COLUMBUS, Ohio — The last time the Ohio State basketball team made sure a top 100 recruit didn’t leave the state, he turned into a one-and-done player and a first-round NBA Draft pick. Malaki Branham showed up as part of the 2021 class expecting to have an immediate impact as a freshman and live up to all of the hype. He averaged 3.7 points and 3.6 rebounds while shooting 49.8% from the field and 41.6% from three-point range for the season on his way to winning Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors. The idea of what Branham’s success is what Chris Holtmann’s predecessor Thad Matta used for 13 years as he turned OSU into one of the Big Ten’s best programs. Most of that success was built on the back of homegrown talent. The goal of keeping Ohio’s best home came with perfect timing as the state saw an…
Continue Reading: What Devin Royal’s commitment means to Ohio State basketball: Buckeyes Recruiting
