http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050514/SPORTS02/505140412
In my opinion, this article sounds pretty positive for OSU...
May 14, 2005
Oden's decision not imminent
Lawrence North star returns from Ohio State; no more official college visits planned.
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</TD></TR><TR><TD>Final four: Lawrence North's Greg Oden has visited Wake Forest and Ohio State. He says Indiana and Michigan State are his other finalists, but he has not scheduled official visits to those schools. -- Darron Cummings / Associated Press
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<!--RELATED ARTICLES--><!--RELATED PHOTO GALLERIES--><!----><!--RELATED PHOTOS GALLERIES AND MULTIMEDIA ASSETS--><!--MAIN FACTS BOX--><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD bgColor=#cccccc><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=10 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD bgColor=#eeeeee>Recruiting 101
Oral commitment: A non-binding announcement of a high school player's intention to attend a certain college. Most players follow through, though not all. Indianapolis' Robert Vaden announced during freshman year of high school that he was going to Purdue, but he ended up playing basketball at Indiana.
Signing period: When a high school senior is allowed under NCAA rules to sign a national letter of intent. The early period starts the second Wednesday in November and lasts one week; the late period is five weeks, starting the second Wednesday in April. A player must attend the school with which he signs, unless the school issues a release. If the athlete does not receive a release and attends another school, he must sit out a minimum of one season (it varies between conferences) and risks losing a portion of his college eligibility and initial scholarship. Signing with a college does not preclude a player from making himself eligible for the NBA draft.
NBA age limit: The NBA is pushing for an age limit of 20, but it's a point of contention as the league and the players' association negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement. Even if the measure passes, there are varying opinions as to when it would be implemented. The current rule is that a player's high school class must have graduated for him to be eligible for the NBA.
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By Jeff Rabjohns
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[email protected]
Greg Oden and Mike Conley say they like Ohio State even more after their official visits there, but the coveted Lawrence North High School duo said a decision on where they'll attend college could be as much as a month away.
Oden also emphasized, stronger than he had before, that he wants to attend college and not jump directly from high school to the NBA, even though he's projected as the top pick in the 2006 draft.
Last weekend's trip to Ohio State was the second official visit for Oden, a 7-foot center, and Conley, a 6-1 point guard, following an earlier trip to Wake Forest.
"After the visit (to Ohio State), I like it a lot more than I did," said Conley, who lists Ohio State and Wake Forest as his leaders. "I hadn't met the players, and we got along really well and got a chance to see what life is like for an Ohio State athlete.
"I like the campus a lot. Even though it's big, it had a new look because it's close to downtown (Columbus). The classrooms, depending on your major, are clumped together. You don't have to go all across campus."
Added Oden: "Like Mike said, the campus is really nice, new."
Oden, who has interest in majoring in accounting, said he liked what he saw from the business school and the professors he met.
Conley said their decisions are not imminent.
"We're trying to hold off to see what's up with the NBA (which wants players to be at least 20 to play in the league) and the NCAA sanctions," he said.
Ohio State banned itself from the 2005 postseason for violations that occurred under former coach Jim O'Brien, but it's still possible -- although not expected -- the NCAA could add penalties. Thad Matta, who just completed his first year as coach at Ohio State, has never been in trouble with the NCAA.
When Conley mentioned the NBA age-limit discussion, Oden just shook his head. Asked if his desire to attend college would change if he remains eligible for the draft, he said, "Probably not."
"I just want to go to college, get the college experience," Oden said. "It'll develop my game, and it'll develop my life."
Oden and Conley said they have no other official visits planned.
Oden has narrowed his choices to Ohio State, Wake Forest, Indiana and Michigan State and has not listed a favorite. Conley's final five also include Illinois, North Carolina and Arkansas.
Their AAU team, Spiece Indy Heat, is playing this weekend in Bloomington, Ind. Oden said Friday he might not be there because he plans to be in Buffalo, N.Y., to attend a cousin's college graduation.
Indy Heat is scheduled to play in another tournament in North Carolina on Memorial Day weekend. After the tournament last year, the two made an unofficial visit to Wake Forest.