On Friday morning, Washington Huskies star forward Great Osobor found himself in the running for yet another award as he was named to the Lute Olson Award Early Season Watch List, which is given out annually to the best player in college basketball.
Through just four games in purple and gold, Osobor has made school history. He became the first player in Washington history to post 15 points, 15 rebounds, and 5 steals in a game, doing so in his first start, and has followed that up by asserting himself as the nation’s leading rebounder, averaging 13 boards per game.
Osobor is also second in the nation in steals, and according to Stats Perform’s Greg Harvey, he’s the only Division I basketball player in the last 25 years to tally 50 points, 50 rebounds, 15 steals, and 5 blocks through his first four games.
He’s also coming off a 23-point, 18-rebound performance against UMass Lowell, but coach Danny Sprinkle said his star is nowhere near his ceiling yet.
“He’s not, and he knows that, ” he said on Sunday. “He’s still got to get in better shape; he’s out of shape. I’m complaining about 23 and 18, but honestly, he should’ve had 35 and 25. And if you’re going to be the guy, you’ve got to be the guy. If he makes layups today, he has 35 points, or if he makes a couple free throws… but I thought his effort was pretty good rebounding the basketball. He got lazy a couple times, and guys got tip dunks or second-chance buckets, which can’t happen if you’re the guy or if you’re going to be on the court in the last five minutes of the game. He’s so much better than he’s played in the last four games, it’s not even close. I’ve never seen him miss so many bunnies and close-in shots. I don’t know if it’s a focus deal or whatnot, but he’s got to get it going.”
As the season goes on, if Osobor can make an adjustment and improve his shooting percentage, he could be a finalist for the Lute Olson Award, among others, at the end of the year.