C Greg Oden (All B1G, All-American, Defensive Player of the Year, Butler Assistant Coach)

[Oh8ch]

I agree Oden doesn't have much exposure yet (certainly nothing resembling James out of HS) but I would guess Reebok and other shoe companies likely will put an offer in front of him. They can afford to throw some money the way of any lottery candidate just to lock them up if they can get the kid under contract for 4-5 years. That said, it would be a drastically lesser amount than he would land once he proves himself, but some kids might bite. He would also be foolish to take it unless immediate money was a priority - and I have seen nothing to indicate this is the case.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

which is when?

BuckeyeNation....The ABCD Camp is July 4-9 in Teaneck, N.J.

link

6/22/05

Top pick in '06? The NBA says no
1-year waiting period after high school likely to steer Oden to college.

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</TD><TD><!--MAIN PHOTO--><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD>Big man on campus? Lawrence North basketball star Greg Oden is considering four colleges. -- Rob Goebel / The Star
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By Jeff Rabjohns and Tracy Dodds
<SCRIPT language=JavaScript><!--document.write(''+'jeff.rabjohns'+'@'+'indystar.com'+'');//--></SCRIPT>[email protected]


The decision whether to enter the NBA right after high school is now out of Greg Oden's hands, and his mother, for one, is not happy about it.

The National Basketball Association and its players union agreed to a new labor contract Tuesday that requires a player to be one year out of high school before he's eligible for the draft. That means Oden, the 7-foot center from Lawrence North High School ranked as the top player in the Class of 2006, won't be able to enter next summer's draft. He had been widely projected as the No. 1 pick.

"I'm teed off because I just don't understand what they're trying to prove or what this will accomplish," Oden's mother, Zoe, said as she prepared to watch her son in the Indiana Junior-Senior All Star game at Pendleton Heights.

"This means that Greg is held back a year. . . . The option has been taken from him. I don't think that's right. I'm not happy."

Oden has long said he wants to attend college, but many scouting experts doubted that a player of his stature would pass on the multimillion-dollar contract guaranteed to top NBA draft picks. Over the past year he has emerged as the most talked-about high school player since LeBron James, and, some say, the most talked-about center prospect since Lew Alcindor (later Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) in the 1960s.

"It's said and done, so there's nothing you can do about it now," Greg Oden said. "I'm not sad, but I feel bad for whenever the next LeBron comes along and he has to go to college and something happens, either he gets injured or doesn't live up to expectations."

In the eyes of many, Oden could have been the next LeBron James, who was the No. 1 NBA draft pick out of an Ohio high school in 2003, signed a $90 million endorsement contract with Nike and became an immediate NBA star. Oden and James are the only two players to be named National High School Player of the Year as juniors.

Despite Zoe Oden's opinion about Tuesday's announcement, she said she has no plans to challenge the NBA in court.

The National Football League's age-limit, which says a player can't be drafted until three years after his high school class graduates, was challenged in court recently but the effort failed.

Oden has narrowed his college choices to Ohio State, Wake Forest, Michigan State and Indiana. He will be the highest-regarded high school player to attend college since 1995, when Kevin Garnett opened the preps-to-pros floodgates. Since then 36 high school players have entered the draft, 30 were chosen and, as of April, 27 were still in the league. Many, such as Garnett, the league's MVP in 2004, James, Kobe Bryant and the Pacers' Jermaine O'Neal, have become stars.

"I always said you go to college, graduate, get a job and start life," Oden said. "That was before basketball was involved. When I look at it from a basketball standpoint, I don't think I'm that good. I think college will do a lot for me."

His teammate and best friend, Lawrence North point guard Mike Conley, said the NBA labor agreement will ease the outside pressure on Oden.

"It's good for him because even though he's forced to go to college, he wants to go to college," Conley said. "Now he doesn't have the pressure of millions of dollars in his face."

NBA Commissioner David Stern said the main reason for the new rule was to keep NBA scouts out of high schools.

