GAMECHANGER: LJ Smith Joins Ohio State Early, BOOSTS Buckeyes Into Big Ten Contender Status

Ohio State Buckeyes get a major offseason boost as five-star combo guard L.J. Smith reclassifies and joins Jake Diebler’s squad early. How does Smith’s arrival—alongside top returner John Mobley and Cal transfer Justin Pippen—reshape Ohio State’s Big Ten outlook and national ranking potential? Isaac Schade spotlights the newly electrified Buckeyes backcourt, examines key additions like Anthony Thompson and Andrej Jelavic, and evaluates their chances to break into the Top 25. The episode also celebrates college basketball’s resurgence in the NBA Draft, with nearly the entire first round projected to be NCAA talent. Plus, Isaac Schade shares personal reflections on four years of Locked On College Basketball and the show’s special ten-year network anniversary. Can Ohio State parlay its talented roster into a Big Ten title run?   PHOTO CREDIT: Adam Cairns - Imagn Images    JOIN the Locked On College Basketball Everydayer Club! If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join the Locked On College Basketball community: https://lockedoncollegebasketball.supercast.com/ Join the Locked On College Basketball Discord: https://discord.gg/bsKxDp8Qqb Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms…  🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/podcasts/locked-on-college-basketball/ Locked On College Basketball TikTokLocked On College Basketball TwitterLocked On College Basketball InstagramAndy Patton TwitterIsaac Schade Twitter   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!   Odoo Great organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon.  RugietGet 15% off your treatment → https://rugiet.com/lockedonnhlRugiet. Performance medicine for men. Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast   FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel.Visithttps://FANDUEL.COMto get started now.   FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.