Greg Oden
Lawrence North High School
Impact Statement
“I am a basketball player through and through and I got my degree, but I don’t want to be looked at as just a basketball player.” -Greg Oden
Biography
The 7-foot center is the second player in two years from the talent-rich Indianapolis area to be named NHSCA National High School Senior Boys Basketball Athlete of the Year. Oden averaged 22 points and 10.5 rebounds per game as a senior, shooting 74 per cent from the field, and led Lawrence North to three consecutive Class 4A state titles, a feat accomplished by just two other Indiana schools.
A two-time USA Today and Gatorade National Player of the Year, Oden also was named Player of the Year by the James Naismith Foundation and Parade magazine. He will attend Ohio State University.
Oden only played one season as a Buckeye in which Ohio State finished second at the NCAA Division I Championships. Oden was the #1 overall draft pick in 2007, landing with the Portland Trailblazers. Oden was plagued by injuries to his knee throughout his career.
He has recently re-enrolled at Ohio State and graduated in the spring of 2019 with his Bachelor’s degree. Oden was recently hired as an athlete adviser and hopes to help future athletes with the nuances of a career in sports.
Photos
