Ohio State Basketball: 3 questions as new season draws near

How long before the stud freshman Malaki Branham makes an impact?

Looking at one specific player, Branham is going to be the wildcard for this team.

Until the season really gets going, teams typically don’t know what kind of production they will get out of freshmen players. Branham brings immense potential in nearly every facet of the game. Seeing how quickly he progresses and if he can be a big contributor will be huge.

The area Branham could add that no one else has for the Bucks is his chance to be a two-way player. Branham has really good length as a 6’5 wing that presents issues for opposing players. This length gives him an upper-hand getting to the rim and shooting over defenses and also challenging shots on the defensive end.

If he reaches his potential, Branham could turn into a player that can guard any position from a point guard to a small forward. On top of that, he could then be a fluid scorer with the ability to create for his teammates.

Jerry Meyer of 247 Sports went over some of Branham’s strengths in a scouting report,

"Good size for a shooting guard with secondary ball handler capabilities. Solid athlete. Specialty is getting to the rim with his slashing style. Improving outside shooter who can keep the defense honest. Quality ball handler and who can pass on the move. Versatile defender who rebounds at a high level."

Simply said, Branham has a very good shot of bringing irreplaceable versatility at the wing position for Holtmann and Ohio State.

On the offensive end, Branham handles it well and is a good passer at times. He has a knack for getting into the lane and creating his own shot or setting others up for good looks. In addition, he is a good finisher with a solid jump shot, especially off the dribble on pull-up mid-range shots.

Branham clearly is an exciting freshman, one of the more exciting ones in years. If he develops quickly, the Ohio native has a chance to take Ohio State to the next level by filling in some needs like a good wing defender.

The Ohio State basketball team has many different skillsets on this team that should blend in nicely. Just as in previous years under Holtmann, OSU can work its way up the AP rankings and become a really good team. Some of the questions around Ohio State basketball will be answered within the next two weeks.

The Buckeyes have an exhibition game against Indianapolis Monday, November 1st. Then, Ohio State officially begins its season on the evening of Tuesday, November 9th against Akron.