Ohio State received a significant verbal commitment for men’s basketball today as Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary’s 2021 Guard Malaki Branham he chose the Buckeyes over Louisville, Xavier, Alabama, Michigan, and others.
Branham 6-4 is ranked as the nation’s 27th prospect, No. 5 guard, and No. 1 overall in Ohio by 2021, according to the 247Sports Composite. It is OSU’s highest ranking commitment in seven tears.
He joins two other Ohio outposts in the Ohio state 2021 guard class Meechie Johnson (ranked 89 nationally) and forward Kalen Etzler (ranked 90).
OSU Coach Chris Holtmann and his staff had been recruiting Branham almost back to his arrival in Columbus in the summer of 2017. Branham hails from Columbus, although he currently resides in Akron with his uncle.
Branham’s commitment solidifies OSU’s backcourt. Johnson, due to a knee injury that cost him his junior high school season, has excelled in recent weeks in travel ball tournaments. He imagines he plays the base job with Branham projected as an escort.
Upon Branham’s arrival at OSU in 2021-22, the Buckeyes estimate that he will still have Duane Washington Jr. as a senior in the shooting guard position. But there could be minutes for all of these players as they rotate through different points, even in some three-guards lineups.
A source indicated that the “dream stage” would be to have Johnson on point, Branham the two guards and a 2020 signer. Eugene Brown III in the forward wing position for the future.
Branham is the Ohio State’s highest-ranked recruit ever since coach. Thad Matta Kentucky guard D’Angelo Russell landed in the 2014 class. Russell was ranked 16th nationally in the 247Sports Composite. OSU also got the Illinois wing Keita Bates-Diop (ranked 29) in that class of 2014.
Holtmann had three best national prospects in his class of 2019 with Iowa guard DJ Carton (ranked 34), Illinois forward EJ Liddell (ranked 44) and Ohio forward Alonzo Gaffney (position 50). However, only Liddell will return for his second year in 2020-21.
Last season, Branham averaged approximately 20.2 points, seven rebounds and three assists per game, as SVSM had a 20-4 record and advanced to the Division II division before the tournament was canceled. He shot 38 percent of three in his third year. Branham was a junior All-Ohio first team pick in Division II. He helped direct SVSM to the Division I state championship game as a sophomore last year.
SVSM was part of several high-profile games earlier in the 2019-20 high school season. On December 7, the Irish broke Cincinnati Moeller’s 50-game winning streak with a 64-59 victory. That also avenged a loss for Moeller in last year’s state championship game. Branham had 17 points in that victory.
A week later, SVSM dropped a tough 59-56 decision to qualify Sierra Sierra, California, at the Play-by-Play Classic at Nationwide Arena in Columbus. LeBron James’ son Bronny had 15 points and a late steal basket in that victory for Sierra Canyon. OSU’s Holtmann was also present with the assistant coach Ryan Pedon. Branham scored 13 points in that game.
On January 19, Branham had a 44-point game, the best of his career, as well as 11 rebounds, two assists, and two blocked shots when his SVSM team defeated Trotwood-Madison 100-78 in the Flyin ‘To The Hoop event. in the Dayton suburbs.
Branham plays for the Nike TruGame travel program. That team reached the final eight playoffs for the Nike Peach Jam at level 16-U in July 2019. That team returned to action for the first time this summer last weekend last weekend for the Terrific 24 event in Indianapolis.
What is the state of Ohio getting with Branham? Jerry Meyer, a 247Sports basketball recruiting analyst, writes: “Good size for a shooting guard with secondary ball handling capabilities. Solid Athlete The specialty is reaching the edge with his cutting style. Improving the external shooter who can keep the defense honest. Quality ball handler and who can pass on the move. Versatile defender that bounces to a high level. “
From the standpoint of recruiting momentum, Branham’s commitment is enormous. It shows that Holtmann and his staff can get the best prospects, particularly those from Ohio. While Buckeye State hasn’t been a top-notch top-tier state (national top 50) in recent years, there is plenty of talent in the state for years to come. guard Chris Livingston (third place) and center Shawn phillips (48) They are Ohio’s best national prospects since 2022 in 2022. Guard Rayvon Griffith believes he is one of the top 50 players in 2023.
Ohio State has now run out of scholarships for the 2021 class, although Holtmann and his staff may continue to push to add a player to that class. That would mean that one of the expected returnees for 2021-22 could leave before now and spring.
OSU had been tracking Kansas wing Kendall Brown (14th), though he moved to Baylor on Monday.
Key players the Buckeyes have been looking for include Minnesota Chet Holmgren (second place), Canadian Charles Bediako (position 20), Virginia’s Efton reid (Rank 21), Pennsylvania Franck Kepnang (ranked 25) and from New York Micawber Etienne (classified 50).
Here’s a look at the OSU scholarship status:
* Seniors in 2020-21 (3) – G Hiker CJ (6-1), F Kyle young (6-8), G Abel Porter (6-3)
* Juniors in 2020-21 (6) – GRAM Musa Jallow (6-5), G Duane Washington Jr. (6-3), F Justin Ahrens (6-5), F Justice suing (6-6), F Seth Towns (6-7), G Jimmy Sotos (6-3, will be eligible as a senior in 2021-22), F Harrison Hookfin (6-5, walk-in)
* Sophomores in 2020-21 (2) – F EJ Liddell (6-6), C Ibrahima Diallo (6-10)
* Freshmen in 2020-21 (2) – GRAM Eugene Brown (6-6), F Zed key (6-8)
* Verbal by 2021 (3) – GRAM Meechie Johnson (6-3), F Kalen Etzler (6-8), G Malaki Branham (6-4)
* Verbal by 2022 (1) – GRAM Bowen Hardman (6-5)
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