Oden is going pro - NCAA

11:38 PM April 13, 2007

Dad: Oden is going pro
Ohio State star widely projected as No. 1 pick in 2007 NBA draft

Greg Oden will enter the 2007 NBA draft, his father said Friday.

Oden, the 7-foot, 280-pound freshman center who led Ohio State to the NCAA
title game, is widely projected as the top pick.

Greg Oden Sr. said he was comfortable with his son's decision.
"Why not, as long as he finishes school in the offseason?" the elder Oden
said. "He's the kind of kid that, even though he'll have a lot of money, he
needs to do more than just basketball.

"They had an exciting season, but why take the chance on him getting hurt?"
Oden and fellow Ohio State freshmen Mike Conley Jr. and Daequan Cook are
planning to meet this weekend in Indianapolis.
Mike Conley Sr., the former director of elite athlete services for USA Track
and Field, has been certified as an NBA agent and is opening a representation
firm.

"He (Conley Sr.) is going to manage (Greg)," Oden Sr. said.
The younger Conley, a 6-1 point guard, and Cook, a 6-5 shooting guard, also
are expected to put their names in the draft, Oden Sr. said. If they don't
sign with an agent, they could return to school.

Oden was the leading scorer, rebounder and shot blocker and had the highest
shooting percentage on a team that lost the NCAA title game to Florida after
ending the regular season ranked No. 1 in the nation.

Conley set school records in assists and steals and was the team's
third-leading scorer. Cook led Ohio State in 3-point shooting and was fourth
on the team in scoring.

Conley is projected as high as the No. 8 pick.
Oden and Conley led Lawrence North High School in Indianapolis to three
consecutive Class 4A titles, and Oden was the 2006 Indianapolis Star Indiana
Mr. Basketball.

Oden couldn't be reached for comment Friday. His mother, Zoe, said, "Greg
told me he wasn't ready to talk about it just yet."
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.

"He's averaging like nine shots a game, and he's shooting 60 percent or
better. It's frustrating for him," Jimmy Smith, Oden's first coach and one of
his closest friends, said prior to the Final Four.
"They want him to play all this defense, then they want to go down and shoot
the 3," Smith said. "By talking to him, I know it's frustrating to him that
he doesn't get the ball as much as he should."

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070413/SPORTS/704140425


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