Las Vegas – Incoming Ohio State freshman Greg Oden will have an interesting “Sin City” story to tell when his classmates ask what he did during his summer vacation.
Oden was the only college basketball player invited to take part in USA Basketball’s training camp in preparation for the 2006 FIBA World Championship in Japan next month.
The two-time consensus USA Today high school basketball player of the year initially turned down the opportunity to rub elbows with the likes of Team USA stars Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. While the move might have seemed cocky, it was actually quite the opposite.
“I honestly felt that I wasn’t there yet,” Oden, 18, said. “I got to be there mentally and physically, and I’m not there yet.”
The 7-foot, 250-pounder averaged 22.1 points, 10.5 rebounds and 3.5 blocked shots as a senior in leading Indianapolis Lawrence North to a No. 1 national ranking in USA Today.
Despite being turned down initially by Oden, USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo refused to take no for an answer. He talked to Oden in Chicago at a high school all-star game in April to explain why it was important for the teen to join the NBA stars in Las Vegas.
“We wanted him to be exposed and indoctrinated into what we were doing, because if everything goes well he can be a candidate in ’08 (for the Olympics),” Colangelo said. “If not then, then maybe the next cycle.”
Said Oden, “I’m very happy that he came out and talked to me, because I would have hated to miss this experience.”
Oden wasn’t able to participate fully this week in workouts, because he is recovering from surgery June 16 on his right wrist. He left camp Thursday to attend summer school at Ohio State.
“I was hoping he’d be able to practice, obviously,” Colangelo said. “It’s unfortunate, because if he had a chance to practice with these guys, it would have been great for him.”
Said Oden: “Right now I’m seeing them, watching them and being around them. But playing against them is totally different.”
USA Basketball’s roster has four players who went straight from high school to the pros: James, Dwight Howard, Amare Stoudemire and the injured Kobe Bryant.
Oden couldn’t go from the preps to the pros because of age limits in the latest NBA collective bargaining agreement. Either way, Oden said he planned to go to Ohio State first.
“The other day on the bus, LeBron said something to him about, ‘I know you’re mad they put that rule in effect,”‘ Anthony said. “But I told him: ‘Look, this NBA ain’t going anywhere. You’ve got time.
“Go there for however many years you’re going to. This NBA will be here for you.”‘
Footnotes
Nuggets coach George Karl, on Anthony playing for Team USA: “I’m excited about it, because I heard they’re working hard on defense and I think he’s going to play some four (power forward), which is something we talked about during our preseason meetings. Some of the things we’re leaning to doing next season, he’ll be doing for the USA team.”…After James asked for several ice bags after Thursday’s practice, Wade joked: “It’s because you’re 30. Check the birth certificate.”
Marc J. Spears can be reached at 303-820-5449 or mspears@denverpost.com.
