Malaki Branham's stellar first season has been rewarded with several impressive Big Ten honors.
The four-star prospect out of Akron's St. Vincent-St. Mary High School is the first Buckeye to earn the Big Ten Freshman of the Year honor since D'Angelo Russell in 2014-15, having averaged 13.2 points and 3.6 rebounds in 28 starts during the regular season.
Joining Branham on the All-Freshman team are Nebraska guard Bryce McGowens, Wisconsin guard Chucky Hepburn, Michigan State guard Max Christie and Michigan forward Moussa Diabate.
Branham was also named third-team All-Big Ten on both the coaches and media ballots, with McGowens, Illinois guard Alfonso Plummer, Michigan State forward Gabe Brown and Purdue's Trevion Williams also included on the former list and Wisconsin's Brad Davison mading the cut over Brown and Baker on the latter.