By SAM LANCE
Jake Diebler has his first high school commit as Ohio State’s head coach, and it’s major splash in recruiting. Class of 2026 five-star point guard Marcus Johnson pledged to the Buckeyes on Wednesday, per his Instagram.
Marcus is the cousin of Meechie Johnson, who started his career at Ohio State in 2020 before transferring to South Carolina in 2022, and then back to Ohio State this portal cycle.
“I always wanted to be a Buckeye growing up,” Marcus Johnson said to 247Sports. “That’s my dream school. The way that coach Jake Diebler recruited me throughout the process is amazing. He showed me a lot of love and proved that he really wanted me. He didn’t have the job yet so him getting the job and wanting me to commit early it’s like ‘why wait.'”
Johnson, the 6-foot-1, 175-pound guard from Garfield Heights (OH) is ranked the No. 24 overall prospect in the 2026 class per 247Sports and the No. 1 player in the state of Ohio.
“I will bring a winning mentality,” Johnson said. “Ohio State is a great program so for me going there I just want to win, win a National Championship, be the best player I can be, be the best person I can be on and off the court.”
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