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Ohio State and Jake Diebler have lost a scholarship player for the 2025-26 campaign.
Cleveland Richmond Heights four-star shooting guard Dorian Jones (6-4, 160) announced in a since-deleted Instagram account that he will no longer enroll at Ohio State this upcoming season. He will instead spend a year to further his development at a junior college or preparatory school, according to multiple reports.
“As I reflect on my development, this next year is an opportunity for me to grow more prior to college,” Jones wrote. “I won’t be enrolling at Ohio State this year but I look forward to continuing our relationship.”
Jones, the nation’s No. 114 ranked prospect in the country, No. 19 shooting guard and No. 1 player out of Ohio in the 2025 class, had been committed to Ohio State since July 1, 2024, and signed with the program last November. He was the first member of the Buckeyes’ two-man 2025 class to commit to the school, a group that also includes Branson (Mo.) Link Academy four-star power forward A’Mare Bynum (6-8, 225). Bynum is still expected to play for the Buckeyes this season.
But Jones’ future with the program is now reportedly uncertain as he looks to find another school to join for next season. Ohio State’s 2026 recruiting class consisted of two commits – Cleveland Garfield Heights four-star point guard Marcus Johnson (6-1, 175) and Columbus Upper Arlington three-star power forward Alex Smith (6-9, 195) – as BSB went to press, and younger backcourt players such as Taison Chatman, Gabe Cupps, John Mobley Jr. and Colin White could all be back for the 2026-27 season.
That could make it difficult for Jones – who helped lead Richmond Heights to four consecutive Division IV state championship appearances with three titles in his time with the Spartans – to find a spot on the roster if he wants to return to Ohio State.
As for Ohio State, Jones’ decision leaves now the Buckeyes with just 11 scholarship players. The Buckeyes have 15 roster spots for the season but will only use 13 full scholarships, meaning Diebler and his staff will have to find two more players to fill out the roster.
