Ohio State big man E.J. Liddell is returning to Ohio State for his junior season.

He made that announcement on Saturday afternoon:

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This is a huge result for the Buckeyes, who would have deeply missed his scoring ability next season. Last year, Liddell averaged 16.2 points per game. Ohio State is already losing star guard Duane Washington Jr. to the draft.

Liddell was going through the pre-draft process, but left the door open to return to school. Now, he’s expected to be one of the best players in the country next season and is an early favorite to be preseason Big Ten Player of the Year.

In addition to scoring, Liddell also contributed 6.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game last season. His passing improved late in the year, as he recorded at least four assists in four of his final five games.

Ohio State is bringing in a pair of a high school recruits and a pair of transfers to try to improve the team next season. 4-star guard Malaki Branham and Penn State transfer guard Jamari Wheeler figure to be the most impactful of those additions.