Victor Oladipo

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Victor Oladipo

Oladipo with the Magic
No. 5 – Orlando Magic
Position Shooting guard
League NBA
Personal information
Born (1992-05-04) May 4, 1992
Upper Marlboro, Maryland
Nationality American
Listed height 6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Listed weight 215 lb (98 kg)
Career information
High school DeMatha Catholic
(Hyattsville, Maryland)
College Indiana (2010–2013)
NBA draft 2013 / Round: 1 / Pick: 2nd overall
Selected by the Orlando Magic
Pro playing career 2013–present
Career history
2013–present Orlando Magic
Career highlights and awards

Victor Oladipo (born May 4, 1992) is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Orlando Magic of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Oladipo played college basketball with the Hoosiers of Indiana University. His combination of explosive athleticism, defense, and efficient shooting has drawn comparisons to Dwyane Wade.[1] In 2013, he was named the Sporting News Men's College Basketball Player of the Year, the National Co-Defensive Player of the Year, and a First Team 2013 All-American by the USBWA and Sporting News. That same year, he was also named the recipient of the Adolph Rupp Trophy, given annually to the top player in men's Division I NCAA basketball.[2] It was the only major award for the sport given that year to a player other than Trey Burke of Michigan.[3]

Early life

Victor Oladipo was born and raised in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. His mother Joan Amanze Oladipo is a nurse and Nigerian immigrant, and his father Christopher Oladipo, a native of Blama, Sierra Leone, is public health executive for Prince George's County, Maryland with a Ph.D in behavioral science from the University of Maryland, College Park. Oladipo's parents married in the U.S. in 1985.[4][5] He is the only son; he has sisters Kristine (1986), Kendra (1990),[6] and twin sister Victoria. [7] His sister Kendra is deaf.[8] Oladipo played high school basketball at DeMatha High School in Hyattsville, Maryland.[9][4] As a senior he averaged 11.9 points, 10.3 rebounds and 3.6 blocks per game. He led DeMatha to a 32-4 record and the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference and City championships. Oladipo was named to the Washington Post 2010 All-Met First Team and the First Team All-WCAC. He was ranked No. 144 overall and the No. 41 shooting guard in his class by Rivals.com. Scout.com listed him as the No. 39 shooting guard in his class and ESPN put him at No. 53 at his position.[10]

Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Victor Oladipo
SG		 Upper Marlboro, Maryland DeMatha Catholic HS 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 216 lb (98 kg) Sep 7, 2009 
Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports: N/A   ESPN grade: 20
Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: 6 (school)   Rivals: 41 (SG); 144 (national)
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

College career

Oladipo chose to play basketball at Indiana University and major in sports communication broadcast, turning down offers from Notre Dame, Maryland, Xavier and others.[11] Upon his commitment to Indiana he said, "It's like a basketball atmosphere everywhere you go....[Bloomington, Indiana is] a basketball town. That's perfect."[12]

Freshman season

As a freshman during the 2010–11 season, Oladipo played in 32 games and started five. He earned his first career start that year against Penn State and scored 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting, four rebounds, three steals and two assists in 27 minutes of action. He made his second career start against No. 2 The Ohio State and responded with 14 points and six rebounds.

Sophomore season

Oladipo defends against Tim Hardaway, Jr. on January 5, 2012.

As a sophomore during the 2011–12 season Oladipo averaged 10.9 points and 5.5 rebounds in 26.7 minutes per game (47.1% FG, 75% FT). Some commentators referred to him as Indiana's "most improved player this season" and he was often cited as the team's best defender.[13] Oladipo scored 10 or more points in 21 games in the season, 11 more games than the previous year. He also increased his free-throw percentage from 61 to 75, and he got there four times per game. The Hoosiers' record in 2011-2012 improved by fifteen games over the prior season, making it the largest single turnaround in the NCAA that year. The team earned a number four seed in the 2012 NCAA Tournament and defeated New Mexico State in the second round. After defeating VCU in the third round, the Hoosiers lost in the Sweet Sixteen to Kentucky, the eventual national champions.

