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Aaron Craft |
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Getting To Know...Aaron Craft 
Aaron Craft BTN Rubik's Cube Video
Aaron Craft Duke Postgame Interview
Photo Gallery
• 2012 Preseason Wooden Award Top 50
• 2012 Preseaon Naismith Award Top 50
• 2011 Big Ten Sixth Player of the Year
• 2011 Big Ten All-Freshman Team (Coaches/Media)
• 2011 Big Ten All-Defensive Team (Coaches)
• 2011 Honorable Mention All-Big Ten (Media)
• 2011 Big Ten Freshman of the Week (Jan. 17)
AN OVERVIEW
Aaron Craft wasted no time adjusting to the college game, ending the regular-season as the Big Ten Sixth Player of the Year, as well as a member of the Big Ten All-Freshman (Coaches/Media) and Big Ten All-Defensive (Coaches) Teams. He played in all 37 games, tallying a team-leading 177 assists against 79 turnovers (2.1 ratio), setting the program record for single-game assists with 15 vs. George Mason in the third round of the NCAA Tournament. He also posted a Big Ten-best 73 steals on the season, breaking the OSU freshman record for single-game steals with seven vs. Iowa (1/19/11).
The valedictorian of his high school class, Craft was heralded as an all-around point guard and one of the best guard defenders coming out of high school. He was a 2010 Ohio First Team All-State in Division III and the 2010 Division III Player of the Year in Ohio, following the same all-state selection in 2009. He led Liberty-Benton High School to a state runner-up finish his freshman season and was named First-Team All-Ohio as a junior.
AS A FRESHMAN (2010-11)
• Played in all 37 games, making one start against Morehead State (11/23/10)
• Averaged 6.9 points, 4.8 assists and 2.0 steals per game
• Led all Big Ten players in assists with 177, against 79 turnovers (2.2 ratio) ... posted at least six assists in 16 games on the season, including eight against Big Ten opponents
• Broke the Ohio State record for single-game assists with 15 against George Mason in the NCAA Tournament
• Was fifth in the conference and first on the team in steals steals with 73
• Broke the freshman record for single-game steals with seven vs. Iowa (1/19/11) and had at least one in all but six games
• Finished in second place among OSU freshmen and third overall for season steals
Notable Games in 2010-11
• Set an Ohio State record with 15 assists while tallying six points and six rebounds against George Mason (3/20/11) ... the 15 assists represent the fourth-best single game mark in NCAA Tournament history
• Dished out seven assists while pulling down two boards against UTSA in NCAA second round (3/18/11)
• Scored 17 points with a career-high seven rebounds and two blocks against Northwestern (3/11/11)
• Had 11 points and a career-high tying six defensive boards in win over Purdue (1/25/11)
• Tallied OSU rookie-record seven steals against Iowa (1/19/11) and was one of four players with four assists in the game
• Named Big Ten Freshman of the Week after averaging 14.5 points for the week, connecting on 56 percent of field goals (10-18) and 60 percent of 3-point field goal tries (6-10) in wins at Michigan and vs. the Nittany Lions
• Established a new career high in scoring with a game high-tying 19 in win over Penn State (1/15/11), while adding seven assists and on turnover
• Had eight assists and five boards in win over IUPUI (12/9/10)
• Earned the start vs. Morehead State (11/23/10) because of injury to William Buford and came through with seven points and six assists, playing all 40 minutes
• Had nine assists without a turnover in first collegiate game vs. North Carolina A&T (11/12/10) ... also tallied eight points, including 4-of-4 showing from FT line.
• One of six freshmen to see first minutes in a Buckeye uniform vs. North Carolina A&T (11/12/10); all six tallied at least two points.
PRIOR TO OHIO STATE
• Led scoring efforts in 2008, 2009 and 2010 and averaged 26 points, seven assists and eight rebounds as a senior with 70 steals (3.2 per game) for head coach for Steve Williman at Liberty-Benton.
• Though handling the point guard duties, scored on 57 percent of his shots from the field (164-288), 43 percent from 3-point range (43-101) and 85 percent from the foul line (120-141).
• Played for All-Ohio Red along with Jordan Sibert, Jared Sullinger and JD Weatherspoon.
• Also played football as well for Liberty-Benton as both a quarterback and free safety. On the gridiron his LBHS was regional champions in 2006 and 2009 and the state runner up in 2009. He was an all-state QB in 2008 and 2009 while earning Ohio Division 5 Offensive Player of the Year honor in 2009.
• Son of John and Wendy Craft with siblings Brandon and Caitie.
• Enjoys time with friends and video games in spare time and lists participating with brother Brandon in both the state finals for football and basketball as a high school athlete and watching sister win a state championship is his biggest thrill in sports to date.
• Was the valedictorian of his senior class, as well as the National Honor Society president in 2009 and Spanish Club member (2007-10).
Craft's Career Bests
Points 19, vs. Penn State (1/15/11)
Rebounds 7, vs. Northwestern (3/11/11)
Assists 15, vs. George Mason (3/20/11)
Blocks 2, vs. Northwestern (3/11/11)
Steals 7, vs. Iowa (1/19/11)
Minutes 40, vs. Morehead State (11/23/10)
FGs 7, vs. Penn State (1/15/11)
FGA 11 (3x), last vs. Northwestern (3/11/11)
3FGs 4, vs. Penn State (1/15/11)
3FGA 6, vs. Penn State (1/15/11)
FTs 5, vs. Minnesota (1/9/11)
FTA 8, vs. Minnesota (1/9/11)
Off. Reb 4, vs. Northwestern (3/11/11)
Def. Reb 6 (2x), last vs. Purdue (1/25/11)
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