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LOOK: Malaki Branham pens letter to Buckeye Nation, announces NBA decision

20200517_134556by:Justin Rudolph•04/01/22
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Big Ten Freshman of the Year and potential lottery pick, Ohio State’s Malaki Branham, is entering the NBA draft. According to NBA draft expert and ESPN analyst Jonathan Givony, Branham will maintain his college eligibility while trying his hand at the draft.

“Branham is testing the waters for now, but says he will stay in the draft if he receives assurances he’ll be drafted in the first round. He’s currently the No. 16 prospect in the ESPN 100 draft rankings,” wrote Givony via Twitter.

The freshman also announced his decision with this letter.

Branham, a native of Columbus, finished his freshman campaign with 13.7 points, 3.6 rebounds, and two assists per game. In the Buckeyes’ second-round loss to current Final-Four team Villanova, the freshman did all he could to keep them afloat. Branham scored a game-high 23 points on 10-19 shooting from the field. He also connected on three other Buckeyes seven made three-point shots.

Ohio State basketball sends message to Buckeye Nation

A few days following their second round NCAA Tournament defeat against Villanova, Ohio State basketball sent a video message to Buckeyes fans on Twitter. OSU’s Kyle Young, EJ Liddell and Jamari Wheeler each appeared in the video, where they offered their thank you to the program for the time spent there.

Both Young and Wheeler were fifth-year seniors this past season, and thus used their final year of eligibility. Liddell just finished up his junior season at Ohio State. He is a projected lottery pick in the upcoming NBA Draft. Based on his comments in the video, it certainly seems like this year may have been his last in a Buckeyes jersey.

“They believed in me, and that’s a big thing,” Liddell said in the video. “I’m happy that I’m a part of the family and when I’m an alumni I will always be connected to the university. …Playing here and just leaving my legacy, it means a lot. I’m a Buckeye for life.”