The hits just keep coming for Ohio State basketball.
Earlier today, news that Jaquan Lyle was placed into custody for multiple offenses last night in Indiana came to light. According to The Lantern, Lyle, among other things, allegedly punched a police car. What Lyle’s departure means for the future of Ohio State basketball is now clear.
Tim Shoemaker of Eleven Warriors reports that an Ohio State spokesman confirmed that Lyle is no longer a member of the Ohio State basketball team.
An Ohio State spokesman says JaQuan Lyle quit the basketball team April 11.
— Tim Shoemaker (@TimShoemaker) May 13, 2017
On the court, this is a significant loss for Ohio State. Lyle averaged 11.4 points, 4.6 assists and 3.2 rebounds per game last season for the Buckeyes. One of the highest-ranked recruits on the roster, the Buckeyes would have counted on Lyle to have a major impact on the team in 2017-2018 if they were to get back to the postseason.
With Lyle’s departure, every single member of Ohio State’s highly touted 2015 recruiting class, one that ranked fifth in the country, is now off the roster.
The Buckeyes are scrambling to fill increasing roster spots on the 2017 team with late-deciding freshmen, graduate transfers, and perhaps JUCO players. Without Lyle, the Buckeyes now have a huge hole at point guard, and depth all over the roster is fraught.
If the Buckeyes are going to turn this ship around, get back to the NCAAs, and perhaps salvage Thad Matta’s job, well, things just got a whole lot harder.