Scarlet Sunrise: Where do Buckeyes rank in ESPN's way-too-early Top 25?
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Where does Ohio State women’s hoops rank in ESPN’s way-too-early Top 25?
Ohio State will look different in 2024-25. But the Buckeyes could end up in a familiar place, at least as far as the AP Top 25 is concerned. That’s what ESPN’s Charlie Creme believes anyway. He has head coach Kevin McGuff’s Buckeyes No. 15 in his latest way-too-early Top 25, which he released Monday.
That’s seven spots higher than he had Ohio State in his last way-too-early Top 25.
Perhaps most notably, the Buckeyes graduated WNBA Draft picks Jacy Sheldon and Celeste Taylor but added Oregon transfer guard Chance Gray and Kentucky transfer forward Ajae Petty, both of whom could be starters in 2024-25.
Creme discussed those transfer additions in his explanation for Ohio State’s rankings bump.
“A month ago, the Buckeyes looked like Cotie McMahon and a collection of youngsters. Then Kevin McGuff hit the transfer portal. Oregon’s Chance Gray gives the Buckeyes the two-way guard they needed to replaced Jacy Sheldon and to mentor the No. 2 recruit in the country, point guard Jaloni Cambridge. Ajae Petty — who blossomed at Kentucky last season averaging 14.2 points and 10.6 rebounds per game on 50.7% shooting — is the inside force Ohio State didn’t have in 2023-24. But if the Buckeyes are to repeat as Big Ten champions, McMahon will be leading the way. Her numbers (14.7 PPG, 46.3 FG%) dipped this season, but the 6-foot rising junior remains one of the most powerful players in the game.”
Charlie Creme, ESPN
Here are Creme’s top-15 teams at the moment:
- South Carolina
- USC
- UConn
- Notre Dame
- UCLA
- Texas
- LSU
- North Carolina State
- Baylor
- Iowa State
- Duke
- Louisville
- Oklahoma
- Kansas State
- Ohio State
For the complete way-too-early Top 25, head on over here.
The Buckeyes are coming off a disappointing finish to an otherwise memorable 2023-24 season, in which they won their first outright Big Ten regular season title since 2009-10. A one-and-done loss in the Big Ten Tournament and an NCAA Tournament Round of 32 defeat warped the perception of what seemed like an encore campaign, following the program’s momentous run to the Elite Eight the previous year.
In addition to Sheldon and Taylor, centers Rebeka Mikulasikova and Taiyier Parks as well as forward Karla Vres graduated. Plus, redshirt senior Rikki Harris, redshirt sophomore guard Emma Shumate and freshman guard Diana Collins all hit the transfer portal.
Ohio State is, however, welcoming in a strong freshman class that includes not only the aforementioned and highly-touted Jaloni Cambridge but also fellow guard Ava Watson and a trio of frontcourt options, Elsa Lemmilä, Ella Hobbs and Seini Henry.
And along with McMahon, the returners consist of fellow forwards Taylor Thierry and Eboni Walker, center Faith Carson and guards Madison Greene, Kennedy Cambridge and Kaia Henderson.
Ohio State football near top in pair of position group rankings from On3
On3’s Jesse Simonton is unveiling his annual rankings of position groups around the country, starting with his top-10 quarterback and running back rooms. Ohio State made the cut for both of those lists.
And it’s no surprise, either. The Buckeyes have five scholarship quarterbacks on their roster — even after the spring transfer window came and went — and that group includes a pair of transfer additions, possibly the quarterback of the present (Kansas State grad transfer Will Howard) and the quarterback of the future (Alabama freshman transfer Julian Sayin).
As for the running backs, well, Ohio State might just have the best FBS tandem. Senior TreVeyon Henderson is back, and the Buckeyes added Ole Miss stud Quinshon Judkins.
To find out where Simonton ranks the Buckeyes for those two position groups, go here.
Former Ohio State offensive lineman Enokk Vimahi commits to Washington
After spending five seasons at Ohio State, veteran offensive lineman Enokk Vimahi — once the On3 Industry Ranking’s No. 120 overall prospect in the 2019 class — is headed to Washington, where he’ll use his final year of eligibility.
Vimahi entered the transfer portal during the spring window and now will join last year’s national runner-up, albeit a much different Huskies squad. The program lost 10 players to the NFL Draft, and several others to the portal.
Because Washington experienced attrition up front, Vimahi will have an opportunity in training camp to play his way onto the field.
For more on Vimahi’s commitment, go here.
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