With basketball season just around the corner, and a new team about to be put on display, some comparisons will inevitably be made to teams of the past, and particularly to teams of recent years. Indeed, the teams we’ve had during Thad’s tenure at Ohio State have involved some serious talent, and it will be interesting to see how this year’s players compare. With the type of talent that Thad has recruited to the Buckeye basketball program, there is always the possibility of one-and-done players. While we may only see these players for a short time in an Ohio State uniform, we enjoy the time we get to see them and appreciate their contributions to the program. In this article we’ll take a look at where some of these players are currently in their professional careers.
B.J. Mullens
Mullens was a highly touted recruit out of Canal Winchester who played one season at Ohio State (2008-09) before making the jump to the NBA. At 7’0 tall, Mullens moved like a player half his size, with tremendous athleticism and a decent shooting touch. Although Mullens was honored as the Big Ten’s Sixth Man of the Year, it seemed that Mullens never really broke through in his year with the Buckeyes or truly had a consistent impact on the team. This didn’t prevent him from being drafted in the first round of the NBA draft by the Dallas Mavericks. After landing with the Oklahoma City Thunder in a draft-day trade, Mullens saw very limited action in the 2009-10 campaign. Now going by his full first name Byron, Mullens is still definitely a work in progress.
Kosta Koufos
Koufos was another 7-footer who played one season with the Buckeyes before departing for the professional ranks. Drafted in the first round, 23rd overall by the Utah Jazz in 2008, Koufos actually saw some significant time in his NBA debut year, playing in over half the team’s games. Koufos currently plays for the Minnesota Timberwolves, having been traded from Utah this past summer. Koufos definitely experienced some success in his only year with the Buckeyes, being named to the Big Ten 3rd team all-conference at the conclusion of the season and being named MVP of the NIT tournament, which the Buckeyes won. Some thought that Koufos’ play in the NIT was a demonstration of his true talent, and that during the regular season his ability to create for others on the offensive end was lacking.
Mike Conley
Conley was one of the most exciting and explosive players for Ohio State in recent memory. As a true floor general, Conley executed at the point guard position in such a way that it was a true pleasure to watch. While high school teammate Greg Oden was the more highly regarded recruit, Conley really became the driving force for the 2006-2007 squad that went all the way to the national championship game, leading the team with his perimeter defense, passing, and even his scoring as the season went on. Conley’s draft stock rose steadily over the course of the season, and with his play in the NCAA tournament he ended up being taken 4th overall by the Memphis Grizzlies. Conley remains in Memphis today, where he is the starting point guard for the Grizzlies, averaging 12 points and 5 assists per game last season. With as spectacular as Conley was in his lone year at Ohio State, it’s strange to read the criticisms he now faces at the next level. However, Conley is off to a strong start in the current NBA season and may very well put those criticisms to rest.
Daequan Cook
Daequan Cook came to Ohio State in 2006 in the same recruiting class as Greg Oden and Mike Conley, and like Oden and Conley chose to leave after one year. Cook filled the role of 6th man on that Ohio State team, earning 6th Man of the Year honors for the Big Ten. Cook’s shooting off the bench was a big part of the Buckeyes’ success, and that shooting ability has turned some heads in the NBA as well, most notably when Cook won the annual 3-point shootout at All-Star weekend in 2009. After being drafted 21st overall by Philadelphia and then being promptly traded to the Miami Heat, Cook spent his first three years in Miami before being traded to Oklahoma City this past summer, where he will suit up alongside Byron Mullens for the promising Thunder squad.
Greg Oden
Greg Oden came to Ohio State in 2006 as the national high school player of the year, and the anticipation surrounding his debut with the Buckeyes was palpable. He first minutes on the floor were delayed by a wrist injury early in the season, but after getting into action Oden’s impact was huge. While not the most polished offensive player by any means, Oden’s presence on the defensive end helped lead Ohio State to the NCAA championship game, and in that game Oden may have performed the best of anyone on the team against a tough Florida opponent. Oden was named first team All-American as a freshman. After declaring for the NBA draft, Oden was selected 1st overall by the Portland Trailblazers, but his NBA debut was also delayed due to injury, this time involving knee surgery. Since getting onto the floor for an NBA game in 2008, Oden has been plagued by further injuries, and currently is out of commission for Portland. It remains to be seen if Oden’s career will ever take off and allow him to fulfill any of the potential that he demonstrated while at Ohio State.
Michael Redd
Michael Redd, a native of Columbus, is currently the “elder statesman” among Buckeyes in the NBA. A member of the Milwaukee Bucks, Redd’s career has had many up’s and down’s. A career 20 point-per-game scorer on average, Redd’s high season came in 2006-07, when he averaged almost 27 points per game. Redd was named to the NBA All-Star team during the 2003-04 season and has also appeared with the Team USA basketball squad. While at Ohio State, Redd pushed the Buckeyes to a Final Four appearance in 1999. Unlike the other players on this list, Redd was actually a mid-second round pick in the NBA draft, and was only expected to be a role player. Hopefully Redd is able to return from current injuries once again to have a few more strong NBA seasons before closing out his career.
Well, that wraps things up here. Hope you’ve enjoyed looking back on some of our past Buckeye players. One can speculate about what might have been if some of these guys had stuck around for a few more years, but we have plenty to focus on in the present with our 2010-11 team. It will be interesting to see how our players develop and who goes on to play basketball in the next level after the coming season has concluded. We wish all of these former Buckeyes the best and hope to see them representing at some Ohio State home games in the future.
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