Junior forward E.J. Liddell (32) attempts a shot during the first half of No. 7 Ohio State’s NCAA Tournament game against No. 10 Loyola Chicago Friday at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. Ohio State won 54-41. Credit: Mackenzie Shanklin | Lantern File photo
Junior forward E.J. Liddell was selected by the New Orleans Pelicans with the No. 41 overall pick in the second round in the 2022 NBA Draft Thursday.
Liddell is the second Buckeye drafted this summer after freshman guard Malaki Branham went to San Antonio No. 20 overall in the first round.
The forward comes off a career-best season where he earned First Team All-Big Ten as well as Third Team All-American honors. He finished the season averaging 19.4 points and 7.9 rebounds per game while posting career highs in nearly every statistical category.
Liddell established himself as an elite two-way player during his junior season, leading the Big Ten in blocked shots and finishing seventh on the Ohio State all-time blocks list. He also became the 33rd player in Ohio State history to finish his career with 1,000 points and 500 rebounds.
He scored a career-high 34 points Jan. 9 against Northwestern, and blocked a career-high eight shots Nov. 18, 2021, against Xavier.
A consensus four-star recruit, Liddell was named Illinois Mr. Basketball twice in 2018 and 2019, becoming the first player to win the award twice since former NBA player Jabari Parker.
