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

[OSUNorthCampus]

Conley Sr.: Oden still undecided about NBA draft

 

[Mike80]

FWIW, the Bulls own the Knicks pick.

I know and I don't care. If you believe the conspiracy theories like the frozen envelope (which enabled the Knicks to draft Ewing) Oden's pick would find a way back to the Knicks.

That said, I don't and I fully expect him to end up somewhere else on the east coast.

 

[Best Buckeye]

IMO Greg has had it drilled at him so much for years that he is bound for the NBA and as a number 1 pick that no matter how much he and anyone else of his family members would like him to stay. It has become part of his psyche. If he would not go pro just to finish college he would become the the most respected young man I have come across in many years. The strentgh of character to achieve that would be phenominal. Almost unheard of today.
At the least he will declare and test the waters JMO. But turn down 50 - 55 million ? no way.
I do hope he proves me wrong.

 

[osugrad21]

DDN

In NBA, Oden will get the ball ... and the money

​

By Kyle Nagel
Staff Writer

Sunday, April 15, 2007
I decided Saturday afternoon to read the Indianapolis Star story that disclosed that Greg Oden, Mike Conley Jr. and Daequan Cook would be leaving Ohio State to enter the NBA draft.
Oden's father spilled the beans, but it was the last three paragraphs of the story that I found the most interesting. Reporter Jeff Rabjohns wrote:


"Oden had become frustrated with an Ohio State offense that seemed to favor the 3-pointer over getting the ball inside, according to those close to him. In the NCAA title game, Oden shot 10-for-15, while the Buckeyes went 4-for-23 on 3-pointers.

Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

Dispatch

Trio to meet to mull options
Players, advisers to discuss pros, cons of entering draft
Sunday, April 15, 2007 3:38 AM
By Bob Baptist


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Kyle Robertson | Dispatch
OSU freshmen, from left, Greg Oden, Daequan Cook and Mike Conley Jr. will talk to coach Thad Matta later this week.

Eric Gay | Associated Press
Projected as going no lower than the No. 2 pick if he opts for the NBA draft, Ohio State center Greg Oden has a more clear-cut decision than that of his two teammates.


Mike Conley Sr. said yesterday that, despite reports to the contrary, he is "100 percent confident" Greg Oden, Mike Conley Jr. and Daequan Cook have not decided whether to leave Ohio State for the NBA.

Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

Dispatch

commentary
Oden, et al. prepared for smart decisions

Sunday, April 15, 2007 3:37 AM
By bob hunter





The dueling opinions over whether Greg Oden has in fact already decided to enter the NBA draft don't matter much. Even if Oden has decided to give up his college eligibility, as Greg Oden Sr. told The Indianapolis Star, the Ohio State freshman hasn't signed with an agent, and until he does he can change his mind.
If Oden hasn't decided to leave, as Mike Conley Sr. told The Dispatch, that doesn't mean he won't do so in the near future.

Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

Link

Given to Fly: Oden trying to make the right decision
By Craig Pearson
The Tribune-Star
Greg Oden is turning to family, friends and his coach to make the right decision about his future basketball career.

But Oden, whose basketball talents were spawned here in Terre Haute, is without a friend who was there for the 19-year-old from the beginning of his basketball playing days at the Terre Haute Boys Club.

Travis Smith?s life tragically ended at 19 in a Jan. 27 car accident in Muncie.

Oden was there for some of Smith?s best moments on the golf course, coming to Terre Haute more than once to ride along for a round.

Travis?s father Jimmy Smith, a former basketball player at Indiana State and Oden?s coach during his early days, had dinner with Oden and his mother Zoe on Saturday at Indianapolis.


Cont...

 

[OSU_Buckguy]

NBA Rumor Mill

hoops world

While this weekend saw conflicting stories about whether Oden would be jumping to the NBA -- he has until April 29th to declare for the June 28th NBA Draft. One story that is not being told is the apparent power struggle to be the "voice" for Greg. Mike Conley Sr. has spent the better part of two years getting close with Oden and his family, and has recently been certified by the NBA Players Association as an agent -- word is Conley Sr. has been shopping Mike Jr, and Greg Oden as a package to notable agents, and some say a deal may have been reached with Arn Tellum. The problem is more than a few people are saying Greg does not want to leave Ohio State, but is facing pressure from his Dad, who told media on Friday that Greg was declaring, and his Mom.

 

[ysubuck]

The problem is more than a few people are saying Greg does not want to leave Ohio State, but is facing pressure from his Dad, who told media on Friday that Greg was declaring, and his Mom.

That right there is what I have a major problem with. If the kid really wants to stay, then those closest to him should be the voice that says "IF you want to stay at Ohio State, then I'll support and love you 100%. The NBA will always be there, but you can't get this time in your life back."

 

[Bleed S & G]

Andy DuFresne

Its a major plot point

 

[Buckeyeskickbuttocks]

YSU - I absolutely agree... and I am certainly in NO position to make any kind of evaluation of Greg Oden's parents... but I think parents can sometimes get big eyes themselves. I don't know much about Oden's parents financial status, but it may well be the folks are anticipating not having to bust ass at work all day. Maybe Hoopsfan is better to offer any kind of analysis on the personalities involved, and again... I certainly do not want my post here to be read as any sort of indictment of who these people are, or that I view them as "money grubbers" or some such... just making the observation that parents aren't immune from the lure of money.

I mean, if my son was assured Donald Trump lotto in the next few months, I can't say I would not hope he chose that over "being a kid" for another year. I'd like to think I could wait... but... it's hard to know for sure, since it's not a reality for me.

 

[zincfinger]

That right there is what I have a major problem with. If the kid really wants to stay, then those closest to him should be the voice that says "IF you want to stay at Ohio State, then I'll support and love you 100%. The NBA will always be there, but you can't get this time in your life back."

Why? Good parents provide guidance, not indiscriminate support for any conceivable decision. If Oden's mom thinks it's a better decision for him to declare, that doesn't mean she'll withhold love and support if he opts not to.

 

[hoopsfan]

NBA Rumor Mill

hoops world

Again -- BS speculation from people who do not know what is going on. Greg is making his own decision and his dad is not pressuring him. His dad actually claimed he did not tell the newspaper that Greg was leaving. All the rumors will hopefully be put to rest this week.

 

[Thump]

Again -- BS speculation from people who do not know what is going on. Greg is making his own decision and his dad is not pressuring him. His dad actually claimed he did not tell the newspaper that Greg was leaving. All the rumors will hopefully be put to rest this week.

Are Greg and his father even very close? I was always under the assumption that they were estranged.

 

[OSU_Buckguy]

Are Greg and his father even very close? I was always under the assumption that they were estranged.

there was a preseason article in which greg even mentioned that he enjoys seeing his father because it means that he can just sit in front of the television, not do anything, and get away from all of the commotion. he stated that he likes that his father allows him to be himself.