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

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/locked-on-college-basketball-816318/gamechanger-lj-smith-joins-ohio-state-early-boosts-buckeyes-into-big-ten-contender-status
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/locked-on-college-basketball-816318/gamechanger-lj-smith-joins-ohio-state-early-boosts-buckeyes-into-big-ten-contender-status.md
Podcast: [Locked On College Basketball](https://stenobird.com/podcast/locked-on-college-basketball-816318)
Published: 2026-06-17T07:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/podcasts/locked-on-college-basketball/
Audio file: https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/pdrl.fm/e77422/lockedon.simplecastaudio.com/d4eb7c25-e793-45d2-a322-943ea1e92df3/episodes/9e45263a-c0cc-4e57-bfb3-f0c3b0fcee81/audio/128/default.mp3?aid=rss_feed&awCollectionId=d4eb7c25-e793-45d2-a322-943ea1e92df3&awEpisodeId=9e45263a-c0cc-4e57-bfb3-f0c3b0fcee81&feed=PIp0bvQq
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/locked-on-college-basketball-816318/episodes/gamechanger-lj-smith-joins-ohio-state-early-boosts-buckeyes-into-big-ten-contender-status
Duration seconds: 1702

## Resource

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?

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