Curtis Givens III Joins Ohio State Basketball Roster
The former Memphis guard transfers to Ohio State for the 2026-2027 season.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Basketball
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Curtis Givens III officially joined the Ohio State men's basketball team during the 2026 offseason. He brings collegiate experience from his freshman season at LSU and his sophomore campaign at Memphis to the Buckeyes' backcourt.
Why it matters
Ohio State targeted the transfer portal to build backcourt depth for the upcoming season. Givens sought additional stability in his college career by joining the program in Columbus.
Givens averaged 9.4 points per game over 25 appearances and 15 starts at Memphis, improving from his 4.8 points per game across 32 games at LSU. Ohio State signed a total of three guards from the transfer portal this offseason to bolster its roster.
The players
Curtis Givens III
He is a transfer guard who previously played for LSU and Memphis.
Ohio State
It is a major public university in Columbus that competes in the Big Ten Conference.
BYU
This is a private university in Utah that fields a high-level men's basketball program.
The details
Givens is expected to serve as a defensive-minded guard off the bench for the Buckeyes. Coaches may utilize a three-guard lineup to close out games during the season.
Timeline
Givens played his freshman season at LSU during the 2024-2025 season.
Givens played his sophomore season at Memphis during the 2025-2026 season.
Givens transferred to Ohio State during the 2026 offseason.
Ohio State plays BYU in the season opener on November 2, 2026.
Season Trajectory
The addition of Givens marks a shift in Ohio State's roster strategy within the framework of the NCAA transfer portal. This move bolsters the backcourt depth, impacting the team's rotation flexibility for the upcoming season.
The addition of three transfer guards indicates a significant rotation change for the Buckeyes' backcourt. Fans should expect a defensive-focused bench presence from Givens as the team settles its closing lineup.
The takeaway
Givens offers Ohio State proven experience as a high-volume starter from his time at Memphis. His transition to a bench role may provide the defensive versatility necessary to compete in deep-rotation games.
What happens next
Ohio State opens the 2026-2027 season against BYU on November 2, 2026.
Further reading
For more on the team's preparations, visit the Columbus Basketball page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by On3.
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