Thompson hires agent, won’t return to Buckeyes

Trevor Thompson has signed with an agent and will not return to Ohio State, but classmate Kam Williams still might be back after also declaring for the NBA draft.

On Tuesday, Thompson signed with Wasserman Media Group, making him ineligible to return for what would have been his senior season with the Buckeyes. Williams, who like Thompson was a redshirt junior last season, has not hired an agent and has until May 24 to withdraw his name and retain his eligibility. In two seasons with the Buckeyes, Thompson averaged 8.5 points and 7.0 rebounds in 67 games, including 48 starts. Last season, he averaged 10.6 points and 9.2 rebounds and had 11 double-doubles.

“He’s happy,” Thompson’s father, Ryan Thompson, told The Dispatch. “He’s excited. I think it’s now more getting his mind prepared and getting him ready for the next level. We will forever love Ohio State. For Trevor, it’s the next chapter in his life.”

Williams averaged a career-high 9.4 points and started 29 of 32 games last year but saw his threepoint shooting percentage dip from 43.7 percent as a sophomore to 37.6 percent. In 102 career games including 31 starts, Williams has averaged 7.6 points while shooting 42.4 percent from three.

“He just wanted to explore his options and see what the NBA guys had to say,” said Williams’ father, Kevin. The Buckeyes lost backup center David Bell earlier this month when he transferred to Jacksonville to be close to his pregnant girlfriend. They will have only two big men on next year’s roster: sophomore Micah Potter and incoming freshman Kaleb Wesson, Ohio’s reigning Mr. Basketball.

Ohio State now has three scholarships available for next season.