College coaches, however, now face a tough decision: whether to recruit players who are projected NBA draft picks but are being forced, more or less, to go to college. A rash of players staying in college for only one year would make it difficult to build continuity in a program.

Indiana coach Mike Davis said the new rule is "a bad idea."

"What's the difference between 18 and 19, except they have to go to school for one year?" Davis said. "I think it's going to be hard for some of these young players to get adjusted for one year. I really don't know why they put the rule in. It doesn't make a lot of sense to me."

Asked whether the rule change would speed up his college decision, Oden was noncommittal. His mother also refused to speculate, saying only, "It's about to get crazy now."

Call Star reporter Jeff Rabjohns

at (317) 444-6183.

rivals.com (free link)

6/22/05

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width=12></TD><TD class=main vAlign=top><SCRIPT language=Javascript src="insert.js" type=text/javascript></SCRIPT><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=2>June 22, 2005
Senior Boys Win 3OT Thriller - Girls Coast <HR width="100%" noShade SIZE=1></TD></TR><TR><TD>Hickory Husker
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<!--All Star Team Logo New-->

<!--All Star Team Logo New--> PENDLETON, Ind. -- It had all the trappings of a typical casual All-Star exhibition. A midweek game with lots of autographs, smiles, and dunks in warm-ups. However, somehow that message was lost after the first tip went in the air. First because there would be three more such tips as it took triple overtime to decide this one...

If the All-Star game officials designed these exhibitions with the Juniors in an effort to test the Seniors, consider it mission accomplished. Unlike most All-Star affairs where fancy passes create oohs, and wide open lanes end with crowd pleasing dunking ahhs, every bucket on this night was contested.

<!--Start Relieved Bench SS Long Image--><SCRIPT language=Javascript>document.write(insertImage('http://vmedia.rivals.com/uploads/938/246638.JPG', '246638.JPG', 0, 171, 390, 1, 'The Senior All-Star coaches and players finally sense relief in the closing moments of the third and final overtime.', '', 1119421474000, 'Relieved Bench SS Long', 938, 'Align=Left'));</SCRIPT><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=398 align=left border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width=392>

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</TD></TR><TR><TD align=middle>The Senior All-Star coaches and players finally sense relief in the closing moments of the third and final overtime.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!-- End Relieved Bench SS Long Image-->Aren't All-Stars supposed to conduct themselves like primadonas? Although primadonas aren't usually diving on the floor in groups of four or five fighting for loose balls. And coaches? Aren't these sorts of games just for show? Coach Joe Buck was on the floor repeatedly, once even crossing the center court to protest a call. There was a moment when this old corner thought I might see my first ejection in a Jr/Sr game.

No, this was a classic from start to end, and to make matters even interesting, I was able to enjoy the whole affair sitting among a dozen or so Varsity Club members.

Approximately 2000 other diehard fans packed a fire pit of a gym to see Lapel's Jason Holsinger bomb his way to a team high 22 points on 7 of 8 timely shots from beyond the arc. More backcourt fireworks for the Seniors came from LN's Brandon McPherson with 18, and Richmond's Dominic James starring with 17. Mr. Baskeball, Washington's Luke Zeller added 15 points and 7 rebounds.

For the Juniors it was a dominant front court that grabbed the attention of the nets. Lawrence North's Greg Oden powered his way to a game high 29, which included one thundering dunk that nearly brought the entire basket rigging down. Andrean's Luke Harangody and Gary West's Jamil Tucker also combined for 19 rebounds.

The Juniors were able to take a 5 point edge into halftime, but a 47 point second half outburst by the Seniors forced the first OT. The Seniors finally pulled away 16-9 in the final extra period for the win, 118-111. In the girls contest the Seniors methodically pulled away from their Junior counterparts, 91-77, Corydon's Dana Beaven topped the Seniors with 14, while Junior Northfield's Courtney Reed had a game high 19. Next up for the All-Stars is a trip to Richmond High School for another exhibition with the Juniors Thursday, June 23.


