Ohio State Men's Basketball Gets Jersey Numbers for Next Season
There are a few jersey numbers that have become iconic in Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball lore.
The Nos. 5, 11, 22 and 35 have all been hung in the rafters in honor of John Havlicek, Jerry Lucas, Jim Jackson — though he gave Malaki Branham his blessing to wear it during the 2021-22 season, and he did the jersey number a justice — and Gary Bradds, respectively.
However, the No. 4 for Aaron Craft, No. 21 for Evan Turner and No. 33 for Clark Kellogg and Jon Diebler have also grown their significance in Ohio State history, but arguably none are more important than the No. 0. Not only have two Ohio State superstars in Jared Sullinger and D'Angelo Russell worn the number, but is symbolic of the university's Block "O" logo.
There will be a few Buckeyes next season looking to fill the shoes of those in the past, as the newcomers recently got their jersey number assignments for next season.
Next season, incoming freshman Scotty Middleton will look to turn around the cloud of smoke surrounding No. 0 since Russell's departure for the NBA Draft in 2015. Since then, Micah Potter, Alonzo Gaffney, Meechie Johnson Jr. and Tanner Holden have all worn the jersey number, but none have even sniffed the success that Sullinger and Russell had.
However, Middleton has high expectations of success. His 247Sports Composite rating of .982 rank him 17th in program history just behind Roddy Gayle Jr. and ahead of Bruce Thornton, as he is the second-best small forward recruit in program history behind Keita Bates-Diop.
Middleton's the third-best signee in the Buckeyes' 2023 recruiting class behind combo guard Taison Chatman and power forward Devin Royal, who will wear Nos. 3 and 21, respectively.
Chatman, the top player in the state of Minnesota, will don the number formerly worn by Eugene Brown III, who transferred to Georgia Southern this offseason. The No. 8 combo guard in the class, Chatman tied with Bates-Diop for the 10th-best all-time recruit.
Royal is coming off Ohio Mr. Basketball honors in his senior season and will have big shoes to fill, being the first player since Turner to sport the coveted No. 21. He comes to Columbus with a similar rating and build as E.J. Liddell, standing an inch taller and weighing 10 pounds less than the New Orleans Pelicans forward when he graduated high school.
Baylor transfer guard Dale Bonner will wear Craft's No. 4 next season, and, though he doesn't have the same statistical backing as the former Buckeye guard, he showed the same level of defensive intensity with the Bears.
Jamison Battle, a transfer from Minnesota, will wear what was Brice Sensabaugh's No. 10, but it'll be unlikely that he exhibits the same scoring prowess as one of the best freshman bucket-getters in program history. Last season, Battle's scoring average was down by five points per game, notching 12.5 in each contest on 37.5 percent from the floor.
Rounding out the Buckeyes' 2023 recruiting class is three-star Austin Parks, who will don the No. 25. Parks is massive at 6-9, 240 pounds and will look to provide depth at the center position behind Felix Okpara.
Penn State transfer Evan Mahaffey will wear No. 12, the same number as he wore in his freshman season with the Nittany Lions. In 9.3 minutes, Mahaffey scored 2.8 points on 56.9 percent from the field, pulling down 1.7 rebounds in 34 games.
The eight returning players in 2023 — Gayle, Thornton, Bowen Hardman, Zed Key, Kalen Etzler, Okpara, Colby Baumann and Spencer — will all keep their same jersey numbers from last season.
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