Oden To Undergo Tonsillectomy, Will Miss USA Basketball Mini-Camp

The Ohio State product has left the NBA Summer League also

July 11, 2007

From USA Basketball

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- USA Basketball Senior National Team member and recent Portland Trail Blazer No.1 draft pick Greg Oden is scheduled to undergo a tonsillectomy to have his tonsils removed on Saturday, July 14, and therefore will miss the July 20-22 USA Senior National Team's mini-cap in Las Vegas, Nev., USA Basketball and the Portland Trail Blazers announced today.

Dr. Don Newell will perform the procedure at The Vancouver Clinic in Vancouver, Wash., and recovery time is expected to be between two and three weeks.

"This is very unfortunate and we wish Greg a speedy and full recovery. Provided he is fully recovered, we have invited Greg to participate in the USA Senior National Team's training camp that starts August 13," said USA Basketball Men's Senior National Team Managing Director Jerry Colangelo.

The USA Basketball Men's Senior National Team is scheduled to conduct a mini-training camp July 20-21 in Las Vegas, culminating with the 2007 State Farm USA Basketball Challenge on Sunday, July 22.

The July mini-camp, which will be utilized to determine finalists for the USA squad that will compete Aug. 22-Sept. 2 in the FIBA Americas Championship 2007 that is also being staged in Las Vegas, will feature all available members of the USA Basketball Men's Senior National Team. Upon completion of the mini-camp, finalists will be announced for the USA squad that will compete in the FIBA Americas Championship 2007.

The selected USA finalists, following a three-week break, will reconvene in Las Vegas on Aug. 13 for the start of the final phase of the team's 2007 training. The USA team will train daily Aug. 13-21 in preparation for the FIBA Americas Championship 2007.

Oden was added to USA Basketball Senior National Team on May 23. Oden following his freshman campaign was named 2007 Associated Press All-America first team and was one of two freshman selected to the Wooden Award All-American Team. Named by the National Association of Basketball Coaches the nation's 2007 Defensive Player of the Year as well as the Pete Newell Big Man of the Year, he was selected by the Big Ten coaches and media All-Big Ten Conference first team; Conference Freshman of the Year and was the league's Defensive Player of the Year.

Missing Ohio State's first seven games, he led Ohio State to the 2007 NCAA national championship game, a 35-4 overall record that set an Ohio State record for wins in a season, while capturing outright the Big Ten regular-season title and the 2007 Big Ten Tournament crown as well.

He started 31 of the 32 games he played in, and led the Buckeyes in scoring (15.7 ppg.), rebounding (9.6 rpg.), blocked shots (3.3 bpg.), and field goal percentage (.614). Oden set an Ohio State freshman season record for block shots with 105 and ranks tied for seventh all-time in blocked shots. His 105 blocks were the third most in a season at OSU. Additionally, Oden ranks second in career field goal percentage and fourth in season field goal percentage. His 501 points ranks as the 36th most in a single season at Ohio State.

Members of the USA Basketball Men's Senior National Team include: Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets); Gilbert Arenas (Washington Wizards); Shane Battier (Houston Rockets); Chauncey Billups (Detroit Pistons); Chris Bosh (Toronto Raptors); Carlos Boozer (Utah Jazz); Bruce Bowen (San Antonio Spurs); Elton Brand (Los Angeles Clippers); Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers); Tyson Chandler (New Orleans Hornets); Kevin Durant (Seattle SuperSonics); Kirk Hinrich (Chicago Bulls); Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic); LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers); Antawn Jamison (Washington Wizards); Joe Johnson (Atlanta Hawks); Jason Kidd (New Jersey Nets); Shawn Marion (Phoenix Suns); Brad Miller (Sacramento Kings); Mike Miller (Memphis Grizzlies); Adam Morrison (Charlotte Bobcats); Oden; Lamar Odom (Los Angeles Lakers); Chris Paul (New Orleans Hornets); Paul Pierce (Boston Celtics); Tayshaun Prince (Detroit Pistons); Michael Redd (Milwaukee Bucks); J.J. Redick (Orlando Magic); Luke Ridnour ( Seattle SuperSonics); and Amaré Stoudemire (Phoenix Suns); Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat); and Deron Williams (Utah Jazz).

USA Basketball announced May 23 that seven Senior National Team members would not be available this summer because of various injuries and that list included Arenas, Johnson, Brad Miller, Odom, Paul, Pierce and Wade.

Duke University Hall of Fame coach Mike Krzyzewski is head coach of the USA Senior Team program. Serving as assistant coaches are Syracuse University (N.Y.) and Hall of Fame coach Jim Boeheim, Phoenix Suns head mentor Mike D'Antoni and Portland Trail Blazers head coach Nate McMillan.