The last time the Cleveland Cavaliers selected an Akron St. Vincent St. Mary’s product in the first round of the NBA Draft, it worked out pretty well for them. Akron native LeBron James led the Cavaliers to the city’s first championship in over 50 years back in 2016. However, we are nearly six years removed from that glorious title, and the Cavs might be looking at another former SVSM product to help get them over the top in today’s NBA world.
Malaki Branham, a freshman at Ohio State, started the season on a slower note, but finished the season on a roll, which is why the Ohio State wing is poised to be drafted in the lottery of the upcoming 2022 NBA Draft.
Branham finished his lone season at Ohio State averaging nearly 14 points per game, while shooting 41.6% from three, and 50% from the field. Consistency is one of Branham’s greatest assets. His shooting numbers resemble that, but he is also a bit more explosive than you might think. He doesn’t have the quick-twitch ability of a Jaden Hardy, or Bennedict Mathurin, but he is able to create separation and make tough shots.
On the defensive side of the ball, he has good perimeter defense, with reason to believe it will only get better in the coming years. After taking a closer look at Jaden Hardy, Bennedict Mathurin, and Ochai Agbaji recently in scouting profiles, let’s take a harder look at Branham, and how he could make an impact for the Cavaliers.
Malaki Branham Scouting Report
Height/Weight: 6’5″, 180 LBS
2021-2022 Ohio State Stats: 13.7 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 2.0 APG
3-Point/Field Goal/Free Throw: 41.6%/49.8%/83.3%
I’d be lying if I said I thought at this time last year that Branham would be on the verge of being a lottery pick. After a very successful career at Akron St. Vincent St. Mary’s, Branham was ESPN’s 34th-ranked player in the class of 2021.
As a four-star recruit Branham didn’t have his first double-digit scoring game for the Buckeyes until he scored 11 against Penn State on December 5th, 2021. Two games later, the electric freshman had his best game of the season, dropping 35 points in an exciting overtime game versus Nebraska. From there, NBA scouts were likely taking notice of the Buckeyes freshman.
The first thing you might notice about Branham when you watch him play, is that he plays with a serious edge. He’s a very tough kid with natural leadership abilities, that also helps out a lot on the boards. On the defensive end, the effort is there, he just needs to refine his craft.
It’s a lofty comparison, but there’s a little bit I like in Branham’s game that reminds me of the Phoenix Suns’ Mikal Bridges. Long, lengthy, and athletic, Bridges is one of the best on-ball defenders in the entire NBA. Branham doesn’t have the 7’1″ wingspan of Bridges, but his 6’10” wingspan helps him out a lot on the defensive end.
Efficient is the first word that comes to mind when looking at Branham’s tape. He can score at all three levels, and his shooting splits show that he has good shot selection, and is just very consistent, which you don’t often see in college athletes. Shooting over 40% from deep in one college season is an impressive feat. However, he doesn’t always fall in love with his jumper, even though his mid-range game is lethal at times. But, when he attacks the rim, he has strong shoulders that allow him to take contact while still finishing. He will tighten his handles as he matures, which will help him create even more separation on defenders.
In the playmaking department, he isn’t a player who will impress you with no-look passes, or huge dunks, but he has a very high basketball IQ. He knows where his teammates are supposed to be and finds them when they are open. As a spot-up shooter, he will improve as he gets used the NBA’s style of play. If he can show that his defensive skills translate to the NBA, along with his scoring arsenal, he could be a perfect fit for the Cavs in the 2022 NBA Draft.
Branham is NBA-ready
I think the biggest question facing the Cavaliers front office before the draft is should they take on a guy who’s ready to contribute now, or a player that might develop into a star over time, if they keep their pick. The answer unfortunately, is that they might need to find someone in the middle.
When you look at both ends of the spectrum, there are a lot of players who will fit into this mold. Ochai Agbaji for example, is a guy I believe could help a playoff team like the Philadelphia 76ers next week, but doesn’t offer a ton of upside. That’s where Branham really might be the perfect mold for what the Cavs should be looking for in the first round of the draft.
There’s no doubt that after shooting nearly 50% from the field in college and over 41% from three, Branham is a consistent offensive threat. Whether it be in the form of spot-up shooting, or pull-up jumpers from the mid-range area, he has shown he can play at an NBA level. However, what makes Branham just a slight more attractive than Agbaji, is that he’s still just 18 years old!
Yes you read that right, however, he will turn 19 on May 12. Either way, the point being is that Branham provides the shooting and defensive motor Agbaji does, while also having ample time to grow into a budding star.
With his high ceiling, his great shooting, and his high basketball IQ, Branham is the rare prospect that provides immediate help but also long-term promise. I still really like Jaden Hardy’s shot-making and playmaking ability, but in all fairness Branham might be the better and safer pick. He fills a role where the Cavs desperately need help. On top of that he will certainly buy into head coach J.B. Bickerstaff’s defense-first philosophy.
With the career of LeBron James possibly winding down in the next couple of years, will the Cavaliers decide to take a chance on another player from Akron’s St. Vincent St. Mary High School? It’s only fitting.