guard Jacy Sheldon is returning for a fifth season with the program. She announced her decision to stay put in Columbus Wednesday night, just two days following the Buckeyes’ Elite Eight defeat to top-seeded Virginia Tech.
Sheldon kept her announcement short and sweet on Twitter.
“I love being a Buckeye and I can’t wait to run it back with my teammates,” she wrote. “See you next year Buckeye Nation.”
Sheldon was an integral part of Ohio State’s first run to the regional final since 1993. She averaged 17.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 5.0 assists over the Buckeyes’ four-game ride. The 5-foot-10 guard didn’t have more than four turnovers in a game during this year’s NCAA Tournament while serving as one of the Buckeyes’ primary ball handlers. That was after Sheldon missed most of the regular season with a lower-leg injury.
Five games in, a foot injury sidelined Sheldon for 22 of the next 23 outings. Rather than rush her return, head coach Kevin McGuff wanted the Dublin native to return when she was fully ready. She made it back to the lineup for the Big Ten Tournament. Sheldon helped the Buckeye reach the conference title game, which they ended up losing to National Player of the Year Caitlin Clark and Final Four-bound Iowa.
Then her minutes and production returned to form when it mattered most: in the NCAA Tournament. Last year, Sheldon cemented herself as a first-round WNBA Draft prospect when she averaged 19.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game while shooting 50.4% from the field. Sheldon was also part of the All-Big Defensive Team that year. She was well on her way to that honor this season before her injury. In fact, Sheldon posted 6.0 steals per game her first five outings of the 2022-23 campaign.
In addition to Sheldon, the Buckeyes will bring back Big Ten Freshman of the Year Cotie McMahon, second-team All-Big Ten wing Taylor Thierry as well as guard Madison Greene (coming off her second straight season-ending injury), among others. Ohio State does, on the other hand, have to replace leading scorer and sharpshooter Taylor Mikesell, who used her final year of eligibility this season.
Justice Sueing declares for 2023 NBA Draft, forgoes final year of eligibility
Ohio State men’s basketball forward Justice Sueing has declared for the NBA Draft. Even after six years at the college level — two at Cal and four at Ohio State — Sueing still had one year of eligibility remaining. But the Honolulu native, who participated in the Buckeyes’ Senior Day this season, wasn’t expected to use it. He confirmed that intention Wednesday night when he announced his goal to pursue a pro career.
“My years at Ohio State have been filled with unforgettable moments and invaluable lessons that I will hold on to for the rest of my life,” Sueing wrote on social media. “I’m forever grateful for the friendships and bonds I’ve built with Coach Holtmann, the staff and my teammates. The Scarlet and Gray will always be etched in my heart.”
Sueing averaged 12.3 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game as a captain in 2022-23. He missed practically all of the previous season with an abdominal injury and was an All-Big Ten honorable mention this time around. Sueing had an up-and-down final season that included serious struggles during the meat of Big Ten play when Ohio State lost 14-of-15 games.
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But Sueing and the Buckeyes finished strong, going 5-2 in their final seven games. Sueing played particularly well in the Big Ten Tournament, where he shot 10-of-19 from deep and averaged 14.8 points and 4.0 rebounds per contest.
‘Talented’ Jayden Ballard set to prove he’s more than just a deep threat for Buckeyes
Ohio State third-year wide receiver Jayden Ballard is part of the same Buckeyes 2021 receiving class that features 1,000-yard performers Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka.
Ballard has yet to break out like that or earn the playing time that would allow him to accomplish such a feat.
The speedster has established that he can be a deep threat for Ohio State. But that’s not enough in arguably the best wideout room in the country. To get on the field more, Ballard has to be more consistent and more well rounded. That’s what this spring, and offseason in general, is about.
He’s off to a solid start with impressive showings in the Buckeyes’ Pro Day — during which he was helping quarterback C.J. Stroud — and the team’s first spring scrimmage.
To read about Ballard, his development and his playing timeline, go here.
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