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Five-Star Ohio State Commit L.J. Smith Reclassifying to 2026 Class
Smith, a top-25 prospect, gives Ohio State another five-star addition and joins five-star forward Anthony Thompson on the Buckeyes' 2026-27 roster.
- On Monday, five-star guard L.J. Smith announced he is reclassifying to join the Ohio State Buckeyes' 2026-27 roster a year early. The move adds another elite prospect to the incoming class.
- Smith originally committed to the Buckeyes in November, citing a strong connection with Coach Diebler and family ties to Cincinnati. His decision follows fellow five-star recruit Anthony Thompson joining the 2026 class.
- A 6-foot-4 guard, Smith established himself as an elite shooter, hitting nearly 42% from 3-point range on the Nike EYBL circuit last year. He joins a recruiting class that also includes Alex Smith and Vuk Lazarevic.
- The addition deepens Ohio State's backcourt, with plans for Smith to play the role of John Mobley Jr. in the rotation. He joins transfer guards Justin Pippen and Jimmie Williams, bolstering team depth.
- Facing a challenging non-conference schedule including tournament teams BYU, UConn, and Kansas, Ohio State will rely on these contributions immediately. The Buckeyes are pushing for consecutive NCAA tournament appearances this season.
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Men’s basketball: L.J. Smith to reclassify to 2026 class, join Buckeyes for upcoming season
L.J. Smith on a visit at Ohio State in March. Credit: Ohio State Athletics. A highly-touted commit is set to join Ohio State a year early. L.J. Smith, a four-star recruit from Oak Hill Academy, has reclassified to the 2026 recruiting class from 2027, and will be a part of the Buckeyes’ team for the upcoming season. Smith is a 6-foot-4 guard from Lincolnton, North Carolina, who has been committed to the Buckeyes since Nov. 20, 2025. Smith announc…
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