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Oden was 13 out of 19 from the line and also had 4 assists to go along with 2 Blocks and 8 Rebounds

 

[tsteele316]

Why would Reebok even offer a kid that said he would go to college instead of playing in the NBA, even before the NBA made their decision on the age limit? Or why would they offer a kid who will play in a developmental league or Europer? They won't. They want the exposure the NBA provides.

you have to remember he is still only a junior, and is already being heralded as the top pick in the '07 draft. there have been rumblings that reebok could offer him a shoe deal when he declares for the draft. that is why he would play in europe or the developmental league for a year, so he can take he shoe deal immediately instead of waiting to get hrough a full year of college.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

link

6/22/05

INDIANA ALL-STARS EXHIBITION
All-Stars win in 3rd OT
Kristen Leigh Porter
<SCRIPT language=JavaScript><!--document.write(''+'kristen.leigh.porter'+'@'+'indystar.com'+'');//--></SCRIPT>[email protected]


PENDLETON, Ind. -- At Tuesday night's Indianapolis Star Indiana All-Stars exhibition game against the Junior All-Stars, the loudest cheers during introductions were reserved for Lapel's Jason Holsinger and host Pendleton Heights' Nick Rogers.

The partisan crowd went home happy after a 118-111 All-Stars victory in triple overtime.

Holsinger hit his seventh 3-pointer to put the All-Stars up 111-107 with two minutes to play. In overtime, he was 5-of-5 from behind the arc.

"I was very fortunate that my shots were falling because some of them were pretty deep," said Holsinger, who was scoreless in the first half but finished with a team-high 22 points.

He wasn't the only one with a hot hand.

The All-Stars never trailed after Lawrence North grad Brandon McPherson opened the third overtime with a 3-pointer, following his 3 with 12.5 seconds left in the second overtime to tie it at 102. He finished with 18 points.

Although the Juniors were down by as many as six points in the first overtime, a 3-pointer by Grant Leiendecker tied it.

"I was a little disappointed we didn't take good care of the ball at the end of regulation and the first overtime," All-Stars coach Joe Buck of Pendleton Heights said. "But the Juniors had us buried and Brandon McPherson stepped up and hit a huge 3. They didn't give up."

Greg Oden, a Lawrence North standout, finished with 29 points, eight rebounds and four assists for the Juniors. Gary West Side's Jamil Tucker had 18 points and Lawrence North's Mike Conley 15 points.

"I think we played a lot better than last time and came with a better game plan," said Conley, whose team lost by 30 points to the All-Stars last week. "We made it a game and gave the people what they want to see."

Dominic James' 17-point effort for the All-Stars included three alley-oop dunks from Josh Mayo.

 

[BuckeyeRob]

link

6/22/05

Any idea what impact the new labor agreement for the NBA is going to have? Oden has said he is focusing on college... now with a 19 age limit what impact will that have on his view of OSU?

 

[dozerbuck]

Its not only an age limit of 19, but also a 1 year removed rule.


So that means any kid graduating from highschool must wait at least 1 year before going to the league, no matter what age they are. If a kid is 17 when he graduates, that means he has to wait two years if his birthday falls before the night of the draft.

Sounds like college/university, NBDL, or Europe!!

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Any idea what impact the new labor agreement for the NBA is going to have? Oden has said he is focusing on college... now with a 19 age limit what impact will that have on his view of OSU?

BuckeyeRob....

In my opinion the new agreement will not have that much of an effect on Oden and his feeling towards Ohio State. Oden and his family have been waiting for this decision, now that it is a reality, I think you will see them make a decision in early July at the ABCD camp.

It only improved Ohio State's chances with him in my opinion, but I have felt we have been the leader for awhile now.

 

[hoopsfan]

Its not only an age limit of 19, but also a 1 year removed rule.


