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Ohio State Basketball Lands Big Ten Transfer Commitment

Originally posted on The Spun | By Andrew Gould | Last updated Mar 26, 2025 1:28 PM ET

Ohio State's men's basketball team poached a Big Ten player in the transfer portal.

Hundreds of players have entered the portal since it opened Monday. After missing the NCAA tournament, the Buckeyes can focus on reshaping their roster this offseason.

Jake Diebler landed his first transfer pledge on Wednesday. Gabe Cupps committed to Ohio State following two seasons at Indiana.

Ohio State made Cupps a scholarship offer before the four-star recruit committed to Indiana in 2021. The Dayton native started 22 of 33 games played for Mike Woodson's Hoosiers as a freshman, averaging 2.6 points and 1.2 assists per game in 2023-24.

Let’s work @OhioStateHoops #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/rU8o7qIf3T
— Gabe Cupps (@CuppsGabe) March 26, 2025

Cupps played 25 total minutes over four games without scoring a point before getting sidelined indefinitely with what Indiana labeled a "pre-existing, nagging lower body injury". He underwent surgery to repair the meniscus in his knee.

In his absence, the Hoosiers finished 19-13 with a 10-10 Big Ten record. They missed the NCAA tournament for the second straight year despite ranking as high as No. 14 in the AP poll after a 4-0 start.

Woodson stepped down as head coach once the season ended, and Indiana hired West Virginia's Darian DeVries last week.

DeVries must turn over his roster this offseason. Mackenzie Mgbako, Jakai Newton, and Malik Reneau entered the transfer portal, Trey Galloway concluded his senior year, and Myles Rice could declare for the 2025 NBA Draft.

Meanwhile, Ohio State junior Evan Mahaffey and sophomore Austin Parks entered the portal this week. Maheffery averaged 3.1 rebounds in 18.0 minutes per game last season, and the 6-foot-10 Parks played 15 minutes off the bench.

Ohio State went 17-15 in Diebler's first full season as head coach after replacing Chris Holtmann to end the 2023-24 campaign. The Buckeyes haven't made the NCAA tournament since 2022 or advanced past the second round in 10 years.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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