Greg Oden makes his return to basketball

IndyStar

Ohio State freshman center Greg Olden sits on the bench before an exhibition college basketball game against Findlay in Columbus, Ohio, Wednesday, Nov 1, 2006. With jaw-dropping skills at both ends of the floor, Oden is the most highly anticipated college freshman to come along in a generation or two.

Greg Oden was back playing organized competitive basketball for the first time since 2016.

With the Scarlet and Gray, a group of Ohio State alumni, Oden played in The Basketball Tournament on Friday night. Against Primetime Players, the former IndyStar Mr. Basketball from Lawrence North High School came off the bench and helped his team win 72-60.

This was his first competitive basketball game since 2016, when Oden played with the Chinese Basketball Association's Jiangsu Dragons, though it is a different level of competition than the TBT. This return comes after he told the IndyStar in 2016, "I wish. It's over," when asked if he would play basketball again.

Oden returned to Ohio State in 2016 to be a student assistant coach and complete his degree.

In his first game of the TBT, Oden had 11 points and five rebounds in 16 minutes.

The former No. 1 overall pick's NBA career was limited to 105 games due to a variety of knee issues.

Oden and Scarlet & Gray will face Team Fredette on Sunday at 3 p.m. for a spot in the semifinals.

Follow IndyStar sports reporter Andrew Hussey on Twitter at @thehussnetwork.