So that means any kid graduating from highschool must wait at least 1 year before going to the league, no matter what age they are. If a kid is 17 when he graduates, that means he has to wait two years if his birthday falls before the night of the draft.

Sounds like college/university, NBDL, or Europe!!

The way I heard this explained on ESPN last night was 19 years old OR one year removed -- meaning that if a kid graduates at 17, he can be eligible one year later even if only 18.

 

[ScriptOhio]

It's all about the money!!!


2) Re: NBA Commissioner David Stern said the main reason for the new rule was to keep NBA scouts out of high schools.

He lies. The real reason for the 19 year old rule is to save the teams $$$s when they draft "unproven" high school players that don't "pan out" or don't produce for 3 or 4 years. This allows them to develop playing college ball at no cost the NBA.

3) Re: "the question is if Reebok offers him a multi-million dollar deal now, and he can take it and play in the developmental league or in Europe for a year and still be the first pick in the draft in 2007 regardless of where he plays, will he take it?"

I don't believe any shoe company in their right mind would cause the a player to be ineligible for college by signing him to a multi-million dollar deal. This would "piss off" the NCAA/universities/college coaches and hurt if not destroy their chances of selling their products to the universities and as well as their fans. They will wait until he uses up his college elgiability or surrenders it by declaring for the draft.

 

[tsteele316]

I don't believe any shoe company in their right mind would cause the a player to be ineligible for college by signing him to a multi-million dollar deal. This would "piss off" the NCAA/universities/college coaches and hurt if not destroy their chances of selling their products to the universities and as well as their fans. They will wait until he uses up his college elgiability or surrenders it by declaring for the draft.

<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->that wont be the issue. the issue will be if someone like reebok says "if you opt to go to the developmental league or europe instead of college, you will get a shoe deal immediately after doing so."

Given #1 in your list, if this offer was presented to oden and his mother, do you think she wont push for it?

regardless, oden may just play a year of college and be the #1 pick a year later.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Just a reminder to adhere to the policies of BP regarding the recruiting boards, please refrain from posting derogatory statements about recruits or their families in general.

Thanks....

 

[dozerbuck]

Hoopfan....

I rule is 19 and one year removed. Players have to adhere to both conditions. It has been all over the radio this morning. Mike & Mike and The Herd talked about it.

The main I reason I think this is the case is because it has to be the same for International players and USA highschool players.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2091539

On the age limitation, international players will have to turn 19 by the end of the calendar year in which they become draft eligible.

EDIT:
I read on article that discusses a two month loophole where a kid could be 18, be elgible for the draft, and still play in the nba. The kid has to be born in november or december and graduate at 17. However, I just heard on ESPN Radio a contradiction to that, so only time will tell until the question is answered by NBA execs, whether or not the loophole exists. No matter what, however, highschool kids will have to wait one year after they graduate to be elgible for the draft.

 

[osubartender23]

Indiana coach Mike Davis said the new rule is "a bad idea."

"What's the difference between 18 and 19, except they have to go to school for one year?" Davis said. "I think it's going to be hard for some of these young players to get adjusted for one year. I really don't know why they put the rule in. It doesn't make a lot of sense to me."

Sounds to me like Mike Davis is already peeing his pants over the thought of facing Oden at all!!! Assuming he goes to OSU or MSU.

 

[bucknut11]

This is a few days old, but I hadn't seen it posted. Some great comments from Greg. (keep in mind this is before the new labor deal)

During an era when young hoopsters are taught big talent should come with a bigger ego, Greg Oden is so effusively humble it's unnerving. A 6-foot-11 prodigy from Indianapolis who just completed his junior year of high school, Oden was one of 30 prepsters convened in San Diego last week for the International Sports Invitational sponsored by USA Basketball. Oden wasn't the best all-around American at the event (that was 6-4 guard O.J. Mayo, a rising junior from Ohio), but Oden led the tournament in dropped jaws and turned heads while pacing his USA White team to the gold medal. Many of those heads belonged to NBA scouts, who were numerous in San Diego during a time of year when college coaches aren't permitted to watch high schoolers play.

