Head coach Jake Diebler gained a commitment in the 2027 class on Thursday when four-star combo guard LJ Smith pledged his services to Ohio State.
According to 247Sports composite rankings, Smith is the No. 35 player in the country, the No. 5 combo guard and the No. 1 player in Virginia, playing at Oak Hill Academy in Mouth Of Wilson, Va.
Smith went on two visits to Ohio State in August, the second of which was the 14-7 season-opening win over Texas for the football team.
Last year at Lincolnton High School in North Carolina, where Smith played as a sophomore before moving to p0lay at Oak Hill, Smith averaged 33.1 points, 9.2 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game in 29 games. He also played for team Thad on the Nike EYBL circuit over the summer and averaged 14.1 points.
He’s the first commitment in Ohio State’s 2027 class. He chose the Buckeyes over 16 other Division I offers he has received, which includes Indiana, Kansas, North Carolina and West Virginia.
