Examining what Ohio State gets in transfer Sean Stewart

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The second-year player didn't have many opportunities to showcase what he's bringing to Columbus while playing last season at Duke.

Ohio State's offseason roster makeover continued on Friday with the addition of one of the top remaining players available in the transfer portal. The Buckeyes landed a commitment from former Duke power forward Sean Stewart, the son of Michael Stewart who played nine seasons in the NBA after four seasons at Cal.

Stewart is the fourth transfer portal addition for first-year head coach Jake Diebler and the Scarlet and Gray since the season ended in late March. Ohio State brought back guard Meechie Johnson, who played for the Buckeyes for two years before spending the last two seasons at South Carolina. The Scarlet and Gray then added former Kentucky center Aaron Bradshaw and San Diego State small forward Micah Parrish. Ohio State also lost five players, with the departures of guards Bowen Hardman (Akron), Scotty Middleton (Seton Hall) and Roddy Gayle Jr. (Michigan) and centers Zed Key (Dayton), Felix Okpara (Tennessee).

As he looks to build on Ohio State's strong end to last season, when the Buckeyes finished 8-3, Diebler has attempted to become more athletic and versatile so the team can play the more up-and-down, fast-paced game the Scarlet and Gray used after he took over as interim head coach. Stewart certainly fits that style of play.

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Ohio State 2024 spring practice is in the books, but the news is just heating up heading into the summer with recruiting, the transfer portal and lots of offseason discussion. Basketball is building toward 2024 as well. Stay on top of the latest Buckeye news by BECOMING A BUCKNUTS SUBSCRIBER today!

Coming out of Montverde Academy, the Windemere, Florida, product was a five-star prospect in the 247Sports Composite and a top-25 overall prospect in the 2023 recruiting class, according to the 247Sports rankings. A McDonald's All-American, the 6-foot-9, 227-pound Stewart considered Ohio State during his recruitment but ultimately committed to Duke after being a lifelong fan.

During that recruitment, Stewart formed a close relationship with Diebler, then a Buckeye assistant coach under Chris Holtmann. That relationship came in handy when Stewart entered the transfer portal and swayed Diebler to the Scarlet and Gray over Cincinnati or Georgetown.

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