Ohio State's already impressive 2019 basketball recruiting class just got even better.
Head coach Chris Holtmann and the Buckeyes landed a commitment from four-star forward EJ Liddell Monday — giving the program its third verbal and rounding out the 2019 class alongside Alonzo Gaffney, who committed in April, and DJ Carton, who committed in July.
THE NEXT CHAPTER.... pic.twitter.com/JH6D15zckI
— E.J. Liddell (@EasyE2432) October 1, 2018
The Liddell File
- CLASS: 2019
- SIZE: 6-foot-7, 220 pounds
- POS: PF
- SCHOOL: Belleville West (IL)
- COMPOSITE RATING: ★★★★
- COMPOSITE RANK: 48
After making an unofficial visit to Columbus in June, Liddell included the Buckeyes in his top five choices on Aug. 13 alongside Missouri, Illinois, Wisconsin and Kansas State. He cut the list to three finalists — Ohio State, Missouri and Illinois — and took official visits to each program, beginning with Ohio State on Aug. 31. Then, on Monday, that list dwindled to one.
At 6-foot-7, 220 pounds, Liddell was named Illinois Mr. Basketball and earned Gatorade Player of the Year honors at Belleville West High School last season. He averaged 20.8 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game as a junior and holds school records for points in a season (708) and points in a career (1,759).
247Sports has Liddell ranked as the top player in the state of Illinois and the 10th-best power forward in the nation.
Liddell looks to join a team that currently features freshmen Justin Ahrens and Jaedon LeDee, sophomores Kaleb Wesson and Kyle Young and junior Andre Wesson at the forward position. Gaffney is also a forward.
While at Belleville West, Liddell has shaped his reputation on a physical presence in the post with the ability to shoot on the perimeter. His versatility is expected to be the perfect compliment to balance out Gaffney and Carton.
