Ohio State freshman Malaki Branham announced on Friday that he is entering his name into the 2019 NBA Draft. The point guard has not made a final decision and could always return to play for the Buckeyes next year.,
Ohio State freshman Malaki Branham is entering the NBA draft, but leaves the door open to return. Malaki has a lot of potential and could be a great asset for any team.
Malaki Branham, an Ohio State freshman, said on Friday that he would join the NBA draft but will keep his NCAA eligibility.
“I’ll be testing the waters of the draft while maintaining my collegiate eligibility,” Branham stated. “I’m looking for the finest scenario and the best match for me. If I’m selected in the first round, I’m remaining in the draft because I feel that if someone gives me four years to show myself, they’ll be delighted with what they receive.”
Branham, who averaged 13.7 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in 30 minutes for Ohio State, was awarded Big Ten Freshman of the Year. He was named third-team all-conference and is rated No. 16 in the ESPN 100 among NBA draft prospects.
“We had our ups and downs during the season, but we fought all year,” Branham said. “We stuck together and tried our best throughout. It was a pleasure to be named Big Ten Freshman of the Year, and it proved to me that the hard work was well worth it. It was exciting to advance in the NCAA tournament. I simply wanted to make sure I was contributing to the team’s success. I wish we could have competed in the Final Four this weekend, but I know we battled hard and gave it our best. I believe NBA clubs learned that I don’t quit and that I work hard. The start of the season wasn’t ideal for me or my expectations, but the effort got me through it.”
Branham had a rough start to the season, coming off the bench for Ohio State and scoring in double figures just once in the first ten games. He ultimately found his stride in the Big Ten, scoring 35 points against Nebraska in December and averaging 20 points per game over the last ten games, including an amazing 23-point performance in an NCAA tournament loss to eventual Final Four member Villanova.
Branham, a four-star recruit who wasn’t firmly on NBA radars before the season began, emerged as a surprising one-and-done contender as a four-star recruit from St. Vincent-St. Mary in Akron, Ohio, where LeBron James attended high school. As the season progressed, Ohio State began to rely more heavily on him for scoring, enabling him to show off more refined shot-creation, playmaking, and shot-making abilities both beyond the arc and in the midrange.
Branham stated, “I was totally anticipating this sort of Big Ten campaign.” “I know what I’m capable of, and I put forth the effort to achieve it. It’s because I was able to settle down and observe the game. The game’s pace fluctuates as you go through the stages, and I was able to slow things down with the aid of my instructors and teammates. Breaking down video with coaches and learning how to make the appropriate reads, both offensively and defensively, enabled me to improve even more in the second half of the season. I think NBA clubs will see that I’m a sponge, and that no matter how things go for me, I’m eager to learn and put in the effort to improve. As I perform those things, I’ll be able to put what I’ve learned into practice.”
Branham, a 6-foot-5 guard, has the height, body, length, scoring instincts, and shot-making proficiency both off the dribble (44 percent FG percent) and with his feet set (43 percent) that the NBA is searching for at his position. For a player who won’t turn 19 until May, he plays with a unique combination of aggressiveness and poise, and the fact that he has made such impressive strides as the season progressed, especially facilitating for others and showing competitiveness defensively one-on-one, could put him in lottery discussions with a strong pre-draft process, given how high his ceiling is as a prospect.
The NBA draft combine will take place in Chicago from May 16 to 22, and the draft will take place on June 23 in Brooklyn, New York.
The “nba mock draft 2022” is a prediction of where players will be drafted in the 2022 NBA Draft. It’s based on the current standings and projected performances for each player.
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