The chill in the air is back this fall season, and that can only mean one thing in Athens: Bobcats basketball is back. Ohio’s season starts tonight in The Convo as it will take on Sun Belt foe Arkansas State to kick off the 2025-26 season.
Coming into this season, Ohio was ranked fourth in the annual Mid-American Conference preseason coaches poll, coming in behind Akron, Miami and Kent State.
Last year, the Bobcats were ranked at the top of the preseason coaches poll, but somewhat of a disappointing season ensued as Ohio exited the MAC tournament in the first round against Toledo. The Bobcats will look to improve on last year with a solid group of returners from last year’s squad, as well as a good group of transfers and freshmen.
Returners
The headline guy that is back for Ohio this season is senior guard Jackson Paveletzke. The Kimberly, Wisconsin native is back this season for the Bobcats, the first time that has been the case in his career, as he started at Wofford before jumping to Iowa State and then Ohio last year.
He had a breakout year as the lead guard for the Bobcats, averaging 13.8 points per game to go along with 4.8 assists and 4.1 rebounds as well.
His skills on the offensive side of the ball are key for Ohio to have success on the court, and they will be on full display this season.
“I think his role needs to expand even more,” Ohio head coach Jeff Boals said. “He's a very good shooter, he's got to look for his shot, and he puts so much pressure on the defense and finds the open guy … he does a great job of running our program.”
The other big returning starter is senior forward Aidan Hadaway, who will return healthy this season after missing a huge chunk of conference play with an injury last season. When he is healthy, Hadaway provides important rebounding, leading the team last year with 5.8 boards a game while also averaging 10.2 points per game.
“He's an inside-out rebounder, can shoot the three, (and) just does a lot of good things for us,” Boals said.
Ajay Sheldon is the other senior who has been a lifelong Bobcat with Hadaway. He is returning and should play a big role at the guard position. The Dublin, Ohio native is a dangerous shooter when he is on, and provides important hustle and leadership to the Ohio squad, along with Hadaway.
“In today's world of transfers, to have two guys who've been in your program for three years to come back (is huge),” Boals said. “They know our culture. There's a level of comfort, from my standpoint, because you know what they're gonna bring to the table. To have two guys like that, we're really going to depend on them.”
The biggest underclassman returner from last year has to be sophomore guard Elijah Elliott. The Orlando native showcased his extreme athleticism and skill last year, shooting 39.3% from three while averaging 3.2 rebounds per game as a guard.
“He's just a really good guard for us, very athletic,” Boals said. “(He) can guard multiple positions. Improved his shooting from last year to this year, and I thought he was very integral last year … (I’m) excited to see his jump as well.”
The other two key second-year returners are both big men in Ayden Evans and Kiir Kuany. Evans got some playing time last year while Kuany redshirted and didn’t see the court, but this year, their size will be a big deal for Ohio.
The final returner for Ohio is Jesse Burris, a guard who also redshirted last year after an injury, but he should have a role this season off the bench as a scorer, as he won the MVP of the Kingdown Summer League this offseason.
Transfers and Freshmen
Former Toledo forward Javan Simmons headlines the transfer class this offseason for Ohio. He is a player the team knows very well, as he was great in the MAC last year, putting up 12.5 points per game and 6.5 rebounds per game while earning all-MAC honorable mentions last year.
At 6’7’’ and 235 pounds, he provides Ohio with some needed size and power on the low block as he projects to be a huge part of Ohio’s team on both sides of the ball.
“He's a load on the block,” Boals said. “He's expanded his game to be a little bit more perimeter-based than he has been in the previous few years, but he knows his bread and butter is down low.”
Ohio added another big-man transfer in former UNC-Greensboro forward Jalen Breath. He only put up 6.6 points per game, but he had a whopping 7.0 rebounds per game as a big man last year.
“He's a big, strong kid,” Boals said. “Gives us a presence on the block offensively. Probably one of the best things, he's a great post defender one-on-one. He has an unbelievable knack to rebound the ball offensively, which will be big for us.”
Both Carter Reese and Dion Conners are transfer guards coming in for Ohio, with Reese coming from Ohio Northern and Conners coming from Appalachian State.
Conners hails from Pickerington, Ohio, and he will bring some needed shooting for Ohio as he averaged 40.1% from three last year and 8.0 points per game. Conners played in The Convo against Ohio last year, and he played well, going for 14 points while hitting four of his seven threes.
“When AJ Brown ended up leaving, and then Elmore James, we were looking for shooting,” Boals said. “Anytime he catches the ball, he’s a threat.”
As for the freshmen joining the roster, only two of the three will be available as Zay Mosley is out for the year, rehabbing an injury. Another Pickerington native in Jordan Fisher, and Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, product JJ Kelly will be available this year for Ohio.
“They've both gotten better since they've been here in the summertime,” Boals said of Fisher and Kelly. “For those guys, it's an adjustment period, physically, mentally, doing all the stuff that you have to do to be really good. Both of them have made progress since they've stepped on (campus).”