Oden's game isn't complicated. He parks himself near the rim, works to get into good position and converts the vast majority of his shots on dunks and layups -- making 32 of 43 attempts in five games. He says he's been working on his shooting, but he's more inclined to pass to an open teammate than loft a 10-footer. "I've seen Oden play several times now, and he's taken maybe one or two hook shots total," one NBA birddog told me. "He'll have to develop some range, but I love his patience." That patience extends to the defensive end, where Oden is remarkably adept at waiting until the last moment to block a shot and it showed as he averaged three blocks per game on the week.

There is no doubting this: If Oden is in next year's NBA Draft, he will be the first player selected. Yet, Oden still says -- still insists -- he will play in college. He even has a short list of schools (Indiana, Wake Forest, Michigan State and Ohio State) he is considering and will visit in the fall. "When I go to college, I want to study accounting," he told me.

"When?" I replied. "There's no doubt?"

"I will go to college."

It would be great for college basketball if Oden went to school, even if for only one year. But his talent is so prodigious it's hard to contemplate. Then again, if anyone with that kind of ability will do it, it's Oden. He's so modest, he actually comes across as borderline dishonest.

To wit, here's an exchange I had with him Thursday night after he posted 24 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks in a 103-83 win over the USA Red team:

Me: "You seem to play with more confidence than you did last summer. Do you feel more confident?"
Greg: "You always feel confident when you have great players around you. For me, just being on this team is a confidence booster. If I mess up, I know my teammates have got me."

Me: "But individually, do you feel more confident?"
Greg: "I don't know. My teammates help me out so much. It's all them."

Me: "Are you the best player here?"
Greg: "No. Far from it."

Me: "Come on."
Greg: "No, really. There are a lot of good players here. My whole team is better than me."

Me: "I have a hard time believing you really think that."
Greg: "Look at it this way. If a guy can dribble, I say he's better than me. I can't dribble that well. If a guy can shoot, I think he's better than me because I'm not a good shooter. I'm just a big body, so until I can do those things, I won't be the best player."

Me: "Don't all great players have to believe they're the best player on the court?"
Greg: "All great players think different. A great player has his own mindset of what he wants to do."

For the record, Oden says he opposes an age minimum for the NBA, but he voices that stance not for himself but for other high school players who want to pursue the pros. The 2006 draft might seem far away for him, but its specter will hang over Oden for an entire year. That will be especially true during the annual frenzy of the July evaluation period, when Oden will play in the Reebok ABCD Camp before hitting the trail to compete in tournaments with his Spiece Indy Heat team.

No doubt Oden will continue to dominate the competition this summer, and wherever he goes he'll be asked the college-or-pro question a zillion times in a jillion different ways. His answer, I'm sure, will always be the same. He will go to college. It's a nice response, but it's not at all convincing.

 

[bucknut11]

From CBS Sportsline[font=Arial, Helvetica] regarding the effects of the new age limit..[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica]Greg Oden: Ever since he was a high school sophomore, the 7-footer from Indianapolis has been considered the likely No. 1 overall pick in 2006. The age limit scuttles that, which ought to make Oden the biggest recruiting catch since Ralph Sampson chose Virginia in 1979. [/font] [font=Arial, Helvetica] [/font] [font=Arial, Helvetica] Ohio State or Wake Forest: Oden is expected to choose between the Buckeyes and Deacons, and while we here at SportsLine.com like and respect the coaches from both schools, our guess is Oden (and his best friend and teammate, highly rated point guard Mike Conley) will choose Ohio State. If that happens, the Buckeyes would join Duke's 1997 haul (Elton Brand, Shane Battier, William Avery, Chris Burgess) as the best recruiting classes of all time. Ohio State already has commitments from two top 25 recruits from the class of 2006, Daequan Cook and David Lighty. The 6-5 Cook would have been a potential NBA first rounder in 2006.[/font]