Junior season

As a junior during the 2012–13 season Oladipo emerged as one of the team's principal stars. Despite a roster deep with talent, including Preseason Player of the Year Cody Zeller, Oladipo emerged as one of the nation's biggest stars.[14] Midway through the season ESPN writer Eamonn Brenann wrote, "In 2½ seasons in Bloomington, Oladipo has morphed from a raw athletic specimen to a defensive specialist/energy glue guy -- he became a hit with IU fans for holding his hand in front of his face after dunks at home, typically after a steal he himself created -- into a sudden, stunning, bona fide collegiate star."[14] Due in part to Oladipo's leadership, the Indiana Hoosiers finished the 2012-13 season as the outright Big Ten champions.

At the end of the regular season Oladipo ranked fourth in the country in field-goal percentage (61.4), on pace to have the highest field-goal percentage by any guard since the 1996-97 season.[15] He ranked third in the nation in true shooting percentage (68.4), which measures shooting efficiency that takes into account field goals, 3-point field goals and free throws. And he averaged 1.39 points per play and shot 73.9% on offensive rebound put-backs, both of which ranked among the top five in the country.[15]

On defense Oladipo was arguably even more dominating. In a game that season against #1 Michigan, he guarded four different players in 45 possessions, but only gave up 4 points.[16] Among Wooden Award finalists, he had the best net rating—which is the difference between points produced and points allowed per 100 possessions. Oladipo produced 42 more points than he allowed per 100 possessions.[15] Each game he drew the opponent's top perimeter player, and his 5 percent steal rate (2.2 per game) ranked 15th in the country. His 69 steals in the season is second all-time at Indiana to Isiah Thomas who had 74 during the 1980-81 national championship season.

He averaged 13.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.2 steals per game.[17] He was also one of only two players from major conferences averaging at least 13 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals per game this season.

At the conclusion of his junior year Oladipo racked up numerous awards. He was named the Sporting News Men's College Basketball Player of the Year, the National Co-Defensive Player of the Year, and a First Team 2013 All-American by the USBWA and Sporting News. In conference honors he was named a unanimous pick to the First Team All-Big Ten by both the coaches and media, and was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the year.[17]

Professional career

On April 9, 2013, at a press conference with Tom Crean, Oladipo announced that he would forgo his senior season at Indiana and enter the 2013 NBA draft. He was projected as a lottery pick by ESPN and CBS Sports. Oladipo was invited to sit in the "green room" during the draft and was selected second overall by the Orlando Magic.

When the 2013 rookie class convened for its annual photo shoot and filled out its NBA.com Rookie Survey, the class voted Oladipo as the best defender, the co-favorite 2013-14 Rookie of the Year (with C. J. McCollum), the co-favorite to have the best career (with Kelly Olynyk) and 2nd most athletic (behind Tony Mitchell).[18]

On December 3, 2013, Oladipo recorded his first triple-double with 26 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in 52 minutes in a 125-126 double overtime loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. Rookie Michael Carter-Williams of the 76ers also recorded his first career triple-double in the same game, marking the first and only time in NBA history that two rookies have recorded triple-doubles in the same game.[19] The last time that two players had recorded their first career triple-doubles in the same game was when Detroit Pistons Donnie Butcher and Ray Scott did it on March 14, 1964 (they were not rookies). It was also the first time that two opponents had recorded triple-doubles in the same game since Caron Butler and Baron Davis had done so on November 23, 2007.[20]

Player profile

Oladipo is a shooting guard who is also capable of playing point guard.[1] Indiana coach Tom Crean would frequently attribute Oladipo's success to his extreme work ethic and pre-game preparation of reviewing film. Oladipo is known for entertaining fans with exciting dunks. As announcer Clark Kellogg noted, "Victor Oladipo is like a baby's bottom, smooth and sometimes... explosive."[21]

On offense, Oladipo is capable of aggressively and quickly driving to the basket, aided by unparalleled athletic leaping ability. Following a victory by Indiana over #1 ranked Michigan, coach John Beilein remarked, "I've seen a lot of players. I don't know whether I've seen one quicker or faster, more athletic, than Oladipo. It's tough to stay in front of him."[22] His offensive proficiency improved as his outside shooting range improved each year of his collegiate career.

