NCAA Basketball: 10 best players from state of Illinois of last decade
By Joey Loose
7. E. J. Liddell – Ohio State
Liddell wasn’t just a top 50 prospect nationally, the 6’7 forward from Belleville had starred at the high school level and was by far the best prospect from the state of Illinois in recent years. He proceeded to join Chris Holtmann at Ohio State in 2019, spending the next three seasons in an impact role for the Buckeyes.
He was not a starter as a freshman, averaging just 6.7 points per game, but he really made an impact in his final two seasons. Liddell averaged 16.2 and 19.4 points per game his next two seasons respectively, with ascending rebound numbers as well. He had a 23-point, 15-rebound effort in a win over Minnesota and scored a career-high 34 points in a game that year against Northwestern. He helped lead the Buckeyes to an NCAA Tournament win over Loyola this past season before falling to Villanova.
A two-time All-Big Ten honoree, Liddell lead the conference in blocks and free throws this past season, becoming a lethal weapon in the paint on both sides of the basketball. He was a member of the conference’s All-Defense team while also ranking among the leaders in points, rebounds and shooting percentage. Liddell opted to forgo the rest of his eligibility and the former four-star prospect was drafted in the second round by the New Orleans Pelicans.