Boilermakers Country

Big Ten Daily: E.J. Liddell Withdraws From NBA Draft to Return to Ohio State Basketball

E.J. Liddell elects to return to college basketball and play for Ohio State next season, Wisconsin quarterback Graham Mertz releases clothing line and both Ohio State and Penn State are in the running for a 2022 four-star recruit. Here's the latest from around the Big Ten.

D.J. Fezler

Ohio State forward E.J. Liddell decided on his future at the professional level on Saturday. According to ESPN's Jonathan Givony, Liddell is withdrawing his name from the 2021 NBA Draft to return to the Buckeyes next season.

"This was a pretty difficult decision," Liddell told ESPN. "No one in my family has ever been this close to getting to a professional league. After many conversations with my parents and coaches, I understood that returning was the best thing for me. Anyone can get signed to play in the NBA. I absolutely could have gotten a contract. But it's not about getting in the NBA, it's about staying in for the long-term."

Liddell, who was a first-team All-Big Ten selection last season, averaged 16.2 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.1 blocked shots in 29 games at Ohio State. He recorded eight games of at least 20 points last season, which was good for seventh-best in the conference.

The 6-foot-7 sophomore was one of the numerous prospects that participated in the NBA G League Elite Camp. He was told that he needed to continue working on his shooting ability and defensive versatility to be productive at the next level.

The Buckeyes will be without starting guard Duane Washington Jr. during the upcoming college basketball season after he elected to remain in the NBA Draft. However, with Liddell returning, Ohio State will look to repeat its success from last season after earning a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Liddell suggested that a reason for returning to college basketball was the ability to earn money from his name, image and likeness this upcoming season.

"That changes the game really," Liddell told ESPN. "It's good that I could be making money. That should have been happening for a long time. The coaches are telling me that being the face of this team and one of the most publicized guys in the conference, I could make a really good profit off that. How much, I'm not sure yet. I haven't looked into that enough yet."

Wisconsin QB Graham Mertz Reveals Merchandise Website

After posting a video revealing his personalized logo, Wisconsin quarterback Graham Mertz announced a website where he will be selling clothing and other merchandise. 

With the NCAA approving an interim policy allowing athletes to profit from their name, image and likeness, Mertz is one of the numerous college athletes looking to take advantage.

After leading the Badgers' football program to a 4-3 record and a victory in the Duke's Mayo Bowl, Mertz is aiming to guide the team to another successful season.

Four-Star LB Includes Ohio State and Penn State in Top Five

The Ohio State football program already boasts the nation's top-rated 2022 recruiting class, and it's still growing as more prospects announce their commitments. Penn State, which has another top-10 class in the country, ranks second in the Big Ten Conference.

Shawn Murphy, a four-star linebacker from Unity Reed High School in Manassas, Virginia, included both the Buckeyes and the Nittany Lions in his top five Saturday night. 

Murphy, a 6-foot-2, 215-pound prospect, is the No. 6 linebacker in the recruiting class and the No. 61 prospect overall, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. He currently holds 45 total offers, including those from Alabama, LSU and Florida.

He has not yet announced a commitment date, but his pledge would be a strong boost to any program that acquires his talents — including those in the Big Ten. 

Recent Stories From Boilermakers Country 

  • BIG TEN DAILY, JULY 3: Iowa's Joe Wieskamp and Nebraska's Dalano Banton have each elected to forgo any further season in college basketball to pursue the 2021 NBA Draft. Also, Penn State football earned a commitment from the nation's No. 2 JUCO prospect. CLICK HERE
  • EDEY'S SECOND DOUBLE-DOUBLE OF FIBA WORLD CUP: Purdue's Zach Edey posted 14 points and a team-high 15 rebounds in Canada's 100-75 victory over Japan. It was Edey's second straight double-double as the team's starting center. CLICK HERE 
  • IVEY LEADS USA U19 BASKETBALL TEAM: Purdue's Jaden Ivey exploded for 21 points in the USA Men's U19 FIBA World Cup Team's 83-54 victory over Turkey on Saturday. Boilermaker teammate logged seven points and six rebounds off the bench. CLICK HERE
  • EDEY LEADS CANADA TO VICTORY ON DAY 1: Purdue center Zach made his first start for the Canada Men's U-19 FIBA World Cup Team against Lithuania on Saturday. He recorded 12 points and 16 rebounds in an 80-71 victory. CLICK HERE
  • TREVION WILLIAMS JOINS CAMEO: After returning to Purdue in favor of entering the 2021 NBA Draft, Trevion Williams enters an NIL deal with Cameo. He'll be connecting with fans through personalized video messages. CLICK HERE 

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D.J. Fezler
D.J. FEZLER

D.J. Fezler is a staff writer for BoilermakersCountry.com. Hailing from The Region, he is from Cedar Lake in Northwest Indiana and has spent the last two years covering Purdue football and basketball. 

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