Another Ohio State basketball player enters the transfer portal

The Ohio State basketball team has had three players decide to enter the transfer portal since the season ended. Two of them were bench players, but losing Roddy Gayle wasn’t ideal. But if Gayle was going to stay, he would have been a bench player once the Buckeyes landed Meechie Johnson. Johnson didn’t return to Oho State to be a bench player.

I can’t fault any of the guys for wanting to go somewhere else to get more playing time. They all have to do what’s best for them. I am surprised at the number of guys who have been entering the portal. Jake Diebler mentioned that his number one priority was roster retention. He’s losing another guy to the portal too.

Zed Key is leaving the Ohio State basketball program

Zed Key is leaving the Ohio State basketball program for the transfer portal. He has played four years with the Buckeyes and is using his extra COVID year to go elsewhere. Key wasn’t pumped about being a reserve this past year, although he didn’t complain about it. He wants to play his last year as a starter, and that makes sense.

Key just never quite developed into a big-time player. Off the bench this season, he averaged 6.6 points per game as well as 4.1 rebounds. While this hurts the Buckeyes’ center depth, it’s not a massive loss. Key is a good kid and a solid player, but he’s not a difference-maker. His best game this season was against Purdue when he had 5 steals against Zach Edey.

I’m sure we’ll find out in the coming weeks where Key will end up for next year. I certainly wish him nothing but the best wherever he ends up. It would be nice to see him get a shot to play in the NCAA Tournament for whatever program he plays for in his final season.