Goodbye Josh Oduro

[jessej]

It needs to be posted, even though it's news from nearly two days ago...

Josh is returning to Mason!
https://twitter.com/GoodmanHoops/status/1531344621908926464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

hoping we see this same post on May 31, 2023

 

[Quentin Daniels]

hoping we see this same post on May 31, 2023

I kind of hope we don't.

If Josh has the type of season that propels him into entering the NBA draft after a good evaluation, that's the type of positive that might impact the program even more than him returning another year. To go from a 2-Star guy to drafted NBA player, w/the biggest jump coming during the last two seasons, that's the type of talking point someone like CKE can sell on the recruiting trail.

Plus just wanting good things for JO.

 

[GMUgemini]

hoping we see this same post on May 31, 2023

I actually hope the opposite because it means Oduro is projected as a possible 1st round draft pick and that would mean good things for the season.

 

[GreenLantern]

Another steak ruined (well done ribeye). But good news is Oduro apparel dropping soon. Get yours. #RockWithUs @josh_oduro https://t.co/vykAzqleaq

 

[Mason2005]

Big senior season coming for Josh, check out his evolution so far

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1549425079003631616

View: https://twitter.com/IamLiemLe/status/1549425079003631616?t=uEWNBJonituG2APo2zWDAg&s=19

 

[jessej]

2023 Estimates of Player of the Year
Josh at #4

https://barttorvik.com/poy.php?conlimit=A10&year=2023&yr=

and #4 on 2022
D'shawn at #15

Prior to that - Moore in 2017 at #14

 

[Patriotsince81]

Josh returning or not is one of the major offseason questions to be answered. If his career at Mason is over he ranks 19th in scoring, 11th in rebounding, and 6th in blocked shots in school history. In my opinion he ended up being a much better player than I thought he would be when I saw him coming out of high school. One of the all time GMU greats? Up for debate and individual assessment.

Freshman season per game averages - 4.9 pts, 3.9 reb, .3 assists, 1.0 turnovers
Sophomore - 10.0 pts, 6.0 reb, 1.2 assists, 1.3 turnovers
Junior - 17.7 pts, 7.5 reb, 1.7 assists, 2.7 turnovers
Senior - 15.6 pts, 7.9 reb, 2.6 assists, 2.8 turnovers

If he does return, and I said this last year, he will need to cut down on his turnovers dramatically. He led the team in turnovers last year with 74 (one for every 11.5 min played) and again this year with 92 (one for every 10.4 min played).

 

[GMU79]

Josh returning or not is one of the major offseason questions to be answered. If his career at Mason is over he ranks 19th in scoring, 11th in rebounding, and 6th in blocked shots in school history. In my opinion he ended up being a much better player than I thought he would be when I saw him coming out of high school. One of the all time GMU greats? Up for debate and individual assessment.

Freshman season per game averages - 4.9 pts, 3.9 reb, .3 assists, 1.0 turnovers
Sophomore - 10.0 pts, 6.0 reb, 1.2 assists, 1.3 turnovers
Junior - 17.7 pts, 7.5 reb, 1.7 assists, 2.7 turnovers
Senior - 15.6 pts, 7.9 reb, 2.6 assists, 2.8 turnovers

If he does return, and I said this last year, he will need to cut down on his turnovers dramatically. He led the team in turnovers last year with 74 (one for every 11.5 min played) and again this year with 92 (one for every 10.4 min played).

My take on his turnovers is that he dribbles too much in the paint area. Gets the ball swiped over and over.

 

[MasonFanatic]

We rely on Josh to create a lot of our halfcourt offense. When you're running the ball through him that much, turnovers are inevitable. I think he's really cut down on the unforced mistakes for the most part.

 

[TweederGMU]

A lot of posters thought he wasn't going to amount to much coming out of high school. Just goes to show you what a few D1 Coaches can do for a kid's game and a hard work ethic.

Great career for Josh, he gave us some great memories and wins over his tenure and we can start the conversations about where people have him on their list of "GMU greats".

