Buckeyes star Malaki Branham named Big Ten Freshman of Year

COLUMBUS — The rapid rise of Ohio State guard Malaki Branham continues.

Branham broke out early in Big Ten play and just kept getting better. The coaches and media from around the conference certainly took note.

Branham was named the Big Ten Freshman of the year by both the coaches and media on Tuesday, a recognition that shows he has arrived as one of the premier players in one of college basketball’s best conferences. Branham was also named third-team all-conference by the media and coaches.

He is the first Ohio State freshman to win Freshman of the Year since D’Angelo Russell in 2015.

After breaking out with 35 points in a win at Nebraska early in league play, he began to be a go-to scorer for the Buckeyes. He also had 31 in a win over Illinois on the road in February, and he averaged 13.2 points per game on the year. He backed up the early assessment from fellow star E.J. Liddell.

“I’ve said before the season even started at our first media day, he is a bucket getter,” Liddell, a first-team all-league selection said of Branham. “And as the year goes on, he’s going to keep getting better and better. He is seeing the game a lot better. It’s slowing down.”

The rapid rise of Malaki Branham has reached a new peak. He’s the Big Ten’s Freshman of the Year after a breakout season.

E.J. Liddell makes first-team All-Big Ten team

Branham wasn’t the only Buckeyes star to earn recognition. E.J. Liddell was named a first-team all-Big Ten performer by the media and Big Ten coaches on Tuesday. It’s the second straight all-conference nod for the junior who is likely going pro after the postseason. Liddell was also named to the Big Ten All-defensive team by the coaches.

Even after Ohio State coach Chris Holtmann campaigned publicly for Liddell to be Big Ten Player of the Year, the junior forward didn’t earn that title. It instead went to Wisconsin’s Johnny Davis.

But that doesn’t take away from what Liddell has done for the Buckeyes — or meant to the Ohio State program this year and throughout his entire career.

The first-team all-Big Ten list can be found below.

All-Big Ten first team (Coaches and Media)

Purdue G Jaden Ivey

Wisconsin G Johnny Davis

Ohio State F E.J. Liddell

Iowa F Keegan Murray

Illinois C Kofi Cockburn