On Thursday, Bradley Beal Elite alum E.J. Liddell joined a unique club among Ohio State Buckeyes hoopers.
With 23 points in a win at Minnesota, E.J. became the 60th player in Ohio State Basketball history to eclipse 1,000 points in a Buckeyes uniform. He also reached that 1,000-point milestone in high school at Belleville West High and is proud to continue to be a model of consistency throughout his basketball career.
“I was remembered at my high school, my middle school, and I wanted to do the same thing here,” he said. “I just feel like I’m just getting closer and closer to that.”
E.J. is backing that up, not only by etching his name in all-time Buckeyes record books, but on a game-to-game basis. His 19.7 points per game rank in the Top 30 in the nation, and he’s also pulling down 7.5 boards per game. E.J. has been at his best of late, shooting 55 percent from the field in the last six games, including 12-of-20 for 24 points in a win over Northwestern on January 9th.
“I love the contribution E.J. has made to our program. He’s a phenomenal kid from a phenomenal family. He’s just made an incredible mark,” Ohio State head coach Chris Holtmann said. “His legacy is going to be one that is significant because of who he is as a player and who he is as a kid.”
The Buckeyes (13-5) are currently ranked 16th in the nation, hurdling toward another NCAA Tournament appearance after last season’s first round exit, after which E.J. received hate-filled and threatening messages. E.J. has risen above those who criticized him, showing courage and poise that belies his age. So while the junior star hopes to guide Ohio State on a memorable tournament run this time around, his hopes for his legacy go well beyond that.
“I just want to be remembered as being a great person, honestly. Around this program, I know all of the managers’ names, I know everybody in the program’s names. I just feel like those things are important,” Liddell said. “Being a great individual every single day, coming in this program, just being remembered as one of those guys — not even as a basketball player because I feel like that handles itself.”
