The Ohio State basketball team is hoping to get back to the NCAA Tournament after missing the March Madness the last four seasons, and grab some momentum towards getting the program back among the elite in the league and country. If it’s going to do it, it’ll have to rely on some key returners, but also some new faces that will all have to mesh and become a team rather than a collection of individuals like what we’ve seen over the last few seasons.
One of those new faces is incoming freshman Mathieu Grujicic from Germany. He’s still working on some eligibility issues as an overseas player coming to the United Sates, but once he gets that all ironed out, he should be able to provide a scoring punch at multiple spots on the floor, much like what we’ve become accustomed to seeing with European players.
Before then, Grujicic is playing for his country in the U18 Eurobasket Tournament and looking extremely productive. It’s not quite the same level of competition, but there’s no denying the abilities and multiple ways he can score. In the opening game for Germany, Grujicic scored 23 points, pulled down eight rebounds, had two assists, and one steal. Germany ultimately lost its opening round game, but it wasn’t because of Grujicic.
We have some highlights of his body of work in the game thanks to the Hoops HQ “X” account we think you’ll enjoy.
Ohio State freshman Mathieu Grujicic (@MathieuGrujicic) impressed in his opening game for Germany 🇩🇪 in the U18 EuroBasket today
23 Points (6/19 FG | 9/10 FT)
8 Rebounds (4 Offensive)
2 Assists
1 Steal
16 Efficiency @OhioStateHoopspic.twitter.com/zPT3aUSUUe— Hoops HQ (@hhqsports) July 26, 2025
Grujicic has flown a little under the radar when it comes to incoming freshmen in the Big Ten, but if he can be anywhere near what we’ve seen in some of his highlights, he could surprise the opposition and provide another scorer to go with what we already know the Buckeyes have with some of those returning guys.
We’ll see if this skill set translates to the high level of big-time college basketball when things get going this winter.
Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.
This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Ohio State basketball freshman Mathieu Grujicic goes off for Germany