FIBA Basketball
USA - Second successive award for Oden
INDIANAPOLIS (High School Basketball) - Lawrence North star Greg Oden has become only the second player ever to retain the Gatorade National Boys Basketball player of the year title after collecting the award on Tuesday
INDIANAPOLIS (High School Basketball) - Lawrence North star Greg Oden has become only the second player ever to retain the Gatorade National Boys Basketball player of the year title after collecting the award on Tuesday.
NBA star LeBron James, who went straight into the big league out of St Vincent-St Mary High School in 2003, is the only other player to have won the award two years running.
Oden, a 7ft senior center, will not follow James however, having already committed to Ohio State University. The honour roll student has said his education is a priority, but could not have gone straight into the NBA anyway due to the league's new minimum age limit.
This season, he averaged 22 points and 10.5 rebounds per game, shooting 74% from the field, to lead undefeated Lawrence North to its third Indiana state title.
"This is one of my greatest moments," Oden said at a news conference Tuesday.
"I'm very happy to win this award, and I'm very grateful."
Oden was reportedly on the shortlist of players considered by Team USA for their preliminary roster ahead of the FIBA World Championship this summer.
He did not make that list, but is nevertheless expected to be invited to the squad's training camp in July.
PA Sport
NBA star LeBron James, who went straight into the big league out of St Vincent-St Mary High School in 2003, is the only other player to have won the award two years running.
Oden, a 7ft senior center, will not follow James however, having already committed to Ohio State University. The honour roll student has said his education is a priority, but could not have gone straight into the NBA anyway due to the league's new minimum age limit.
This season, he averaged 22 points and 10.5 rebounds per game, shooting 74% from the field, to lead undefeated Lawrence North to its third Indiana state title.
"This is one of my greatest moments," Oden said at a news conference Tuesday.
"I'm very happy to win this award, and I'm very grateful."
Oden was reportedly on the shortlist of players considered by Team USA for their preliminary roster ahead of the FIBA World Championship this summer.
He did not make that list, but is nevertheless expected to be invited to the squad's training camp in July.
PA Sport