On defense, Oladipo is a "lockdown off-ball defender who can defend multiple positions".[23] He has the quickness to guard point guards and the strength and athleticism to fight around a forward and get to a front if caught in a mismatch.[23] His athleticism and anticipation makes it hard to set a screen on him. He also does a great job of rebounding his position.[23]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Victor Oladipo Dunked, and Dick Vitale Lost His Mind". ESPN. Retrieved February 3, 2013. 
  2. ↑ http://www.ruppawards.com/
  3. ↑ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._men%27s_college_basketball_national_player_of_the_year_awards
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Layden, Tim (March 25, 2013). "Victor Oladipo's rise from overlooked recruit to Indiana superstar". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved June 24, 2013. "[Chris Oladipo] says he was born in the West African nation of Sierra Leone, raised in the rural community of Blama (population 8,146)..." 
  5. ↑ Dopirak, Dustin (January 22, 2013). "Embracing Oladipo". Bloomington Herald-Times. Retrieved August 21, 2013. 
  6. ↑ http://www.thebuffandblue.net/?p=11142 The Oladipo Factor
  7. ↑ http://www.indystar.com/article/20130109/SPORTS0601/301090339/Indiana-basketball-women-Victor-Oladipo-s-family-keep-him-grounded The women in Victor Oladipo's family keep him grounded
  8. ↑ http://www.gallaudetathletics.com/news/2012-13/indianapractice
  9. ↑ Barr, Josh (April 15, 2010). "Victor Oladipo has had an incredible career; he just wishes his father would have seen it". Washington Post. Retrieved February 2, 2013. 
  10. ↑ "Victor Oladipo Profile". Indiana University Athletic Department. Retrieved 7 April 2012. 
  11. ↑ "Victor Oladipo". Rivals.com. Retrieved 7 April 2012. 
  12. ↑ Bozich, Alex (7 September 2009). "Victor Oladipo joins Indiana’s 2010 class". Inside the Hall. Retrieved 7 April 2012. 
  13. ↑ Albers, Justin (5 April 2012). "That's a Wrap: Victor Oladipo". Inside the Hall. Retrieved 7 April 2012. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Brennan, Eamonn (December 31, 2012). "Oladipo emerges as Hoosiers' star". Retrieved January 1, 2013. 
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Feldman, Ryan (March 13, 2013). "Why Oladipo should win Wooden Award". ESPN. Retrieved March 13, 2013. 
  16. ↑ Bilas, Jay. "Jay Bilas on Twitter". Retrieved February 3, 2013. 
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Rabjohns, Jeff. "Oladipo, Zeller head IU Big 10 honorees". Rivals.com. Retrieved March 12, 2013. 
  18. ↑ Schuhmann, John (2013-08-26). "Magic's Oladipo among rookie favorites to stand out in 2013-14". NBA.com. Retrieved 2013-10-15. 
  19. ↑ Notebook: Sixers 126, Magic 125
  20. ↑ "Michael Carter-Williams, 76ers overcome Arron Afflalo's 43". espn.com. December 3, 2013. Retrieved December 4, 2013. 
  21. ↑ "Announcer's odd comparison for Oladipo". Yard Barker. Retrieved February 10, 2013. 
  22. ↑ Forde, Pat. "Indiana beats Michigan; No. 1 ranking awaits college basketball's most entertaining team". Yahoo!. Retrieved February 3, 2013. 
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 Greenberg, Seth (February 5, 2013). "Top 10 closers in college hoops". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 5, 2013. 

External links

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