With former Ohio State star Jacy Sheldon now drafted by the WNBA`s Dallas Wings, Buckeyes coach Kevin McGuff needs to look toward the future.
Sheldon`s departure takes away OSU`s best and most efficient scorer, one of its most consistent outside shooters and one of its best perimeter defenders.
On that note, here are a few potential Jacy Sheldon replacements;
Five potential Jacy Sheldon replacements at Ohio State
#1 Jojo Lacey (transfer from Boston College)
The six-foot-one senior Jojo Lacey is moving on from Boston College alongside teammate Ally VanTimmeren (via BC Interruption), but she`s the far better fit to take over Jacy Sheldon`s duties for Ohio State.
The senior out of Douglassville, PA, averaged 8.7 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.3 assists last season for the Eagles. She might not be as efficient as Sheldon was on offense and is a downgrade from a passing standpoint. But her perimeter defense will help carry her through a potential career in Columbus.
Jojo Lacey has the size and the defensive instincts to match (1.5 steals/game) to be able to bother opposing guards on the outside with regularity. She won`t have to be a good passer immediately, as OSU has others on their roster for that.
Another potential downgrade from Jacy Sheldon to Lacey is the 3-point shooting, so maybe that could be a reason for Ohio State women`s basketball to give her a wide berth.
#2 Ruby Whitehorn (transfer from Clemson)
A five-foot-11 sophomore guard, Whitehorn averaged 12.3 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists for Clemson this year.
Her last game for the Tigers was a 26-point, six-rebound effort against Boston College in a loss, which is more than enough proof that she can score.
Just like Jojo Lacey, though, Ohio State will have to deal with a downgrade in the long-range shooting department if they go for Whitehorn.
However, in return, they could get a consistent double-figure scorer who can fill up the stat sheet on any given day. Moreovet, she has a lot of time left in college, and there's a ton of room to grow if she comes to Ohio State women`s basketball.
#3 Deja Kelly (transfer from UNC)
Deja Kelly is a five-foot-eight senior who led the UNC Tar Heels in scoring this season with 16.3 PPG.
She entered the transfer portal in early April with one final year of college eligibility remaining. Compared to Sheldon, the biggest downside is her relatively poor FG shooting for someone so ball-dominant.
However, if she`s looking for a quick one-year stop out of Chapel Hill before potentially going to the WNBA, Deja Kelly could join Ohio State women`s basketball and remain within a renowned program.
#4 Jaloni Cambridge (incoming freshman)
Moving on to incoming talent, Jaloni Cambridge is one of the most heralded members of the 2025 recruiting class who has already announced her commitment to Ohio State women`s basketball.
She's ranked as the third-best recruit in her class (via The Columbus Dispatch), averaging 20.4 points, 8.5 assists and 3.1 steals.
She`s not the same player Jacy Sheldon was, but her upside is just too good for OSU to pass up.
Cambridge is a scorer and shot creator who can fill up the stat sheet in a hurry. She also got excellent court vision and a knack at finishing around the basket despite being on the shorter side at five-foot-five.
#5 Ava Watson (incoming freshman)
Ava Watson is also a bit on the shorter side at around five-foot-eight, but she`s already committed to Ohio State women`s basketball and will be their second of three new recruits with Cambridge and six-foot-four forward Ella Hobbs.
Watson is a four-star point guard out of Buford High School in Georgia, where she earned her reputation as a pure scorer. Among her career highlights in Buford include a 40-point performance in the regional championship to get her team to the playoffs (via Land Grant Holy Land).
Moreover, she also notably scored 25 for Buford in the state semifinal game.
