Ohio State guard John Mobley Jr. will return to the basketball team in 2026 after removing his name from NBA Draft consideration, the team announced on social media.
The Buckeyes received a much-needed boost to their starting lineup when the team announced on social media that junior G John Mobley Jr. is returning to Ohio State. Mobley had previously declared for the NBA Draft while maintaining his college eligibility.
Mobley averaged 15.7 points, 2.8 assists, and 2.4 rebounds as a sophomore, and is the fourth Buckeye from last season’s roster to return to the team in 2026. He joins Myles Herro, Ivan Njegovan, and Josh Ojianwuna.
Buckeye Nation, he’s back. #GoBucks | #FightToTheEnd pic.twitter.com/arphLdCybu
— Ohio State Hoops (@OhioStateHoops) May 18, 2026
Mobley’s return gives the Buckeyes a much-needed boost on the offensive side of the ball. The Ohio native has been one of the best shooters in college basketball over two seasons. He shot 43.2% last season and 41.1% from three-point percentage, placing him in the top 30 among all of college basketball. In addition, Mobley has shown flashes as a playmaker and will look to further advance that level of his game.
The Buckeyes backcourt is now complete with the return of Mobley and the commitment from Justin Pippen. Pippen, who also made a stop with the Michigan Wolverines, averaged 14.2 points and 4.6 assists last season with Cal. Widely considered one of the best defenders in college basketball last season, Pippen will give the Buckeyes solid minutes as he looks to compete for a starting spot.
In addition to the backcourt, the Buckeyes’ roster for the 2026 campaign appears to be complete. In total, the Buckeyes added four transfers: Cal G Justin Pippen, Duquesne G Jimmie Williams, Memphis G Curtis Givens III, and Kentucky F Andrija Jelavic. The Buckeyes lost five players to the portal: G Taison Chatman, G Gabe Cupps, G Mathieu Grujicic, F Colin White, and F Devin Royal. Jake Diebler and his staff have had a great offseason, and the roster turnover is proof that big changes are coming.
A lot is riding on this season, and as roles define themselves and players look to break out, one thing is certain: this is a big season for Jake Diebler and the Buckeyes. Coming off a devastating loss to TCU in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, Diebler heads into year three as head coach with more pressure and expectations than ever. Pressure makes diamonds, and the Buckeyes will look to shine in 2026.
NEXT: Challenges the Buckeyes Could Face on Offense in 2026
Cody Croy is a writer for The Silver Bulletin. He is the founder and Co-host of The Boomin Buckeyes Podcast. Cody is set to attend Kent State University at Tuscarawas. He specializes in everything Ohio State football and basketball