Making the jump from one level to another is never easy. Whether it is high school to college or college to professional, it can take a player some time to adjust to their new situation, no matter how good they are.
The jump was no different for Ohio State freshman guard Malaki Branham, who came in as one of the more anticipated players over the past five recruiting classes for the Buckeyes. Branham came to Ohio State from St. Vincent-St. Mary high school in Akron and was named the 2021 Ohio Mr. Basketball. He was a four-star recruit and the 38th ranked player in the country, the eighth ranked shooting guard in the country, and the top player in the state of Ohio.