Ohio State’s 2024-25 roster is now complete, with the Buckeyes on Tuesday announcing the addition of Croatian center Ivan Njegovan to the program as the final scholarship player.
Njegovan, a native of Zadar, Croatia, who stands at 7-foot-1, joins the program as a true freshman after spending the last three basketball seasons in the Adriatic Basketball Association, or ABA, and Croatian Premier Leagues, competing mostly with teams from his hometown in Zadar.
The 19-year-old last played professionally for KK Bosco of the Favbet Primijer Liga, the top level of Croation professional basketball, where he averaged 8.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game.
Perhaps Njegovan’s most notable basketball experience thus far in his career occurred this summer, when he competed in the U20 European Championships for the Croatian National Team. He averaged 6.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.1 blocks across 16.7 minutes and seven games for his country. He capped the tournament with a strong 15-point, 16-rebound and three-block performance on July 21 against Bulgaria, giving Ohio State a glimpse of his talents in the frontcourt that head coach Jake Diebler said he is excited to see join the team.
“Ivan is a good young big man with high level international experience,” Diebler said in a statement Tuesday. “His skill and size will add to our depth in the front court.”
The addition of Njegovan, who is the Buckeyes’ first international player since Italian guard Amadeo Della Valle (2012-14), rounds out Ohio State’s revamped 2024-25 roster under Diebler, which now includes 13 scholarship players and three walk-ons. Ohio State also on Tuesday announced the addition of former Kansas State guard Ques Glover, who joins the program as a non-scholarship player but will be compensated through NIL deals.
Glover joins true freshman Braylen Nash and guard Colby Baumann as the three walk-ons, while Njegovan adds to an already formidable Ohio State frontcourt that includes former McDonald’s All-Americans Aaron Bradshaw and Sean Stewart along with forwards Devin Royal, Kalen Etzler and center Austin Parks.
Ohio State’s 2024-25 frontcourt is comprised of likely starters Bruce Thornton and Meechie Johnson, while it also includes San Diego State transfer wing Micah Parrish, guard/forward Evan Mahaffey and true freshman Juni Mobley Jr., while true freshman forward Colin White can also provide some perimeter shooting and play.
The Buckeyes also have sophomore guard Taison Chatman on the 2024-25 roster, but he is out for the season after suffering a torn ACL this summer.
