2026 Three-Star Forward Justin Caldwell Talks Interest in Buckeyes “Being recruited by Ohio State feels real it’s not hype, it’s a genuine belief in what I can become there”
Caldwell spoke with The Buckeye Tribune Lead Basketball Analyst AJ Mahoney to talk about his interest in Ohio State and where The Buckeyes stand in his recruitment.
Justin Caldwell is a Three-Star Recruit in the Class of 2026 and hails from Berean Baptist Academy in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Caldwell has interest from several high-major programs, including Maryland, NC State, Memphis, Ohio State, Villanova, and others.
The North Carolina native shared his reaction to being offered by The Buckeyes, “Getting the offer from Coach Diebler and the Ohio State staff was a blessing. It’s one of those schools you grow up watching, and to know they see that kind of potential in me meant a lot”. Caldwell shared that Ohio State reached out almost immediately after the new staff took over, “They reached out not too long after taking over, and right away the conversations were genuine. They made me feel like a real priority from the start”.
The 6’9 Forward is rising in the rankings and will end up as one of the best players in the class, in my opinion. He is coming off a recent visit to his hometown NC State Wolfpack, where he told Pack Pride editor Cory Smith, "It meant a lot, especially because they're in my home state and they're my first ACC offer"(Cory Smith, Pack Pride).
When I asked Caldwell if he had visited The Buckeyes, he shared with me that he has, “Yeah, I’ve been to campus. It was a great visit, you can feel the energy as soon as you step on campus”.
Caldwell also spoke very highly on the facilities and the development system Jake Diebler and staff run “The facilities are top tier, and just seeing how the coaches and players interact gave me a good feel for the culture they’re building. It’s a place where you can develop and be pushed”.
Every recruit and player who has been heavily pursued by Coach Jake Diebler always mentions the culture that is being built. Caldwell spoke highly on tradition and the fanbase around the team, “Ohio State is definitely one of the schools I’m looking at closely. The tradition, the fan base, the way they’re building something under Coach Diebler it all stands out”.
I asked Justin what has the recruitment journey been like for him and if it has gotten easier as his commitment inches closer day by day, “It’s definitely been a journey exciting but also a little stressful at times. My family’s been supportive the whole way, helping me keep everything in perspective… As I get closer to making a decision, I’d say it’s getting a little easier because I’m narrowing it down and starting to feel what’s really best for me”.
Finally I wanted to share with the Buckeye fans what is it like to be recruited by Jake Diebler and The Ohio State Buckeyes,
“Coach Diebler and the staff have been consistent. They’ve talked to me about how I fit their system my size, versatility, and ability to stretch the floor. They see me as a key piece who can impact the game on both ends. It’s not just about basketball either they’ve made it clear they care about developing me as a person”.