Greg Oden Will Be One-And-Done
Fiction.
No one, including yours truly, would be silly enough to proclaim, "there's no way Oden goes pro after this season." That's crazy talk.
But some, including myself, are privvy to comments Oden has always made throughout the recruiting process, to close friends and also to Ohio State recruits recently, that suggest his stay in Columbus will not necessarily be terribly short-lived.
For instance, two years ago when word first leaked that Ohio State was recruiting Oden, people assumed it was a waste of time because he would go right to the NBA. That decision, of course, was taken out of Oden's hands, but the assumption was that he would have bolted if he had the opportunity. I had said back then that he was serious about college and planned to attend regardless of the NBA decision.
Interestingly enough, Matta addressed that this past Saturday after the Cincinnati game.
"People say he would have gone to the NBA had they not changed the rule, but Greg, I think, was going to go to college (anyway)," he said. "He told us that all along."
It's for that same reasoning, that I would expect Oden to stick around an extra year (or two). He's reportedly enjoying his college life and he wants to win a National Championship. He's also the type of kid that's humble enough to stay as if to boast, "I told you so."
On the flipside, Oden said Monday there's a, "good chance," he stays four years at Ohio State. That's probably not likely in the end. And also, he had said all along he would not leave until he felt he was ready. Reportedly, he went to the USA Basketball practices this summer and for the first time, walked away feeling he could compete with those players.
Further, he's recently said there was a time when staying could be stupid, depending on what he's passing up. But your stupid, my stupid and his stupid might not be one in the same.
Outside of Columbus, everyone assumes Oden will be one-and-done. I say that's fiction (but reserve the right to remind people nothing is concrete). After all, no real decision will be made until after the season.
