What NBA draft analysts think of Ohio State basketball's Malaki Branham, E.J. Liddell
Thursday will mark a rare occurrence for Ohio State.
For the 12th time in the history of the men’s basketball program and only the third time since the turn of the century, the Buckeyes are expected to have two players selected in the NBA draft. Before the night is over, two-time first-team All-Big Ten forward E.J. Liddell and 2022 Big Ten freshman of the year Malaki Branham are poised to hear their names called as the newest members of the league.
And according to a trio of ESPN draft analysts, despite their different positions and abilities, both will likely have a short wait.
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“I think both guys are likely first-round picks,” said Jonathan Givony, co-owner of DraftExpress.com and NBA analyst for ESPN. “Very different profiles.”
The question is just how high both Buckeyes could go. Ohio State has not had multiple players taken in a draft since 2007, when Greg Oden, Mike Conley Jr. and Daequan Cook were all first-round selections. That was the first time since 1980 that multiple Buckeyes were taken in the first round.
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It seems about to happen again.
As a junior, Liddell led the team in scoring (19.4) and rebounding (7.9) while shooting 49.0% from the floor and 37.4% from 3-point range as he adapted to a more perimeter-oriented role. After a slow start, Branham burst onto the scene with a 35-pound outburst at Nebraska on Jan. 2 and went from averaging 6.3 points per game at the time to finishing second on the team at 13.7.
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“Malaki Branham I think is one of the fastest risers not only over the last year, but the truth is I didn’t know him as a high-school player and was blown away when I watched him in practice right before Ohio State played Duke in that ACC-Big Ten Challenge, and he only got better from there,” college basketball and NBA draft analyst Jay Bilas said. “He can shoot it. He’s athletic. He can go off the dribble. He gets to the foul line. He’s got a great future ahead of him.
“His present is really good, but he’s got a great future ahead of him.”
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Branham’s 35-point game at Nebraska set an Ohio State scoring record for a freshman in Big Ten play. In his final 11 games at Ohio State, Branham averaged 19.4 points. Included in there was a 31-point effort in a road win against Illinois, and by that point coach Chris Holtmann realized Branham likely wouldn’t be back for a sophomore season. Three days earlier, Branham had 27 points in a home, overtime win against Indiana and powered the Buckeyes to overcome a four-point deficit with 71 seconds left.
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“I think he got better as the year went on,” said Bobby Marks, former Nets assistant general manager and current ESPN Front Office insider. “He shot 62% in the month of March. He plays a position of premium as far as a wing. He’s the ideal fit for an NBA team.”
Givony said Branham, who measured at 6-6 with a 6-10 wingspan, didn’t start the year in his mock draft but was the best player on the floor when Ohio State lost to Villanova in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
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“He really fits a lot of boxes for what NBA teams look for at that wing position,” he said. “He has the ability to go get his shot in the midrange, rise up over people, really improved as the year moved on with his playmaking ability and his defense and just turned 19 years old a month ago. The upside there is unlimited.”
One extra year helped E.J. Liddell grow his draft stock
After a breakout sophomore season, Liddell entered his name into the NBA draft process and earned a G-League combine invitation.
It did not go well, and Liddell learned he was unlikely to be selected, so he returned for another year at OSU. Liddell grew his game, expanded his perimeter skills and has played himself into a likely first-round selection. Givony described Liddell’s journey as “an incredible story” of a guy who took feedback and found ways to make improvements.
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“He was forced to go back to school and really put a lot of work into his game and modernized himself as an NBA prospect,” Givony said. “Became a much better 3-point shooter, improved his playmaking ability, looked like a much more versatile defensive player, blocking shots, switching on the perimeter. He’s a guy that I think is very much in vogue in today’s NBA. He’s positioned himself very well in this draft class.”
Marks and Givony described Liddell as an option to play as many as three positions in the NBA, from small forward to a small-ball center.
“He certainly showed that he can play center,” Marks said. “It might be a little bit more of a challenge based on who is out there on the court, but can stretch the floor.”
Where will Malaki Branham and E.J. Liddell be selected in the NBA draft?
All three analysts agreed: Both Buckeyes are likely to go in the first round, with Branham all but certain to have his name called first.
“I don’t see both these guys lasting,” Marks said. “Branham probably in the top 15, 16, E.J. probably late teens, early 20s.”
Bilas said they both could potentially go even higher.
“E.J.’s going to be drafted in the top 25, I feel, and I think there’s a chance Malaki Branham goes in the top 10, and he’ll certainly go in the top 15,” he said.
According to odds produced by BetOnline.ag, the over/under for Liddell’s draft position is 22 1/2 and Branham is at 13.
Helping their respective cases is the fact that both Buckeyes have acquitted themselves well in their off-the-court meetings with NBA personnel.
“Both guys from Ohio State get rave reviews off the court,” Givony said. “Their interviews have been great.”
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: What NBA draft analysts make of OSU's Malaki Branham, E.J. Liddell
