Ohio State redshirt junior forward Keita Bates-Diop (33) takes the ball down the court in the second half of the game against Rutgers on Feb. 20. Ohio State won 79-52. Credit: Jack Westerheide | Photo Editor

After being named as the Big Ten Player of the Year in his final season at Ohio State, Keita Bates-Diop is off to the NBA.

The former Ohio State forward was selected with the No. 48 pick in the second round of the 2018 NBA Draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Bates-Diop was projected by many to be an early second round pick in the draft.

Bates-Diop spent four seasons with the Buckeyes, starting every game in his sophomore season and his redshirt junior season. He played only nine games during his junior season after battling through injuries such as a stress fracture in his left leg, forcing him to take a medical redshirt for the campaign. In his collegiate career, he averaged 11.7 points per game with 5.7 rebounds per game.

In his final season at Ohio State, Bates-Diop was named as a first-team All-Big Ten and was a 2018 Wooden Award first-team All America honoree.

In 34 games during the 2017-18 season, the forward led Ohio State in scoring, averaging 19.8 points per game while shooting 48 percent from the field. He also led the team in rebounding, averaging 8.7 per game, and blocks with 56.

Updated at 9:01 a.m. to correct Bates-Diop’s collegiate career stats