It’s getting close to that time when the top prospects from the class of 2027 start to choose their next stop, and the Ohio State Buckeyes and head coach Jake Diebler landed the commitment from an intriguing prospect in forward Deng Ngor from Canada, as per The Field of 68.

Deng Ngor is Ohio State’s first commitment from the class of 2027, although the Buckeyes are still in the mix for some of the other top prospects from that class including Malachi Jordan and Jaylan Mitchell. Ngor is a versatile forward who will play his senior year in high school this season at Fort Erie International Academy in Ontario.

The 4-star prospect also has international experience playing for the Canadian national team in FIBA competitions at the U18 level.

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In the meantime, the Buckeyes will have to wait a year until they get Ngor on campus, and their focus turns to the upcoming 2026-27 season. This will be Ohio State’s third season with Jake Diebler at the helm as head coach. Diebler has been with the program since 2019 when he was joined the team as an assistant coach. He was ultimately promoted to associate head coach, and then interim in 2024 when Chris Holtmann was fired.

This past season, Ohio State finished 21-13 and 12-8 in the Big Ten, while reaching the NCAA Tournament for the first time in four years. The Buckeyes were eliminated in the round of 64 by TCU.

The team has a group of three incoming transfers to help bolster the program in guards Justin Pippen, Jimmie Williams and Curtis Givens III.