COLUMBUS, Ohio — Junior forward Devin Royal is on the move.
After three seasons with Ohio State, the Ohio native is set to enter the transfer portal when it opens on April 7, looking for a new home for his final year of eligibility. The decision was announced Sunday and brings an end to a steady, productive run for the Scarlet and Gray.
Royal started 32 games this past season, putting up 13.7 points and 6.9 rebounds per game while shooting 47.6% from the floor. He made the move from power forward to the wing, giving Ohio State more size on the perimeter but that shift came with some trade-offs. His overall shooting dipped from 52.5% the year prior, but he showed growth from deep, bumping his three-point percentage up to 31.6%.
Royal was a four-star prospect in the class of 2023, former top 50 recruit and the No. 1 player in the state of Ohio in his class. For his career, Royal appeared in 96 games and made 59 starts, carving out a consistent role over three years.
But there were challenges on the horizon for Royal to remain a starter for his senior season and the writing was starting to show as the Buckeyes’ forward position was looking crowded for this upcoming season.
Amare Bynum emerged as a difference-maker as a freshman and announced his return, while five-star wing Anthony Thompson, a top-10 prospect and the highest-rated Ohioan to commit to the Buckeyes since Jared Sullinger was on his way. With those pieces in place, minutes and starting spots were going to be tougher to come by.
Royal’s best night in scarlet and gray came on Dec. 17, 2024, when he poured in 31 points against Valparaiso. He wraps up his Buckeye career with 1,018 points, becoming just the 62nd player in program history to reach the 1,000-point mark, along with seven double-doubles.
Now, he’ll take that experience elsewhere for one final run.
