Fairmont grad becomes top returning scorer for Ohio State women’s basketball

That means the Brooklyn native will wrap up her career playing closer to home and Ohio State will be without its top six scorers from last season.

Fairmont graduate Makayla Waterman, who averaged 3.5 points and 3.9 rebounds per game last season, becomes the leading returning scorer for the Buckeyes, who also lost All-American point guard Kelsey Mitchell, All-Big Ten forward Stephanie Mavunga, starting guards Linnae Harper and Asia Doss and key reserve Alexa Hart to graduation.

>>END OF AN ERA: Kelsey Mitchell finishes as NCAA’s all-time No. 2 scorer

Coach Kevin McGuff has had to reload on the fly, adding highly regarded Hungarian forward Dorka Juhasz, Pacific transfer point guard Najah Queenland and freshman guard Janai Crooms (St. Andrew’s High School in Rhode Island) and freshman post player Aaliyah Patty (Montini Catholic in Illinois) over the past year.

The Ohio State roster also contains new graduate transfers Carmen Grande (Ball State), Adreana Miller (LaSalle), Carly Santoro (Bowling Green) and Ashanti Abshaw (Cleveland State).

Spanish forward Aixa Wone reportedly committed to Ohio State in May, but she has not been added to the roster yet.

Last season, Ohio State won the Big Ten regular season and tournament championships but flamed out in the second round of the NCAA tournament, getting blown out in Columbus by Central Michigan.