Greg Oden: The Next Great Big Man
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by user Josh Q. Public
Josh Q. Public: Another day, another dolla, for the top dogg with the gold flea colla.
Public Service Announcement:
OK, here we go! Yesterday I said if the Chicago Bulls end up with phenom Greg Oden, the Eddy Curry trade would go down in infamy. Kevin McHale and the Chief for Joe Barry Carroll infamy. Herschel Walker for Emmit Smith, Russell Maryland, Kevin Smith, Darren Woodson and Clayton Holmes infamy. Eric Lindros for Peter Forsberg, Ron Hextall, Chris Simon, Mike Ricci, Kerry Huffman, Steve Duchesne, and Jocelyn Thibault infamy. Infamy, I said. And I meant it. Greg Oden is that good. He’s the next great big man. Greg Oden, man-child. Greg Oden, savior of the Buckeyes. Could’ve been the savior of the Raptors. Could’ve been. David Stern put a stop that. David Stern put a stop to that with his commie pinko ruling disallowing high schoolers to come directly into the NBA. Oden would’ve have been a lottery pick. Oden would’ve been the number one lottery pick. Oden would’ve given instant hope to a team who needed hope the most. He will have to wait another year. We will have to wait another year. What are we waiting for? Well, I’m glad you asked.
Meet Mr. Oden:
19 year-old, Mr. Oden. 7 foot Mr. Oden. 260 pound, Mr. Oden. Indiana’s Mr. Basketball, Mr. Oden. Three consecutive Indiana Class 4A State Championships for the Lawrence North Wildcats, Mr. Oden. Back-to-back Gatorade Player of the Year, a feat duplicated by only LeBronze James, Mr. Oden. Ok, ok, no more Mr. Oden’s, but there’s still more. Top National Prep Athlete of the Year. USA Basketball. McDonald’s All-American. EA Sports All-America Boys Basketball Team Player of the Year. Never lost a conference game, never lost at home. Two-time Parade Magazine Player of the Year. Honors student with a 3.6 grade point average. Naismith High School Player of the Year. 29-0 senior season. Didn’t miss a shot from the field in the two games of the Class 4A Indiana Regional. 47 game winning streak; tying the 50-year-old state record held by the Oscar Robertson-led Crispus Attucks High School. Two-time USA Today’s Player of the Year. All right already, we get it. He’s got the all the accolades. This cat can play. But, what’s his game?
Scouting Report:
Big, big, big, did I say big? Big time overall prospect. Think Power Memorial’s Lew Alcindor. Think Harrisonburg’s Ralph Sampson. Think Indian River’s Alonzo Mourning. Think Robert G. Cole Junior-Senior High School’s Big Aristotle. Oden has the Court sense of Magic. Passes like Walton. Dunks whenever he can, even in traffic, more Shaq Daddy style. Intimidator on defense and cleans the glass. Bill Russell style. Always seems to find the winner’s circle. Did I say Bill Russell style? Incredibly fluid for a 7 footer. Fast as lightning on the open floor. Cat like quickness. Explosive like TNT. Soft touch around the hole. Kareem style turn around hook. Quality kid with great attitude. Coachable. Inner fire, Pete Sampres style. Needless to say, this kid’s gonna be a very special player in the NBA. Very special. But hey, Eddy Curry’s not bad.
Praise for Greg Oden:
Legendary New York recruiting analyst Tom Konchalski: “A player like Greg Oden comes along once every twenty years.”
Sonny Vaccaro: “Greg is easily the most dominant big man since Shaquille O’Neal. And I go all the way back to Moses Malone. Greg Oden’s one of those people that’s going to win championships.'’
Hoosier Basketball Magazine publisher Garry Donna: “Anybody who doesn’t recognize he’s the best big man of all time in Indiana High School basketball, then they’re not being objective, or they don’t know the game.”
Purdue Coach Matt Painter: “He’s the best player in college basketball. That’s an easy statement.”
Michigan State Coach Tom Izzo: “Oden is a freak. You know, there’s Magic, I’m not sure even Michael was at that state. Magic was, LeBron would have been, there are a couple guys that come along that are special because they’re great players and great guys.”
High School Coach Jack Keefer: “When I look at Greg Oden, I see a career of hard work and a gentleman. That’s an unselfish kid.”
Peace out homies. Six Two and Even! josh q. public