IMO... I believe he is gone. Will look to go overseas and get paid.

 

[Dawgs99]

There's absolutely no reason for Josh to come back to Mason. Either hit the portal and play a year in a power 5 and make the tournament or and much more likely, just turn pro and start making money. He's not going to improve his pro stock anymore at Mason than he already has and the clocks ticking on his best earning years.

 

[GMUgemini]

There's absolutely no reason for Josh to come back to Mason. Either hit the portal and play a year in a power 5 and make the tournament or and much more likely, just turn pro and start making money. He's not going to improve his pro stock anymore at Mason than he already has and the clocks ticking on his best earning years.

Not entirely true. If he adds a perimeter game and becomes a better defender here he will significantly increase his pro prospects. He’d have an easier time adding that to his game in his third year under English than if he had to learn an entirely new role.

As for earnings, depends on what his deal is with McKay and how much he could make in his first contract in Europe.

 

[tblack33]

Not entirely true. If he adds a perimeter game and becomes a better defender here he will significantly increase his pro prospects. He’d have an easier time adding that to his game in his third year under English than if he had to learn an entirely new role.

As for earnings, depends on what his deal is with McKay and how much he could make in his first contract in Europe.

Paging the @Expat Hoops guys but as I understand it you don’t really start earning big money until late 20s/early 30s in Europe when you’ve had a chance to move up through the ranks.

 

[Patriotsince81]

I have it on good authority and no authority that no one knows what he is going to do yet.

 

[gmulion]

Not entirely true. If he adds a perimeter game and becomes a better defender here he will significantly increase his pro prospects. He’d have an easier time adding that to his game in his third year under English than if he had to learn an entirely new role.

As for earnings, depends on what his deal is with McKay and how much he could make in his first contract in Europe.

Oduro staying to work on his perimeter game does not benefit Mason. It seems like he tried to do that at the beginning of the year and it did not go well.

 

[GMUgemini]

That’s only because it didn’t go well for him.

I agree above. No one knows what he’s going to do, maybe not even him.

 

[Expat Hoops]

Paging the @Expat Hoops guys but as I understand it you don’t really start earning big money until late 20s/early 30s in Europe when you’ve had a chance to move up through the ranks.

Largely correct. Obviously there can be some outliers, but those outliers are usually guys who go to bigger programs or have a little bit of NBA experience first (whether that's actual NBA or G-League).

I have no inside intel on what Josh wants to do, but it would not surprise me if Josh transferred up to a bigger program for both exposure/NIL reasons instead of going overseas. You can make comparable money with NIL now to some of the lower level overseas leagues. That, plus you don't run the risk of non-payment...like some folks unfortunately go through.

G-League money is better now than just a few years ago, so I suppose he could go that route too. But, kind of same thing with a higher P5 NLI money can be said for G-League experience too.

 

[Dawgs99]

My only frame of reference for what guys can make over seas is Chris Herren, the guy with all the drug problems. Apparently he made 30k a month in Italy like 15 years ago...I know he was a former 1st round pick. I doubt Kathy McKay money is going to keep JO here over that! Don't get me wrong I'd take him back with open arms, I just don't see it.

 

[Expat Hoops]

My only frame of reference for what guys can make over seas is Chris Herren, the guy with all the drug problems. Apparently he made 30k a month in Italy like 15 years ago...I know he was a former 1st round pick. I doubt Kathy McKay money is going to keep JO here over that! Don't get me wrong I'd take him back with open arms, I just don't see it.

A guy like that (former 1st round pick) can make good money overseas quickly. But Italy has kind of fallen off in terms of salaries some. Stuff just changes sometimes.

 

[jessej]

NABC District 4

First Team

Adrian Baldwin Jr. – vcu

James Bishop IV – George Washington

Toumani Camara – Dayton

Yuri Collins – Saint Louis

DaRon Holmes II – Dayton

Second Team

Tyler Burton – Richmond

Dae Dae Grant – Duquesne

Josh Oduro – George Mason

Darius Quisenberry – Fordham

Erik Reynolds II – Saint Joseph’s