According to multiple reports, Ohio State sophomore forward Aaron Bradshaw will reportedly his name into the transfer portal after spending just one season with the Buckeyes.
Bradshaw leaves the program nearly one year after committing to Ohio State last offseason on April 15, 2024, following a one-and-done season with blue blood Kentucky. He entered Jake Diebler’s program with loads of hype surrounding him — most notably due to his status as a former five-star prospect and McDonald’s All-American out of Roselle (N.J.) Camden — but that preseason hype never translated to consistent success on the court for the 7-1 forward.
After starting each of the Buckeyes first four games and averaging a respectable 7.8 points, rebounds and 1.8 blocks per contest, Bradshaw’s sophomore season hit an abrupt pause after he was forced to leave the team due to a university investigation into an alleged domestic incident that occurred at his off-campus house in Columbus. The investigation forced him to be away from the team for around a month and miss seven games.
Because no charges were filed and the investigation was lifted, Bradshaw returned to the team in December and made an instant impact in his first game back against his former team Kentucky, recording 11 points, two rebounds and two steals while shooting 5 of 6 from the field in the Buckeyes’ 85-65 upset win over the then-No. 4-ranked Wildcats on Dec. 21.
But that performance seemed to be Bradshaw’s peak in his sophomore season and now short Buckeye career. In his final 17 games with the team, he averaged 5.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and 0.5 blocks per game on 50.7 percent shooting (34 of 67), while recording 2.6 fouls per game (44 total) and fouling out twice. His 44 fouls in that span eclipsed his total rebound total of 39 (24 defensive, 15 offensive).
Bradshaw, who also missed three games during February while dealing with the flu, will now look to have a more stable role and develop into the player he was projected to be on his third team in as many seasons in 2025-26.
As for Ohio State, Bradshaw — once he officially enters the portal — will be the fourth player from the 2024-25 roster to enter their name in the portal, joining fifth-year guard Meechie Johnson Jr., junior wing Evan Mahaffey and sophomore center Austin Parks. That leaves the Buckeyes with four roster spots to fill, which they will likely use to find both frontcourt production and backcourt depth.
Ohio State has already garnered a portal pledge from rising third-year guard and Dayton native Gabe Cupps, who joins the program after spending his first two seasons at Indiana (2.3 points, 1.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists in career).
