Phoenix Suns' Oso Ighodaro had game for the ages in 2020 state championship

It was four years ago, 12 days before COVID forced schools to close, when Phoenix Desert Vista's Oso Ighodaro turned in one of the greatest state championship performances in Arizona high school basketball history.

The then-6-foot-9 Ighodaro had double-digit blocks, points and rebounds in a 75-55 rout of Ahwatukee-rival Mountain Pointe in the 6A state title game played at Arizona State.

His 32 points came on 14-of-16 shooting. He made the only 3-pointer he took. He had 11 rebounds, 10 blocks.

"Man, that was probably the best championship game performance that I have ever watched," Mountain Pointe coach Kaimarr Price said. "He did what a senior is supposed to do in that moment, and took over the game."

Price said he's excited to now be able to watch Ighodaro play at Footprint Center next season for the Phoenix Suns.

The Suns were able to move up in the second round of the NBA draft Thursday and selected the Marquette big man with the 40th overall pick.

Given the name Osasere when he was born, he was simply called "Oso" growing up on Phoenix basketball courts.

Humble by nature, and dominant with myriad skills on the court, including a great awareness of everybody around him, Oso quietly quietly led with a burning passion to win. He also excelled in the classroom, making the honor roll every semester.

John Ortega, program director at PHHoenix Prep, who worked with Ighodaro in his Arizona Select AAU program when it was called Powerhouse Hoops, remembers Ighodaro facing off against Wednesday's NBA first-round draft pick Zach Edey in a club tournament game, before the 7-foot-4 Edey became a monster for Purdue.

That year, Oso's AAU club team went 42-3, with one of those losses coming when Ighodaro wasn't there.

"Oso against Edey was probably the most watched game that Under Armour had that year," Ortega said. "It was crazy. (Edey) was unguardable. I wish I had the picture. But it was Oso jumping ... next to Zach Edey and it looked like he was a little kid."

Oso never backed down.

Ortega believes Ighodaro will seize his chance with the Suns, because of all of the things he can do on the court. He can handle the ball. He sees the floor really well. He's got a high basketball IQ. He doesn't have to be the guy who scores. He finds teammates and he'll protect the rim and rebound.

Ighodaro also is now the third AIA player in two days to be taken in the NBA draft. Former Gilbert Perry star Cody Williams was selected 10th overall Wednesday by the Utah Jazz. And former Goodyear Millennium forward DaRon Holmes II was taken by the Denver Nuggets with the Suns' pick at 22 in a draft-day swap, with the Suns taking the Nuggets' pick at 28, getting Virginia forward Ryan Dunn.

In his Marquette career, Ighodaro, who grew to 6-11, 235 pounds, made All-Big East second team last season and during the 2022-23 season. He also made all-academic teams in the Big East during his college career.

He averaged 17 points, six rebounds and 1.3 blocks last season for the NCAA Tournament-bound Golden Eagles.

"Oso is kind of a walking triple-double threat," Ortega said. "He's probably the best passing big man in this draft. For the Phoenix Suns, let's be honest, they've got big-time scorers, so having a guy like Oso, who comes in and defends and rebounds, he's going to help. He was damn near our point guard.

"The Suns needed some defensive stoppers. Some guys who are willing to play their role, move the ball. They couldn't have done any better with Ryan Dunn and Oso."

Gino Crump, who led Desert Vista to that 2020 state title as its coach, remembers that state championship performance well to cap a 28-win season.

"He had such a phenomenal game," Crump said. "We wouldn't have been able to do what we did without him. He's just a tremendous young man. He deserves this. He's going to be an asset."

Crump said that Ighodaro was a natural leader who wasn't very vocal.

"He led by example," Crump said. "He helped on and off the court. He was always there, always present. He was just a phenomenal player. I coached hundreds of kids (including youths in the East Coast) and he was probably one of the best I ever coached, on and off the court."

Crump said he has remained in touch with Ighodaro after he left for Marquette. He feels the reason Ighodaro wasn't drafted higher was because "he's so incredibly unselfish."

"If he concentrated more on taking shots and being more offensive-minded for himself, he probably would have increased his draft stock," Crump said. "But that's just who he is. That tells you the type of young man he is."

Ighodaro is the second Desert Vista player to be taken in the NBA draft. Forward Brandon Clarke, who led Desert Vista to the 2015 state championship game against Tempe Corona del Sol, ended up being the 21st player taken in the 2019 draft by the Oklahoma City Thunder out of Gonzaga. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie team in 2020.

Price remembers how Ighodaro handled himself in the Ahwatukee community with class.

"The first thing I can say when Oso comes to mind is knowing the different guys who coached him throughout the years, not only in high school, but in club through the years, growing up, they always talk about how great of a person that he is," Price said. "How intelligent he is. How good the family is. That's what I noticed in my interactions with him."

To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @azc_obert

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix Suns' Oso Ighodaro had game for the ages in 2020 state championship