NCAA Basketball: Top 26 team transfer winners from 2022 offseason

Outgoing transfers: Meechie Johnson

Incoming transfers: Isaac Likekele (Oklahoma State), Sean McNeil (West Virginia), Tanner Holden (Wright State)

With the exception of rising junior reserve guard, Ohio State’s backcourt has completely turned over after Malaki Branham went pro and the seniors all moved on. There’s a quality recruiting class that features a few talented guards but the team landed a trio of veterans to make sure there’s plenty of experience and proven talent for the 2022-23 campaign.

Isaac Likekele is most likely to run point for the Buckeyes. He’s a four-year starter (110 total) from Oklahoma State with career averages of 8.9 ppg, 5.5 rpg, and 3.4 apg. The 6’5 guard is one of the most versatile players in NCAA Basketball and can play and guard four different positions. He won’t give you too much offensively and isn’t a shooter but as a “role player” is just fine.

Sean McNeil’s role is very clear as a sharpshooter. In two seasons as a starter at West Virginia, the 6’3 guard averaged 12.2 ppg and shot 37% from three-point range on 5.5 attempts. When he’s hitting the long shots he can boost the team’s ceiling in any game.

The last newcomer is Tanner Holden, who averaged 20.1 ppg and 7.1 rpg this past season at Wright State on 49% shooting and 34% from deep. That included 37 points against Bryant in the 16-seed play-in game of the NCAA Tournament and a career-high 38 versus Illinois-Chicago. The 6’6 wing isn’t much of a shooter but is impressive at getting to the basket and the free throw line.

All three of these players could easily start and if any of the freshmen break out and become the 6th Man off the bench. These players serve specific needs in the backcourt and are proven contributors against high-major competition.