Ohio State made the first of what should be a couple of transfer portal moves this offseason on Saturday with the addition of Wright State guard Tanner Holden.
Holden, a 6-foot-6 guard from Wheelersburg, Ohio, was ranked the No. 17 best available transfers and high school recruits by The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie. Holden was the No. 13 college transfer on the list.
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He scored 20 points and averaged seven rebounds per game as a junior last season, earning first-team Horizon League honors for the second straight season and helping guide Wright State to the NCAA Tournament. He scored 37 points in a First Four win against Bryant.
(Photo: Emilee Chinn / Getty Images)
What does Holden bring to the Buckeyes?
Bill Landis, Ohio State beat writer: Much-needed size and experience to a backcourt that’s likely losing its top four guards from last season. Holden isn’t a high-volume outside shooter, but he’s an attacker on offense who got to the free-throw line as well as anyone in the country last year. Holden was top-20 nationally in fouls drawn per 40 minutes and shot 280 free throws, second-most in the country — he also shot 79 percent from the stripe.
Ohio State needs big, offensive creators from the perimeter who can play downhill, especially with the likelihood of Malaki Branham staying in the NBA Draft. Holden fits that bill.
What’s next for OSU?
Landis: Coach Chris Holtmann is bringing in a five-man recruiting class that, on paper, looks like one of the best the program has had in the last decade. But that means the roster won’t be terribly experienced unless he adds more via the transfer portal.
Depending on how roster spots shake out, OSU could be looking for another perimeter player and a forward. West Virginia transfer forward Jalen Bridges just visited this week. He’s at least one name to keep in mind as this roster goes through a significant overhaul.