Last Updated on January 11, 2025 by Mathew Diekhake

Osasere Benjamin “Oso” Ighodaro is an American professional basketball player known for his skills as a center.

  • Full Name: Osasere Benjamin Ighodaro
  • Nationality: American
  • Date of Birth: July 14, 2002
  • Hometown: Mesa, Arizona
  • Height: 7 feet 0 inches (213 cm)
  • Weight: 235 pounds (107 kg)
  • Wingspan: 6 feet 11 inches (211 cm)
  • Shoe Size: Size 19 (US)
  • Position: Center
  • Jersey Number: 4
  • High School:
    • Desert Vista High School (Phoenix, Arizona): Ighodaro was a standout player, averaging 10 points, six rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game as a junior. He was rated a four-star recruit and committed to Marquette University over offers from Stanford, Texas, and Vanderbilt.
  • College:
    • Marquette University (2020–2024):
      • Freshman Year (2020–2021): Played in five games before suffering an injury, leading to a medical redshirt.
      • Redshirt Freshman Year (2021–2022): Appeared in all 32 games, averaging 5.5 points per game.
      • Redshirt Sophomore Year (2022–2023): Named to the Second Team All-Big East Conference, averaging 11.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.5 blocks per game.
      • Redshirt Junior Year (2023–2024): Continued to excel, earning Second Team All-Big East honors again, with averages of 13.4 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game.
  • NBA Draft 2024: Selected 40th overall by the Portland Trail Blazers; his rights were traded to the Phoenix Suns on draft night.
  • Teams Played For:
    • Phoenix Suns (2024–present): Signed a four-year contract with the Suns on July 4, 2024. Made his NBA debut on October 24, 2024, recording two points, six rebounds, and a block in over twelve minutes of play in the Suns’ 116–113 overtime win over the Los Angeles Clippers.
  • Championship Rings: None.
  • Parents: Dawn and Osaro Ighodaro.
  • Siblings: One sister, Osaso.
  • Children: None.

Oso Ighodaro landed on a fringe contender during his rookie season and did a great job playing heavy minutes for a rookie with a Phoenix Suns team that struggled to meet expectations during the first half of the regular season. I think Ighodaro has a chance of becoming a second-round steal in the 2024 NBA Draft. Ighodaro has the prototypical height and athleticism for the center position. He’s also very smart and studied the game a lot. Don’t be surprised if he earns a big role off the bench by the time we get to the playoffs. 1/11/2025