July 28, 2004

By Greg Amsinger
Special to Collegesports.com

Is he baby Shaq? How about the next Tim Duncan? Since they both went to college, how about neither? Seven-foot-one-inch center Greg Oden, only a junior at Lawrence North High School in Indianapolis, Ind., looks and plays like the next big thing -- in the NBA.

Let me tell you why Division I head coaches should think twice before taking the time to recruit this pro-bound big boy.

Let me take you back to the year 2002. Greg Oden helps his middle-school team win the eighth grade Vigo County championship in Terre Haute, Ind. I was there and let me tell you, the kid made hanging out in Terre Haute worth it. With dunks - and what felt like a dozen blocked shots - Oden made puberty that much worse for his opponents that night. He instantly became the buzz around a town that's been searching for a hoops hero ever since Larry Bird left Indiana State 25 years ago.

Unfortunately for the city, Oden never played for the high school he was supposed to attend - Terre Haute South. His family packed up and moved to Indy so Greg could start his freshman season with T.H. South's conference opponent, Lawrence North H.S - the same high school that grabbed up two of South's "would-be" boys basketball players before. Lawrence North also snagged 6-foot-7-inch center Reicina Russell, a standout post-player that led the South's Lady Braves to the city's first-ever state basketball championship. As a freshman this season, Russell set a record for blocked shots at Penn State, helping the Lady Lions to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. Oh yeah, she just transferred. Now she's a Georgia Bulldog.

Greg Oden and Reicina Russell are very comparable stories. Both were far above average, in talent and size. Both knew the city of Indianapolis blew away the smelly confines of Terre Haute and both were at the center of illegal high school recruiting speculation.

According to the IHSAA (Indiana High School Athletic Association), no athlete can transfer to another school district for athletic purposes. After pleading both cases, T.H. South couldn't get the IHSAA (based in Indy) to investigate. Now, Russell broke another promise by leaving a college team she helped to the Elite Eight. Hopefully, Greg Oden won't follow in her footsteps and lead-on any college coaches if his future goal is to jump from high school to the NBA.

If you had the chance to attend the ABCD Camp this month, you'd have heard Oden informing media hounds of his aspirations to major in psychology someday. Sebastian Telfair (drafted 13th overall by Portland) fed the University of Louisville the same sort of promises. Shaun Livingston (drafted 3rd overall by the Clippers) said playing for Duke would be a dream come true, until he woke up to the promise of millions.

I'm tired of 16-year-old's with NBA rookie cards on eBay. I'm tired of watching an 18 year-old waste the time of a great college coach who's trying to recruit him, when a much more deserving STUDENT-athlete is being overlooked. And I'm tired of watching high school basketball become the minor leagues of the NBA.

Greg Oden is the caliber of player that can change these tumultuous trends. If he somehow attends two years of college, he'll shock the country. If he pulls a Tim Duncan by staying four years and receiving that psychology degree, not only will I give him a heart-felt, sincere apology...I'll never write another web column again.

Now you're really pulling for Oden's four year degree aren't ya'?

I'm not worried. Greg Oden doesn't want to end my column-composing-career and more than likely, he won't go to college. Although I wouldn't mind hanging up the keyboard to watch him cut down a few nets during his college playing days though.

I wish Greg luck for the rest of his high school career. He's about to become a household name. The only question now is whether his house remains in Indianapolis for the next two years. High school basketball is a tricky business. You never know where it will take you...ask the city of Terre Haute.

Greg Amsinger serves as a host for CSTV Scoreboard and CSTV Primetime and is a frequent commentator on the world of college sports for CollegeSports.com

Greg's Previous Coulumn:
July 28: Willie's World