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Greg has been named Parade Player of the Year for the 2nd year in a row.

Greg Oden of Lawrence North High in Indianapolis, Ind., is Player of the Year for the second time, sitting atop the 50th annual PARADE All-America High School Boys Basketball Team.

Oden, a 7-foot center, heads our list of 40 athletes selected by coaches, scouts and recruiters across the country. The team features players from 18 states, led by Virginia and California, with five each. Oden is one of seven repeaters, including two of this team’s eight juniors: O.J. Mayo and Derrick Rose.

Last year, Oden shared the top honor with Monta Ellis of Jackson, Miss., who was drafted by Golden State. But don’t look for Oden—who joins Randy Livingston and LeBron James as our only repeat Players of the Year—to follow Ellis straight into the NBA: A new rule requires players to be 19 and at least one year removed from high school to qualify for the draft. That’s fine with Oden.

“Even before the NBA ruling, Greg said he wanted to go to college,” explains his coach, Jack Keefer. “He likes accounting and business, and he has a 3.7 GPA. He’s a humble, mature young man who will stay the course until he feels he’s ready for the next level.”During Oden’s four years as a starter, the Wildcats lost only seven games. At press time, they were on their way to a third straight state title. “Greg became a team leader, not a ‘me’ guy,” says Keefer.

This season, Oden averaged 23 points, 12 rebounds and 3.5 blocks a game while shooting 72% from the floor. He and fellow Wildcat Michael Conley, also on PARADE’s team, will attend Ohio State, much to the delight of Buckeye fans.

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