It's official: Ohio State's E.J. Liddell is headed to the NBA

Following a second straight first-team all-Big Ten season, Ohio State forward E.J. Liddell has officially announced that he will not return to the Buckeyes.

Liddell is heading to the NBA, and unlike last year, as expected he will not be keeping open the option to return to college.

"Choosing to play for Coach Holtmann has been the best decision for me not only as a player but as a person," Liddell wrote in a statement posted to his official Twitter page. "I will cherish the time and commitment of Buckeye Nation. I hope the feeling is mutual! With that, I'd like to announce that I will be hiring an agent and entering the 2022 NBA Draft."

After emerging as a sophomore, Liddell went through the NBA draft process and participated in the G League combine but opted to return to Ohio State for another season. As a junior, he averaged 19.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.6 blocks and 2.5 assists per game, becoming the third player in the past 30 years to average those numbers. The other two: Jason Thompson of Rider and Tim Duncan of Wake Forest.

He also was named a third-team All-American by the Associated Press.

An emotional Liddell was noncommittal about his future after Ohio State's 71-61 loss to Villanova in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, telling reporters how much he was hurting following the loss and saying he wasn't sure what would come next.

“Right now I'm just reflecting on enjoying the moments I have with these guys, not even thinking about that, really haven't thought about that process yet,” he said inside Pittsburgh's PPG Paints Arena. “But this one stings. I'm not going to say I have thought about it, because I really haven't. This moment right here, I didn't want it to happen, ever.”

When Ohio State held its senior day March 6, Liddell participated in the pregame ceremonies.

"I’m really excited for EJ as he begins his NBA career,” Holtmann said in a statement. “He has developed and grown significantly as a player every single year as a Buckeye, and that will continue to be the case as an NBA player. E.J. has represented our program at the highest level with his excellent play, leadership and, of course, his trademark smile. E.J. will always be a Buckeye. We love you, my man."

In its most recent draft projection, ESPN pegged Liddell to go with the No. 19 pick in the draft.

As a junior, Liddell scored in double figures in every game and finished 32nd in program history with 1,298 career points and seventh with 143 career blocks. He also emerged as an advocate for athletes in the spotlight, calling out unacceptable messages and taunts directed at him during the past two seasons.

ajardy@dispatch.com

@AdamJardy

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State basketball star E.J. Liddell enters NBA Draft