Bye Bye Ohio State, Hello NBA!
A decision was made. Unfortunately, Buckeyes basketball fans will be sad. Yesterday, E.J. Liddell decided to skip his senior year of college to pursue his dreams of playing in the NBA. E.J. Liddell was the focal point for the Buckeyes’ offense as he led the team in scoring with 19.4 points per game. Also worth mentioning, Liddell became the 60th player to reach 1,000 points in his career, which he accomplished on January 27th. Liddell was a force to be reckoned with, standing at 6 foot 7 inches and weighing 240 pounds. E.J. backed down defenders and made some fade-away jump shots or made some hook shots. Liddell could also knock down three-pointers which made him more difficult to guard. E.J. was a monster on the boards too. He led the team in rebounds with 7.9 rebounds per game and also led the team in block shots averaging 2.6 per game. In E.J.’s final collegiate game against Villanova, he registered 17 points, collected six rebounds, three assists, three blocks, and two blocks.
According to a recent article from Bleacher Report, E.J. Liddell is not likely to be drafted in the top 10. I am confident that E.J. Liddell will get selected between picks 11-20. His play is jaw-dropping, and the speed he possesses at his size is beyond impressive. E.J.’s presence will surely be missed as he meant a great deal to the Ohio State program. Head coach Chris Holtmann shared his thoughts and feelings about his star player. Coach Holtmann had this to say about Liddell. “E.J. has represented our program at the highest level with his excellent play, leadership, and of course his trademark smile. E.J. will always be a Buckeye.” That was a statement from the heart and shows how genuine E.J. is.
It won’t be easy to replace a player like E.J. Liddell, who was named a second consecutive year to first-team All-Big Ten. E.J went on Twitter to express his gratitude to the fans and school. Liddell stated, “I will cherish the time and commitment of Buckeyes Nation.” Liddell would express his thoughts about Coach Chris Holtmann who was a big reason why he chose to go to Ohio State. We will hear E.J.’s name on June 23rd in Brooklyn, New York. Whichever team drafts Liddell they will get a talented player but an even better person.
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