Gabe Cupps Heads Home to Ohio State: A Big Transfer Portal Splash for 2025

The 2025 college basketball transfer portal opened up on March 24, and it didn’t take long for some serious news to drop. Gabe Cupps, a sophomore guard who’d been hooping it up at Indiana, made waves this week by announcing he’s transferring to Ohio State. The move, locked in on March 26, feels like a homecoming for the Ohio kid and a huge early win for the Buckeyes as they gear up for what’s sure to be a wild offseason.

A Local Kid Comes Back to His Roots

Gabe Cupps hails from Centerville, Ohio, and he’s no stranger to the spotlight. Back in 2021, he committed to Indiana as a four-star recruit, ready to make his mark in Bloomington. He hit the transfer portal on March 18, becoming the first Hoosier to bounce after a rollercoaster 2024-25 season. Indiana had just said goodbye to head coach Mike Woodson, bringing in Darian DeVries to take the reins, and it seems like the shake-up might’ve nudged Cupps to look for a new spot.

As a freshman in 2023-24, Gabe showed what he’s made of. He started 22 of Indiana’s 33 games, averaging 2.6 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in about 22 minutes a night. The guy’s got a sharp basketball brain, plays tough defense, and handles the ball like it’s no big deal—coaches loved him for it. But this past season? Rough break. A meniscus injury sidelined him after just four games and 25 total minutes. He had surgery and sat out most of the year, but here’s the silver lining: since he barely played, he’s likely getting a medical redshirt, meaning he’s got three years left to ball out at Ohio State.

Why Ohio State Feels Right

For Gabe, heading to Ohio State is like coming full circle. He grew up in Ohio, and the Buckeyes were actually in his final three schools back in high school, alongside Indiana and Stanford. Now, he’s back home, joining a team that could really use a guard like him. Ohio State’s had a tough stretch—missing the NCAA Tournament three years running—and head coach Jake Diebler’s on a mission to turn things around. Gabe’s scrappy defense, playmaking, and that 35.7% three-point shooting from his freshman year? That’s exactly the kind of boost the Buckeyes need in their backcourt.

I can imagine Gabe’s phone buzzing the second he hit the portal—Ohio State didn’t waste any time reaching out. It’s clear they see him fitting into Diebler’s vision of a gritty, team-first squad. Plus, playing in front of family and friends again? That’s got to feel pretty sweet.

The Transfer Portal Madness Begins

This all kicked off as the 2025 transfer window opened—a shorter one this year, just 30 days from March 24 to April 22, thanks to some new NCAA rules. For Indiana, losing Gabe is only the start of what looks like a big roster shake-up. Coach DeVries has his work cut out for him, with four guys already out of eligibility (Trey Galloway, Oumar Ballo, Anthony Leal, and Langdon Hatton) and more heading for the portal—like forward Mackenzie Mgbako, guard Kanaan Carlyle, and transfer Myles Rice, who put up 10.1 points a game this season before deciding to move on.

Over in Columbus, Ohio State waved goodbye to sophomore center Austin Parks, another Ohio kid, who entered the portal on March 18 after barely seeing the court in two years. His exit cleared the way for Gabe, but the Buckeyes aren’t done yet—word is they’re still hunting for a big man to shore up the paint.

What’s Ahead for Gabe and Ohio State?

For Gabe Cupps, this is a fresh start, a chance to get back to being the star he was in high school. If you don’t know his story, picture this: senior year at Centerville, he’s runner-up for Ohio Mr. Basketball and leading his team to a state title. Clutch doesn’t even begin to cover it. With three years left, he’s got plenty of time to grow into a leader for Ohio State.

For the Buckeyes, snagging Gabe right out of the gate is a flex. It’s still early in the portal season, but this move has fans buzzing about what’s next. Can Dieblerkeep the momentum going and land a few more pieces? Buckeye faithful are already dreaming of a deeper run in 2025-26.

The transfer portal’s like a whirlwind these days, and Gabe Cupps’ journey from Indiana to Ohio State is proof of how fast things can change. For now, Columbus is rolling out the welcome mat for one of its own, and I’ve got a feeling Gabe’s ready to make some noise in scarlet and gray.