Oden named Naismith award winner

INDIANAPOLIS -- Greg Oden of Lawrence North High School was named Naismith high school player of the year Wednesday by the Atlanta Tipoff Club. The award, given each year to the top male and female high school players in the nation, will be presented March 29 at the McDonald's All-American Game in San Diego.\nOden, a 7-foot senior, has averaged 22 points a game this season. Lawrence North is playing for its third straight Class 4A championship on Saturday.\n"Greg has been the No. 1-ranked player in the country all season long. He really is the complete package," said Gary Stokan, Atlanta Tipoff Club president.\nOden is the second player from Indiana to receive the Naismith Award for boys. Damon Bailey of Bedford North Lawrence also won the award in 1990.