Oso Ighodaro

Last updated
Oso Ighodaro
No. 11–Phoenix Suns
Position Center
League NBA
Personal information
Born (2002-07-14) July 14, 2002 (age 23)
Mesa, Arizona, U.S.
Listed height7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
Listed weight235 lb (107 kg)
Career information
High school Desert Vista (Phoenix, Arizona)
College Marquette (2020–2024)
NBA draft 2024: 2nd round, 40th overall pick
Drafted by Portland Trail Blazers
Playing career2024–present
Career history
2024–present Phoenix Suns
2025 →Valley Suns
Career highlights
Stats at NBA.com  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Stats at Basketball Reference   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

Osasere Benjamin "Oso" Ighodaro (born July 14, 2002) is an American professional basketball player for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Marquette Golden Eagles.

Contents

Early life and high school career

Born in Mesa, Arizona, Ighodaro grew up in Chandler and attended Desert Vista High School. [1] He averaged 10 points, six rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game as a junior. [2] Ighodaro was rated a four-star recruit and committed to playing college basketball for Marquette over offers from Stanford, Texas and Vanderbilt. [3]

College career

Ighodaro played in five games during his true freshman season with the Marquette Golden Eagles before suffering an injury and using a medical redshirt. [4] He played in all 32 of Marquette's games and averaged 5.5 points per game during his redshirt freshman season. Ighodaro spent the following summer practicing to improve his passing and ball handling skills at the recommendation of coach Shaka Smart so that he could be a better fit in the Golden Eagles' starting lineup. [5] As a redshirt sophomore he was named second team All-Big East Conference after averaging 11.4 points, a team-high 5.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.5 blocks per game. [6] [7]

Professional career

Phoenix / Valley Suns (2024–present)

On June 27, 2024, Ighodaro was selected with the 40th overall pick by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2024 NBA draft; however, immediately on draft night, he was traded to the Phoenix Suns. [8] On July 4, he signed with the Suns. [9] Ighodaro would make his NBA debut on October 24, recording two points, six rebounds and a block in over twelve minutes of play in the Suns' 116–113 overtime win over the Los Angeles Clippers held in the Clippers' new home arena, Intuit Dome. On January 28, 2025, he was assigned to the Valley Suns of the NBA G League, [10] being recalled the next day, following a double-double performance of 18 points and 18 rebounds in a win over the Salt Lake City Stars. [11]

Career statistics

Legend
  GPGames played  GS Games started MPG Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage 3P%  3-point field goal percentage FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game APG  Assists per game SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game PPG Points per game Bold Career high

College

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
2020–21 Marquette 507.6.750—.0001.2.4.2.21.2
2021–22 Marquette 32018.2.676—.7383.3.9.6.95.5
2022–23 Marquette 363631.1.660—.5415.93.3.91.511.4
2023–24 Marquette 363632.5.576.000.6236.92.91.11.313.4
Career1097226.7.624.000.6165.32.3.81.29.9

Personal life

Ighodaro is of Nigerian descent. [12] Despite growing up in the state of Arizona, he was not considered a fan of the Phoenix Suns at the time due to their poor play throughout the 2010s. [13]

References

  1. ↑ "Get to know: 2020 Marquette commit Osasere 'Oso' Ighodaro" . Milwaukee Journal Sentinel . September 19, 2019. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
  2. ↑ Steele, Ben (August 10, 2019). "Marquette recruiting Q&A: 2020 forward Osa Ighodaro". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel . Retrieved December 1, 2023.
  3. ↑ Obert, Richard (September 13, 2019). "Marquette basketball gets commitment from forward Osasere Ighodaro". The Arizona Republic . Retrieved December 1, 2023.
  4. ↑ Steele, Ben (November 7, 2022). "Oso Ighodaro barely played as a freshman for Marquette. Two years later, Shaka Smart ready to empower him with big role". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel . Retrieved December 1, 2023.
  5. ↑ Hamilton, Brian (January 12, 2023). "'Unique' Oso Ighodaro is Marquette's most valuable asset in win over UConn". The Athletic . Retrieved December 1, 2023– via The New York Times.
  6. ↑ Shaw, Jamie (August 18, 2023). "Ten potential college basketball breakout stars". On3.com. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
  7. ↑ Steele, Ben (March 5, 2023). "Marquette's Tyler Kolek makes all-Big East team while Golden Eagles' Oso Ighodaro and Kam Jones on second team". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel . Retrieved December 1, 2023.
  8. ↑ Stanley, Logan; Coppola, Chris (June 27, 2024). "Phoenix Suns acquire former Desert Vista product Osasere Ighodaro on Day 2 of NBA Draft". The Arizona Central. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  9. ↑ Adams, Luke (July 4, 2024). "Suns Sign Oso Ighodaro To Four-Year Contract". HoopsRumors.com. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
  10. ↑ "2024-2025 Phoenix Suns Transaction History". RealGM.com. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
  11. ↑ Phoenix Suns [@Suns] (January 29, 2025). "OFFICIAL: We have recalled Oso Ighodaro from the @GLeagueSuns. He posted 18 points and 18 rebounds last night at Salt Lake City" (Tweet). Retrieved January 31, 2025– via Twitter.
  12. ↑ Moore, C. J. (December 19, 2023). "How Oso Ighodaro developed into the linchpin of Marquette's beautiful offense". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  13. ↑ Scott, Dana (October 4, 2024). "How Devin Booker, Kevin Durant are connecting with young Phoenix Suns players". AZCentral.com. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.