Buckeyes’ E.J. Liddell makes steady progress

Ohio State’s E.J. Liddell examined the draft waters final 12 months after which returned to highschool figuring out what he needed to perform.

“I used to be anticipating to have the ability to play within the NBA and keep in there for a very long time,” the junior ahead stated earlier than the season. “That’s what I’m wanting ahead to. I felt prefer it wasn’t the time. I felt like I may come again and win some extra basketball video games right here. There’s no rush.”

That’s precisely what Liddell has been doing. And he’s made himself a greater participant within the course of.

Liddell stated he needed to improve his all-around sport and enhance his 3-point capturing and rebounding. Positive sufficient, Liddell is capturing 39.7% from past the arc and amassing 7.5 rebounds per sport, up from 33.8% and 6.7 final season.

These aren’t the one areas by which he’s improved. The 6-foot-7 junior ahead is averaging 19.7 factors, 2.8 assists and a pair of.7 blocks whereas capturing 51.5%. Final season, he averaged 16.2 factors, 1.8 assists and 1.1 blocks whereas capturing 47.4%.

“He’s an exceptional child from an exceptional household,” Ohio State coach Chris Holtmann stated. “He’s made an unimaginable mark. His legacy’s going to be one which’s important due to who he’s as a participant and who he’s as a child.”

Liddell additionally has proven loads of consistency and has delivered in opposition to high opponents. He has scored no less than 18 factors in 5 of his final six video games, the lone exception being a 13-point efficiency in an 83-37 blowout of IUPUI.

He made consecutive 3-pointers within the remaining 34 seconds Sunday to assist the Sixteenth-ranked Buckeyes rally from a 20-point deficit to tie No. 4 Purdue, although Jaden Ivey’s 3 with 0.6 seconds left gave the Boilermakers an 81-78 victory.

“He’s persevering with to evolve and add items to his sport,” stated Wisconsin coach Greg Gard, whose crew has break up two conferences with Ohio State this season. “We recruited him some, too, and he didn’t have the perimeter skill that he has now and clearly his skill to attract fouls and people kinds of issues. The flexibility and variety that he’s added to his offensive sport, I believe, is without doubt one of the issues that stands out.”

SIZE: 6-foot-7, 240 kilos

STATS: 19.7 factors, 7.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 2.7 blocks

STRENGTHS: His stat-stuffing skill at Ohio State displays his versatility and the power of his total sport.

WEAKNESSES: His 3-point capturing has come a great distance for the reason that begin of his school profession, however he should present that may translate to the professional ranks.

DRAFT PROJECTION: Late within the first spherical or early within the second.

Different prospects across the Massive Ten:

G JOHNNY DAVIS, Wisconsin: This probably lottery choose had been held beneath 20 factors in every of his final two video games heading into Wednesday’s showdown at No. 18 Illinois, however he confirmed his skill to ship in crunch time by scoring the ultimate six factors in a 66-60 victory over Minnesota Sunday.

G JADEN IVEY, Purdue: Ivey, a possible top-five total choose, delivered one of many greatest photographs of the faculty basketball season to date by sinking a tiebreaking 3-pointer within the remaining second of a victory over Ohio State.

G MAX CHRISTIE, Michigan State: He’s thought of an intriguing prospect, although his manufacturing has been inconsistent in his freshman season. He scored 16 factors in a victory over Michigan, however that was sandwiched between a two-point sport in a loss at Illinois and a seven-point effort in a victory at Maryland.

F KOFI COCKBURN, Illinois: One other participant who examined the draft waters earlier than returning to highschool, Cockburn entered Wednesday’s sport with Wisconsin averaging 21.1 factors and 11.6 rebounds. Oakland’s Jamal Cain is the one different Division I participant averaging no less than 20 factors and 10 rebounds.