Photo via: Dani Barbeito | SPORT
Ohio State earned a commitment on Tuesday from 18-year-old German guard Mathieu Grujicic, a move that finalizes its 2025-26 roster.
Grujicic, who was born in Serbia but has spent the majority of his life in Germany, has years of experience playing internationally. He spent most of last season playing for FC Barcelona II (Barca 2), where he averaged 12.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steals per game in 21 appearances (21.8 minutes per game). But he also has experience playing for Barcelona’s club for different league’s and age groups, including three games played for their top FC Barcelona team and one game played in Spain’s U19 League where he scored 20 points on 5-of-10 shooting to help his team win that league’s championship game, winning MVP honors in the process.
He also played in the Adidas Next Generation Tournament this past February and May, averaging 14.1 points and 3.6 rebounds per game while also being named MVP of the Ulm qualifiers.
Grujicic provides some much-needed depth for an Ohio State team that is searching for more production in its backcourt beyond Bruce Thornton and John Mobley Jr. With his 6-5 frame, the German figures to play a hybrid guard/small forward position for the Buckeyes off the bench, a role played — in a starting capacity — the last two seasons by Jamison Battle and Micah Parrish.
Grujicic is also the second guard in as many days to be added to the roster after the Buckeyes signed Milwaukee Whitnall guard Myles Herro on Monday, the brother of NBA all-star guard Tyler Herro. Herro and Grujicic add to a backcourt that also features reserves Taison Chatman and Gabe Cupps, who are both coming off season-ending lower-body injuries.
