Posted at 6:19 a.m., Saturday, April 14, 2007
Father says Ohio State's Oden will enter NBA draft
Associated Press
INDIANAPOLIS — Ohio State star Greg Oden will enter the NBA draft, his father told The Indianapolis Star in a story on its Web site Friday night.The 7-foot center is widely considered a possible No. 1 draft pick, and Greg Oden Sr. said he was he was comfortable with his son's decision.
"He's the kind of kid that, even though he'll have a lot of money, he needs to do more than just basketball," Greg Oden Sr. said. "They had an exciting season, but why take the chance on him getting hurt?"
Oden and Buckeyes point guard Mike Conley Jr. led Lawrence North of Indianapolis to three straight Indiana high school basketball titles. As freshmen, they led Ohio State to a No. 1 ranking and the NCAA championship game.
Oden's mother, Zoe, told the Star, "Greg told me he wasn't ready to talk about it just yet."
The elder Oden said Conley and fellow Ohio State freshman Daequan Cook also were expected to put their names in the draft.
The players have until midnight on April 29 to declare whether they intend to make themselves available for the NBA draft.
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. The elder Oden said Conley Sr. would represent his son.
