John Mobley Jr., Ohio State’s junior guard and a preseason All-Big Ten pick, is the player the Buckeyes’ season most depends on. He led the team with 15.7 points per game last year, made 97 three-pointers, and now steps into the lead role left by Bruce Thornton. If he stays hot and the new pieces around him click, Ohio State can rise above its projected eighth-place Big Ten finish.
Meet John Mobley Jr.
| Position | Guard |
| Class | Junior |
| Size | 6-1, 175 pounds |
| Hometown | Reynoldsburg, Ohio |
| High school | Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), then Wasatch Academy |
| Recruiting | Four-star |
| Nickname | “Juni” |
| Career line | 14.3 points per game in two seasons, 174 career threes |
Mobley grew up in Reynoldsburg, moved west for high school, and came home to play for Ohio State. He earned Max Preps player of the year honors in Utah before he arrived in Columbus, and Ohio State coaches have praised his work ethic. He was also working on his shot at sunrise during last January’s stretch run.
From Freshman Sniper to Preseason All-Big Ten
Mobley arrived with a bang. In his first college game, against Texas, he made all four of his three-point attempts in just 13 minutes and scored 14. He finished his freshman year at 13.0 points per game while shooting 38.5% from deep (77 of 120), second in the Big Ten in made threes.
Then he leapt as a sophomore:
- 15.7 points per game, a team high
- 2.8 assists and 2.4 rebounds per game
- 41.1% from three-point range (97-of-236)
- 86.8% at the free-throw line
- All-Big Ten Honorable Mention
His 97 threes were the fourth-most in a single season in Ohio State history. He had nine games with five or more made threes.
The Games That Showed His Ceiling
- At Penn State (March 4): Mobley made 8 of 9 threes and scored 28 in a 94-62 rout, helping Ohio State’s NCAA Tournament push.
- Vs. UCLA (January 17): He scored 28 with six threes in a win, sparking a 15-0 run.
- Vs. Penn State (January 26): He scored 25 and hit five threes.
- Vs. Mount St. Mary’s (November 25): 26 points on 10-of-15 shooting.
- Vs. TCU (NCAA Tournament): 15 points in a 66-64 loss. He shot 6-of-17, a reminder that big-game consistency is the next step.
Why He’s the Key to the Season
1. He has to replace Bruce Thornton. Thornton, a four-year starter and one of the best guards in school history, is gone to the pros. Mobley was always the shooter next to him, and now he’s the focus of every defense. One preview said he’s capable of sliding over to be the next lead guard, which means more ball handling and more responsibility.
2. He creates space for everybody else. Defenders can’t help off him, which gives five-star freshman Anthony Thompson and big man Amare Bynum more room. Thompson is expected to be Big Ten Freshman of the Year in one preseason poll and is the highest-rated recruit to sign with Ohio State since Jared Sullinger in 2010. That works best if Mobley keeps the floor stretched.
3. He’s the closest thing to a proven star. Most of the backcourt is new: Cal’s Justin Pippen (14.2 points last year), Duquesne’s Jimmie Williams (15.1) and Memphis’s Curtis Givens III (9.4). Nobody else on the roster has Mobley’s track record in the Big Ten.
What Mobley Still Has to Improve
Nobody’s perfect, and the numbers show where he can grow:
- Shot selection and big-game efficiency. He shot 3-of-11 from three against TCU. With more attention from defenses, he’ll need to get open and finish through contact.
- Ball security. He averaged 2.8 assists against 1.8 turnovers. A lead guard has to lift that ratio.
- Defense. One preseason profile said he needs to mature on that end.
The Early Look: A Mixed Signal
Mobley led Ohio State with 15 points in its 79-68 exhibition loss to Cincinnati on October 7, but he shot just 4-of-13, with 2-of-9 from three. It was only an exhibition, and he added 4 assists, but it’s a reminder that this team is still gelling. Pippen came off the bench, and Thompson scored just two points.
What the Experts Expect
- Ohio State is picked eighth in the Big Ten in the Columbus Dispatch preseason poll.
- Mobley is a second-team preseason All-Big Ten pick in that poll and a first-team pick on the conference’s official list.
- Hoops HQ ranks Ohio State ninth in the conference and calls Thompson the X-factor.
If Mobley and Thompson both deliver, the Buckeyes could beat those projections.
Key Games for Mobley
| Date | Opponent | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Nov. 2 | at BYU | Season opener, first meeting since 1997 |
| Nov. 13 | at UConn | Road test against a national power |
| Nov. 24 | Vanderbilt | Home-and-home series begins |
| Dec. 12 | at Notre Dame | Chance for a quality road win |
| Dec. 19 | Kansas (NYC) | Marquee neutral-site game |
| Jan. 30 | at Michigan | Rivalry on the road |
My Take
Mobley is the heartbeat of this team. If he plays like an All-Big Ten guard, shoots near 40% from three and takes care of the ball, Ohio State should be an NCAA Tournament team. If defenses take away his shot and the new guards struggle, there isn’t a lot of backup. The first few games, especially BYU and UConn, will tell us a lot. This is my opinion, not a prediction anyone can guarantee.
Can Mobley carry Ohio State this season? Tell me what you think in the comments, and subscribe for more Buckeyes hoops coverage.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many points did John Mobley Jr. average last season? 15.7 points per game, a team high.
Did he make a preseason All-Big Ten team? Yes, he was named to the official 11-player preseason All-Big Ten team.
What is his career high? 28 points, which he reached twice: at Penn State and against UCLA.
Did he test the NBA Draft? He declared for the 2026 NBA Draft while keeping his college eligibility, then returned to Ohio State.
When does Ohio State open the season? Monday, November 2, at BYU in Salt Lake City.
