Upper Arlington 2026 forward Alex Smith was offered by new Ohio State coach Jake Diebler on Monday.
Steve Helwagen
Upper Arlington, Ohio, 2026 forward prospect Alex Smithwas among the invited guests at Ohio State on Monday as new head coach Jake Diebler and the current team welcomed back a number of former players at the Schottenstein Center.
Even better for the 6-9 Smith, after a fine showing at OSU's team camp a week earlier, he received a scholarship offer from his hometown school. He shared the good news on X/Twitter:
After a conversation with Coach Diebler, I am grateful to say I received my 6th Division 1 offer from The Ohio State University! Thank you Coach Diebler and the rest of the OSU staff for this opportunity! pic.twitter.com/eQWEZ89IOB
— alex smith (@alexx_smith26) June 17, 2024
Ohio State joins Indiana as the first high major program to offer Smith. Indiana offered during an unofficial visit Smith made to Bloomington for a game. He also has offers from Ohio U., Toledo, Kent State and Bryant.
Schools that reportedly called Smith on June 15 (the first day 2026 players could be directly contacted) included Indiana, Ohio State, Cincinnati, Xavier, Butler, DePaul, Western Kentucky, Kent State, Toledo, Columbia, Appalachian State, Marshall and Radford, among others.
Smith averaged 14.5 points per game in his sophom*ore year at Upper Arlington, which ended up 12-12 overall. Ohio State had a commitment from Upper Arlington in 2017, but guard Dane Goodwin switched to Notre Dame after Chris Holtmann replaced Thad Matta as the OSU coach.
Smith will be with his UA team at the Midwest Live team event June 28-30 in Sandusky. He will also return to the travel circuit with his Wildcat Select 16-U team July 9-14 in Rock Hill, South Carolina
Smith is not currently ranked by 247Sports. He is Ohio's No. 4 prospect in the 2026 class, according to PrepHoops.com. He is behind Garfield Heights guard Marcus Johnson (an Ohio State commit), Western Reserve Academy forward Anthony Thompson (Lebanon native) and Cleveland Heights Lutheran East forward TJ Crumble, who have all also been offered by the Buckeyes.
Below, we have our Q&A with Smith following his OSU offer.
Bucknuts Q&A: Alex Smith
Q: You were at Ohio State Monday for the day with their former players. What was the neatest part of that experience?
Smith: "It was pretty cool. I didn't know what I was stepping into. I walked in and Coach Diebler and I had a conversation. That all happens. Then I did a little photo shoot. Then I went and watched the alumni and some of the current players work out and then play a scrimmage at the end."
Q: What did Coach Diebler say about why is now the time they want to make an offer? What were the things you showed them in travel and the team camp?
Smith: "At team camp, I think I showed I was a pretty versatile player. I can really play the three or the stretch four and I can compete on a high level roster. He's been recruiting me for a year now. Now is when he really trusts me and is like, 'All right, this is the time to do it.' "
Q: What was your thought about the offer? Living so close to the university, I presume you have followed them growing up. You had to have an idea this was a possibility when you went over to see them.
Smith: "I definitely knew it was a possibility it could happen. Sometimes, you think they might do it and then you think they might wait. When he really did say it, I was like, 'No way.' It was like a surreal feeling. It did not feel real."
Q: Is Ohio State a school you have followed and been a fan of?
Smith: "Since I was born, I've lived in a Buckeye household. We live 10 or 15 minutes away. I grew up following the Buckeyes and my parents are really big fans. It's kind of something I've been watching for 10 or 15 years."
Q: You've gone from 6-6 to 6-9 over the last year or show. In terms of basketball, what has that allowed you to do to have that extra height and reach?
Smith: "Being 6-9 is a lot different than 6-6. It's a lot more intimidating when a 6-9 guy runs at you at full speed than when you're 6-6. It has definitely helped me out a lot. I'm more versatile. I have improved getting to the basket more and finishing more. The growth spurt has helped that a lot."
Q: Obviously, your stock is on the rise. The growth spurt has helped high majors take notice of you. Do you feel like all of your hard work is paying off?
Smith: "It does feel like the hard work is paying off. But I am not done yet. I really just have to keep putting in the work. If I stop now, I'm not going to be ready for college. These top colleges, I'm not going to be able to play at that level."
Q: How do you describe your game? How do you see yourself fitting in to the overall team format?
Smith: "I'm a big three who can shoot the ball. I use my three-point shooting to get people to close out hard. Once they close out hard, I can take it to the hoop and get into my floater or my layup. I'm a pretty good passer and that all comes into play with that as well."
Q: What do you think you have shown people in travel, going against the best of the best in your class at adidas events?
Smith: "I think a big question was could I guard. I think on the circuit I showed that. I'm a lockdown defender and I can guard some of the best players in the country and not just the state."
Q: I know Jonathan Sanderson moved over to that Wildcat Select team as well. What do you think about him and have you talked to him at all?
Smith: "Jonathan and I have not really talked about colleges. I know wherever he makes his decision will be the best for him. I'm not going to try and get him to go anywhere because he can go anywhere he wants."
Q: People are talking about 2025 and 2026 as the two best classes Ohiohas had in many years. What is it like to be mentioned with some of these players, who are among the best nationally?
Smith: "It feels great that my name is out there and that I am a part of this. It's just a great feeling. Ohio basketball is really underrated. A lot of people when they think of basketball, don't always think of Ohio. It's great to get back to the old days when there were a lot of top players around."
Q: Just from being around Coach Diebler for the last year or so, what do you see him building at Ohio State?
Smith: "I see him building something great. He talked to me a lot about getting back to the old roots and taking in tradition and how it was back in the old, old days when Ohio State was really, really good. I think he is doing something really great.
"He did something similar to what they do with Ohio State football. They don't hand out gear any more. They have to earn it. I think what he is building is something really special."
