Top point guard Jaxson Davis picks Ohio State over Iowa, Michigan State
Four-star point guard Jaxson Davis has committed to Ohio State, a decision that ends a recruitment that included planned official visits to Iowa and Michigan State. The class of 2027 prospect announced his commitment on Sept. 18, choosing the Buckeyes after an official visit to Columbus earlier in the month.
Davis, ranked No. 39 nationally by 247Sports.com, had official visits to Ohio State and Creighton before shutting down his recruitment. The move gives Ohio State its second commitment in the same week, joining four-star Canadian forward Deng Ngor.
Why did Jaxson Davis choose Ohio State?
Davis said his longstanding relationship with Ohio State assistant coach Brian Walsh played a major role in his decision. Walsh recruited Davis during his eight seasons at Indiana before joining the Buckeyes' staff in spring 2025.
That relationship carried over to Ohio State and led to an official visit during the weekend of Sept. 5. Walsh followed up with a visit to see Davis at his new school, Monarch Academy in Kansas City, Kansas.
By that point, Davis said he already knew Ohio State was the right fit, though he did not tell Walsh at the time.
“I didn't tell him yet, but that's when I knew,” Davis said.
Davis also credited Ohio State coach Jake Diebler's vision for his role in the program.
“It really aligned with me and I liked it a lot,” Davis said. “He envisions me as a true point guard and he doesn't exactly believe he has one right now. He believes I can come in and earn everything but be able to play right away.”
Davis impressed by Ohio State practice intensity
During his visit, Davis watched the Buckeyes' football game against Ball State at Ohio Stadium and observed a basketball practice at the Schottenstein Center. He said the tempo of the practice stood out to him.
Davis also met with Diebler, who mapped out how the guard's skills could fit into his system. Most other schools recruited Davis as a point guard, and he said he likes how Diebler has used Bruce Thornton and John Mobley Jr. in the backcourt.
Davis has ties to E.J. Liddell and Evan Turner
Before transferring to Monarch Academy, Davis starred at Gurnee (Illinois) Warren Township, where he earned back-to-back Mr. Basketball honors as a sophomore and junior. He became the third player to win the award multiple times, joining Jabari Parker and E.J. Liddell.
Liddell played three years at Ohio State, and Davis worked out with him over the summer in Chicago. The two share the same agency.
Davis also connected with Evan Turner, the 2010 national player of the year whose No. 21 jersey hangs in the rafters at the Schottenstein Center. Turner reached out to Davis after his commitment.
“He texted with me,” Davis said. “He said congrats and hit him if I need anything from him.”
Davis met Turner at the NBPA Top 100 camp during the spring, where they discovered their shared Chicago connection.
A pass-first point guard with scoring ability
Davis, listed at 6 feet 1 and 180 pounds, is the No. 10 point guard and No. 1 player from Kansas in his class. He considers himself a pass-first point guard but has shown he can score in bunches.
On Dec. 30, 2025, Davis scored 51 points in a blowout win at the Big Dipper annual holiday tournament. It marked his third game in three days, following a 35-point effort in the first game.
“The last three years have been really good to me around the holiday time for my high school team, but it was just everything was going in (that night),” Davis said. “I hit a couple shots early and it seemed like the basket just kept getting bigger and bigger and everything was just dropping that night for me.”
Davis said his move to Monarch Academy for his senior season was about facing more consistent high-level competition to prepare for college.
“It was a huge factor, the competition level,” Davis said. “In high school, it wasn't ideal in Illinois. I'm just trying to play the best competition that I can in high school. I know it's going to be an adjustment either way going to college but I'm trying to make it less of a bigger jump.”
What does Davis' commitment mean for Iowa?
Iowa had been in the mix for Davis, with a planned official visit to Iowa City that will no longer happen. The Hawkeyes lose out on a top-40 national prospect who could have been a cornerstone of their 2027 recruiting class.
Ohio State now has two commitments in the 2027 class, both announced within the same week. Davis is expected to compete for playing time early in his college career.
This article is based on reporting from The Columbus Dispatch.