Big news for Kent State basketball fans—and for Ohio high school hoops followers who remember a certain standout guard. Dorian Jones, once the top-ranked recruit in the state, is coming home to play for the Golden Flashes.

Jones, a former Richmond Heights star, has announced his transfer to Kent State for the 2026-27 season after spending a redshirt year at Rutgers. The move brings a proven winner back to Ohio, where Jones led Richmond Heights to three consecutive OHSAA state championships. His senior season was particularly electric: he averaged 20.1 points per game and earned Division IV Player of the Year honors in 2022-23, followed by back-to-back first-team All Ohio selections in Division V.

"It's great to add Dorian to our roster," said Kent State head coach Rob Senderoff in a statement. "I have watched him play at Richmond Heights all throughout his high school career and know how much talent and ability Dorian has. He is an excellent shooter, a high-level athlete with tremendous potential. He played for a state championship program with a great coach in Quenton Rogers. I am excited to get to work with Dorian and help him develop both on and off the court."

Coming out of high school, Jones was rated as the No. 1 recruit in Ohio and the 88th best player nationally by 247 Sports. That kind of pedigree doesn't come around often for a mid-major program like Kent State, and it signals a serious upgrade for the Flashes' backcourt. For fans who love seeing local talent shine, Jones' return is a storyline worth following—and a reminder that sometimes, the best moves are the ones that bring you back where you started.