Ohio State Buckeyes Land Commitment From Five-Star Guard Marcus Johnson

The Ohio State Buckeyes add another solid guard to their arsenal.

Five-star guard Marcus Johnson has been a force for Garfield Heights. / Brooke LaValley / USA TODAY NETWORK

After a poor start to the offseason, things are looking up for the Buckeyes.

Just eight days after getting guard Meechie Johnson Jr. back from South Carolina, Ohio State gained a commitment from his cousin, point guard Marcus Johnson, per his Instagram.

Johnson, a five-star recruit from Garfield Heights High School, received multiple offers from top-Power 6 basketball schools, including Illinois, Villanova, Alabama, and Seton Hall, among others, before choosing Ohio State.

Jan 20, 2024; Reynoldsburg, Ohio, USA; Reynoldsburg Tejuan Barbour (20) guards Garfield Heights / Brooke LaValley / USA TODAY NETWORK

"Ohio State has always been my dream school and I want to stay home," Johnson said in his joint post with Ohio State.

According to 247Sports, Johnson is the No. 1-ranked player in Ohio and No. 24 nationally in the class of 2026. He averaged 23.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, and two steals per game on near-50-40 shooting splits.

In addition, Johnson was named the Ohio MaxPreps Player of the Year and Ohio Gatorade Player of the Year after leading Garfield Heights to a 25-2 record and the Division 1 state quarterfinals.

Johnson is currently the only 2026 Ohio State commit.

As it stands for the 2026-27 season, the Buckeyes may have a backcourt of Johnson, current freshman Taison Chatman and class of 2024 freshmen Colin White and Juni Mobley.

Currently, Ohio State has a solid backcourt with Meechie Johnson, sophomore guard Bruce Thornton, Mobley, White and Chatman.

However, the Buckeyes lost four players to the transfer portal, including sophomore guards Roddy Gayle Jr. and Bowen Hardman, freshman guard Scotty Middleton and senior forward Zed Key.