Osiris Eldridge: A Highlight Waiting To Happen
| March 20, 2009
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If you weren’t familiar with Osiris Eldridge before he played Northern Iowa, after the mohawked guard put on one of the greatest shooting displays in Missouri Valley Conference tournament history, you are now.
Name: Osiris Eldridge
Age: 20
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Height: 6-3
Weight: 190
Shoe size: 12/13
Position: Guard
My Home Court: Dunbar Park on E 28th Street & S King Drive
Playing Experience: Growing up in Chicago, I spent most of my time playing ball, but I didn’t play too much organized. I played at Dunbar Park with older guys from the neighborhood. Around grammar school, I was on the team at Drake Elementary. That’s right, the Drake Dragons with coach Luke Boon. After grammar school, I went to Phillips Academy and finally started to get good a little bit. Before my junior year, after playing AAU for the Illinois Fire, that summer was my take off. I made the All-Star team at adidas Superstar Camp along with guys like Brook Lopez, Reggie Redding, DJ Augustin, Gerald Henderson and Wayne Ellington.
Early on in recruiting, I had just come off a great summer and a lot of schools had interest in me that I hadn’t talked to yet. Illinois State had been after me for a long time. Coach sold me on the place. He was always there, calling me all the time, and we had a great relationship. It was cool. It wasn’t a real big school, and Doug Collins was the last player to come out that anybody knew, but I was always underrated. People said I’d never play nowhere, but I wanted to go to a school where I could play right away and be a star.
Current Team: Illinois State Redbirds
Favorite Sneakers: I grew up watching Jordan, so I love Jordans. But I’m also a huge LeBron fan. People say I walk like him and kind of look like him a little bit. I love the LeBrons. I had the Big Apple LeBron VIs and only got to play in them twice before someone stole them from my girlfriend’s cars after the second game I wore them against Bradley.
Favorite Player: LeBron James
Favorite Team: Cleveland Cavaliers
Go-to-Move: My pull-up. It’s real explosive off the dribble. I usually take one or two dribbles and just step-back.
I play: For the love of the game. I always grew up watching the NBA and wanted to play.
Coming up I admired: MJ. Growing up in Chicago, Jordan was our dude. But when I was growing up, I had to find somebody else to watch. Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady and LeBron.
My basketball moment: Playing AAU and making that All-Star team with guys that are in the NBA now. Playing with those caliber of players, and being thought of as top player, was a great feeling.
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i have season tickets to crieghton mens basketball and i love watching you play. you are so explosive. good luck with your career
You seem to have a good chance at making it in the NBA, and I think you picked the perfect setting to thrive in at Illinois State. If you want to take your game to the next level - remember this: You are not a “1″ or a “2″. You are a basketball player. You need to play your game, and not try to be someone you’re not. Remember that at any moment you’re playing - somone, a coach, a scout, or even just a young kid, is watching you for the first time. Sure, it is important to be able to run an offense, but it is your leadership - and determination to take over a game that will get you to the next level. Good luck!