OSU basketball gets commitment from Cincinnati guard

Princeton High’s Hardman known as feared shooter.

The Ohio State basketball program has started to work on its 2022 recruiting class by picking up Wednesday’s commitment from Bowen Hardman of Princeton High School in Cincinnati.

With Hardman, the Buckeyes begin refilling a backcourt that will have Eugene Brown III and 2021 commit Meechie Johnson as its only returning players. Duane Washington Jr. and Jimmy Sotos — who is redshirting the 202021 season after transferring from

Bucknell — will have both just finished their final college season.

As a sophomore, Hardman averaged 12.5 points while shooting 45.9% from the field, 38.5% from 3-point range and 95.7% from the free-throw line. The Vikings finished the 2019-20 season with a 17-8 record. More than half of his shots come from the 3-point line.

He will likely step into a similar role at Ohio State as a shooter capable of spacing the floor, though he has shown the ability to drive when needed. He will have time to develop his physique over the next two years, as he’s currently 6-foot-3 and 160 pounds.

Hardman’s commitment is the beginning of what is potentially a large 2022 class. The Buckeyes will lose six scholarship players after the 2021-22 season. They could also look to the transfer portal, but there is also room for freshmen. Five players have offers from OSU in 2022, including three in-state recruits in Bowen, five-star shooting guard Chris Livingston of Western Reserve Academy and forward Josiah Harris of Richmond Heights, who has yet to be given a rating by 247Sports.