Since we’re stuck watching a lot of other college basketball teams continue their journey in the NCAA Tournament while Ohio State licks its wounds from being bounced by No. 15 seed Oral Roberts, we’re taking the opportunity to turn the page to next season.
There are guys leaving the program, but there are also freshmen coming in that we’ll all get familiar with soon. In the case of OSU, there are really only two guys that will need to be folded into the culture. We’ve already shown a highlight video of incoming shooting guard Malaki Branham, and now it’s time to look at Kalen Etzler.
Etzler, may not be as highly regarded as Branham, but he still brings a unique skill set and could be an underrated get for Ohio State. According to the 247Sports Composite Rankings, Etzler is ranked as the No. 143 prospect in the 2021 class. As a forward, he’ll definitely need to put meat on his bones to be as effective as he can be in the rough and tumble Big Ten.
However, he can handle the ball well for a guy that’s 6-foot, 8-inches and has a quick release and shooting touch. Take a look at some of his highlights in the below video thanks to the YouTube channel of Recruiting Nut.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s379nhKJYDA
While Etzler may not be an immediate impact guy like Branham, he could grow into a significant role as he develops. Time will tell, and maybe he’ll even surprise in year one.