Ohio State lands a commitment from former Memphis guard Curtis Givens III
Curtis Givens III you could have by no means taken the straightforward path. After two stops in two years, the 6-foot-3 guard from Memphis, Tennesseeis heading to Columbus — and Ohio State could also be getting him on the proper time.
Givens announced his commitment to the Buckeyes on Thursday afternoon via his Instagram pageshortly after leaving campus for his go to. I’ve joins Justin Pippen, Andrija Jelavic and Jimmie Williams because the fourth member of the Scarlet and Gray’s 2026 switch class.
Givens arrived at L.S.U. as a top-100 prospect from Montverde Academy, one of many nation’s most prestigious prep applications. Expectations have been excessive for the four-star Memphis native, who introduced size, versatility, and playmaking capacity to a Tigers program hoping to show issues round below head coach Matt McMahon.
But Baton Rouge by no means fairly clicked. LSU stumbled to a 14-18 report in 2024-25, ending second-to-last within the SEC at 3-15, a powerful surroundings for a freshman looking for his footing. Givens averaged 4.8 factors in his first season in Baton Rouge, flashing promise at occasions however by no means totally breaking via in a crowded, struggling rotation. By April, I’ve determined to maneuver on, coming into the switch portal.
His first vacation spot was residence. Givens dedicated to Memphis forward of the 2025-26 season, shifting from one Tigers program to a different. Playing for Penny Hardaway and the Tigers, he thrived in a extra snug setting. In 25 video games, he averaged 9.4 factors, 2.1 rebounds and a pair of.3 assists, taking pictures 43.1 % from the sphere and 36.5 % from three. He battled a midseason thigh harm however confirmed his greatest basketball down the stretch, scoring 12 factors in a clutch 55-53 win over Temper in 33 minutes and proving he might be a difference-maker when given constant alternative.
Now, Givens is prepared for the most important stage but. His commitment to Ohio State provides him a likelihood to compete within the Big Ten. The Buckeyes want guard depth and perimeter taking pictures heading into subsequent season, and Givens offers that. With a number of key items leaving Columbus by way of the portal, Givens walks into a scenario with a actual alternative for a function.
The match is smart on a number of ranges. head coach Jake Diebler runs an offense that prioritizes guard play, spacing and ball motion — a system tailored for a participant like Givens, who has proven he can create off the dribble, shoot off the catch and discover teammates. His time at LSU uncovered him to high-level SEC competitors, and his 12 months at Memphis helped him develop into a reliable scoring risk. The Buckeyes get a battle-tested sophomore with a chip on his shoulder and one thing to show.
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For Givens, the third cease is greater than a switch — it is a assertion. He has weathered a tough freshman season, persevered via harm, and steadily raised his sport every month. The Scarlet and Gray will give him the platform to point out the recruiting providers that what they noticed after they rated him a blue-chip prospect popping out of highschool was proper all alongside.