College basketball season is fast approaching and Land-Grant Holy Land is getting you ready with a series of player previews. Before the season starts this fall, check back regularly for more player previews, schedule news, features, and more heading into the 2024-25 Ohio State women's basketball season.
Transfer season's become one of the most exciting off-the-court times of the college basketball calendar. It's when players declare their intent to transfer, teams shuffle their rosters and athletes don new garb to finish out their collegiate careers.
Last summer, Ohio State women's basketball made a splash by adding a finalist for National Defensive Player of the Year in Celeste Taylor. That addition plus an in-conference transfer with Taiyier Parks from Michigan State gave the Buckeyes names they could bring into the lineup for an immediate impact.
Kennedy Cambridge was part of that group, but Ohio State fans never saw her play a minute on the court. Entering head coach Kevin McGuff's program as a sophomore, Cambridge was redshirted. Now, with three years available in scarlet and gray, Cambridge is likely to make her debut as a Buckeye on the court, and with that she brings defense and energy the Buckeyes need.
Name: Kennedy Cambridge
Position: Guard
Class: Redshirt sophomore
High School: The Ensworth School (Nashville, Tennessee)
2022-23 Stats: 2.7 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 1.2 apg, .488 FG%, .250 3FG%, .350 FT%
To look at Cambridge's work on the court, you have to go back two seasons. That's when the freshman debuted for the Kentucky Wildcats of the SEC.
In one season, Cambridge started once in 19 appearances, that came in the regular season against the Georgie Bulldogs. Cambridge didn't see the court again for the Wildcats, despite having performances where the guard stood out in an area Ohio State desperately needs -- rebounding.
Cambridge twice had games with eight rebounds, and half of them came on the offensive boards, including the Feb. 16 defeat to the Bulldogs; her final appearance of the year.
The freshman who led all Kentucky freshman with 273 minutes wasn't injured. Then Wildcats' head coach Kyra Elzy sat Cambridge on a "coach's decision." In May, Cambridge announced her decision to join the Buckeyes, referencing the Buckeyes culture and assistant head coach Jalen Powell as key reasons she chose the Scarlet and Gray.
"JP [assistant coach Jalen Powell brings something that I didn't have at Kentucky. And I'm not going to say they didn't care about me, but it's a different care over here."
Cambridge brings intensity on the offensive and defensive ends of the court. When asked what fans can expect from her, Cambridge said she'll be smiling the whole time she's on the court. Cambridge loves the game and of all things defense sticks out.
Coach McGuff can use Cambridge for just that, on a side that lost key defensive guards like Celeste Taylor and Jacy Sheldon. Cambridge will also use her energy to get between players and grab a high number of rebounds for a guard.
The guard's one year of sitting on the bench and watching also gives her a leg up in knowing the system. Cambridge practiced with the side last season, often playing on the scout team to challenge her teammates and learn the ropes before settling into a role this season.
Also, Cambridge knows two of her teammates on the court well. Joining Ohio State one year after Cambridge is forward Ajae Petty. The two played with each other the lone year Cambridge played in the Bluegrass State. Then there's Jaloni Cambridge.
Last year, Kennedy didn't reference any injury when talking about the redshirt classification. Which means it could have been to give her three seasons to play alongside her younger sister and No. 1 overall point guard in the 2024 class, Jaloni.
There will be competition for minutes at the guard position this year, with Jaloni Cambridge and Chance Gray the likely backcourt duo for McGuff. That means Cambridge will have to battle with Madison Greene, Ava Watson and Kaia Henderson for minutes.
With Cambridge's defensive mindset, and years of playing together with Jaloni on high school championship-winning teams, Cambridge should see minutes on the court.
The non-conference schedule is light, and watching how minutes get divvied up by McGuff will give a hint as to how the guard battle shapes up heading into conference play.
Expect Cambridge to be part of that group, likely coming in behind Greene for a defensive spark.
In 2021, Cambridge herself shared a highlight reel of her work on both sides of the ball.