The Kentucky transfer gets one year to make her mark in Columbus.
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Take a look back at the top 10 rebounders in the Big Ten for the 2023-24 season and there’s a concerning similarity between the athletes. Of the 10, nine have a top 10 career high conference rebounding game against Ohio State women’s basketball. Only Wisconsin’s Serah Williams hasn’t had a top game in the paint against the Buckeyes, but even then the star forward still has a matchup with 11 boards against the Scarlet and Gray.
Ohio State ended last season in dead last for rebounds per game (33.5). So, it’s no surprise that anytime head coach Kevin McGuff talks about what plagues the Buckeyes, it’s rebounding. It’s a major problem, but now there’s some hope with the transfer of Ajae Petty.
Name: Ajae Petty
Position: Forward
Class: Graduate Senior
High School: Baltimore Polytechnic Institute (Baltimore, Maryland)
2023-24 Stats: 14.2 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 1.0 apg, .507 FG%, .495 FT%
Last Season
Petty transferred in after four years in the SEC. However, it wasn’t until last season that the forward out of Maryland saw substantial minutes on the court.
After appearing 31 times in two years with the LSU Tigers, averaging only 5.3 minutes per appearance, Petty left for bluer pastures with the Kentucky Wildcats. In the forward’s first season in Kentucky, the minutes increased but she still couldn’t crack the starting five.
Once she did for the 2023-24 season, she made up for lost time.
Petty started every game for Kentucky in head coach Kyra Elzy’s final season in Lexington. Despite a 12-and-20 record, Petty thrived. In 32 games, averaged a double-double with 14.2 points and 10.6 rebounds, one of only four to accomplish the feat in the competitive SEC. It put Petty in a class alongside the likes of LSU’s Angel Reese and Aneesah Morrow.
The new Buckeye also had 18 double-doubles, compared to nine total double-doubles with points and rebounds for the entire Ohio State roster.
Petty’s boards aren’t stat padding either, where a player thrives against non-conference opponents and then shrinks in conference play. Petty averaged 11 rebounds per game against SEC competition and 14 of those 18 double-doubles came against Power Five Conference schools.
On Jan. 11, 2024, Petty had a career-best 21 rebounds, along with 23 points, against Vanderbilt. Of those rebounds, 11 came on the offensive boards.
When it comes to transferring, Petty did know former Kentucky teammate Kennedy Cambridge, but pursuing the forward went further. McGuff knew Petty through a relationship with the forward’s high school coach.
Petty considered other strong programs, but opted to go with the Scarlet and Gray.
“I think she’ll be really impactful. I do,” said McGuff. “I think just our presence around the basket will be certainly way better than it has been. And I think she’ll be a big part of that.”
What to Expect
Take a guess at what you can expect from Petty. Yes, it’s rebounding.
The 6-foot-3 forward is physical, quick, and will grab more boards than the Buckeyes, but there are pros and cons within the post-game. On one hand, Petty hasn’t fouled out of a game, despite the manner in which she grabs boards. That shows discipline to not foul in the act.
On the other hand, free throw efficiency doesn’t jump off the stat sheet. Petty is a 50.7% shooter from the line, meaning when the game is on the line, the old “Hack-a-Shaq” game plan could come into play.
Also, Petty doesn’t provide an outside shooting game. In four seasons, Petty hasn’t attempted a three-point shot. If McGuff had years with Petty, that might be something to improve over time but there’s one season before Petty’s eligibility runs out. That means the five-out offensive game plan will adjust slightly, with defenders not going to run out and cover Petty on the perimeter.
That doesn’t likely mean an all-out shift in offensive strategy but expect tweaks.
Off the court, Petty’s already saying what needs to be said and is a team-first kind of player.
“My mindset currently is just to come in, you know, do whatever the team needs me to do,” said Petty. “Whether it’s stepping into a leadership role, whether it’s following TT [Taylor Thierry] and all the other older people who’ve already been here. It’s whatever the team needs me to be.”
Prediction
There’s a close to 100% chance Petty starts from day one and doesn’t lose it, barring injury. Petty will not only grab boards but be an outlet to a group of four surrounding the big who all have the ability to attack the basket. The speed and skill of the four perimeter players could make life difficult for defenders, and give Petty open baskets in the paint as a by-product.
Petty of course won’t be able to play 40 minutes each night. Supporting the forward is a pair with varying levels of experience. Forward Eboni Walker has the most, but McGuff is high on new freshman center Elsa Lemmilä. The 6-foot-6 Finnish big is the likely next player in behind Petty.
Highlights
Watch Petty in an exhibition game before last season. Outside of rebounding, Petty shows presence and timing to pick up blocks and see her work on the offensive end of the floor.
For an added bonus, take a listen to Petty during a recent Buckeye practice.
Petty in Practice: Mic’d up edition ️@AjaePetty15 | #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/9WYdraD2t9
— Ohio State Women’s Basketball (@OhioStateWBB) October 22, 2024
Other Player Previews
Miss a player preview? Click the links below to learn more about the 2024-25 Buckeyes roster:
Madison Greene
Eboni Walker
Ava Watson
Chance Gray
Elsa Lemmilä
Kennedy Cambridge
Taylor Thierry
Seini Henry