Ohio State lands top-25 shooting guard LJ Smith
COLUMBUS – Ohio State head coach Jake Diebler has pulled off another major coup on the recruiting trail.
Four-star Mouth Of Wilson (Va.) Oak Hill Academy shooting guard LJ Smith has committed to Ohio State. The 6-foot-4 Smith is originally from Lincolnton, North Carolina. He chose the Buckeyes over the in-state Tar Heels, Indiana, Kansas, Tennessee and others.
Smith is the No. 25 overall prospect and No. 6 shooting guard in the 2027 class, according to the Rivals Industry Rankings. Rivals is a bit lower on Smith. He is the No. 64 overall prospect and No. 14 shooting guard in the 2027 Rivals150.
Ohio State has its first commitment in the 2027 class. The Buckeyes will now attempt to build a class around LJ Smith.
Four-star Chandler (Ariz.) Compass Prep shooting guard Demarcus Henry, four-star Indianapolis (Ind.) Fishers point guard Jason Gardner Jr. and four-star West Chester (Ohio) Lakota West point guard Joshua Tyson would all pair well in a backcourt with Smith. Henry and Tyson were both on campus with Smith for the football season opener against Texas.
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The Ohio State coaching staff also likes four-star Orlando (Fla.) Southeastern Prep small forward Griffin Starks and three-star Garner (N.C.) The Burlington School shooting guard Geren Holmes on the wing. Both Starks and Holmes visited for the Penn State game.
Regardless of who they get to join him, landing Smith is a massive win for Ohio State, Jake Diebler and associate head coach Joel Justus who was his lead recruiter.
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