Breaking: Malaki Branham will stay home, commits to Ohio State

On Tuesday afternoon, Malaki Branham told Stockrisers.com that he will be taking his talents to The Ohio State University. The top-rated in-state prospect chose the Buckeyes over Alabama, Louisville, Xavier, and others.

To start our discussion on his breakdown Branham said he made his decision recently due to the fact that every coach involved in his recruitment was ‘top-level’ and did great with recruiting him. Accredits all coaches that ever was involved with him as well.

As for his new school, the Ohio State University, he said "I chose them because they didn’t recruit me like an in-state kid. they were slightly annoying, in a good way (laughs),. they never stopped calling and never got too comfortable."

It's coincidental that Branham’s last visit prior to the COVID-19 pandemic was a trip to Ohio State. He had taken a visit to Louisville than visited the Buckeyes just one day later. Holtmann had him on multiple visits over his high school career but none bigger then the final visit he took to the campus.

But how did COVID-19 factor into his July commitment:

"the pandemic has sped things up for everyone, although it’s unfortunate, it’s just time for me."

He also credited his future head coach, Chris Holtmann and the entire staff for making a major a push and believed in him:

“Coach Holtmann has been great in this process. He’s shown me what I am capable of and how I can continue to grow. That’s  the  big thing for me, I  know i’m not a finished product and there’s a lot more that I can give,  he’s willing to bring that out of me"

Branham who wants the fans to know of his hard work ethic and love for winning, his senior year of high school he expects of that. He will play out his senior year where he started at St. Vincent's-St. Mary’s, is looking to ‘just enjoy’ himself and have ‘tons of fun’ and win some more games before heading to Ohio State.