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A prize: Greg Oden, the No. 1 NBA draft pick in 2007, plays contest winner Lawrence Pierce, 11, Tuesday. Oden didn't play this season and can still win Rookie of the Year next season. - Charlie Nye / The Star

Big man back on campus
Oden lost rookie season to injury but feels 'lucky' and wants to prove self
By Jeff Rabjohns
Posted: May 14, 2008

Greg Oden pulled into the back parking lot at Lawrence North late Tuesday afternoon, near where he parked so many times for high school and basketball games as a student.

He was in the same spot geographically, but so different in reality.


The 7-foot center rolled up to his old high school in the blue Mercedes he bought for his mom. He was making an appearance for Topps, one of the companies he endorses, and had two public relations representatives to manage the stops for TV cameras.

Earlier in the day, he did a photo shoot at St. Vincent Sports Performance, where he trains when in town, for an upcoming magazine article on his workouts.

"It's not that bad," he smiled as he leaned against the trunk of the Mercedes in a Portland Trail Blazers shooting shirt and shorts. "You have to take care of business, but taking care of the stuff on the court comes first.

"I've been lucky to have some stuff happen to me without even playing and proving myself that some guys who've been in the league 10 years don't get. I've been lucky."

Big man back on campus | IndyStar.com | The Indianapolis Star

Greg Oden plays some ball with fans | IndyStar.com gallery | The Indianapolis Star