Aaron Craft is returning to Ohio State for medical school.
The Buckeye great plans to retire from basketball following the EuroLeague season, where he currently plays for the Italian club Trento, and will begin medical school at Ohio State, the Italian magazine Corriere della Sera reports.
Throughout his playing career, Craft maintained that he still had plans to become a doctor, and now he's taking that step.
"The passion for medicine is something I have cultivated since I was a child," Craft told Corriere della Sera, after translation. "At the end of my life I want to be more than a player who has chased a ball. My goal is to help others and serve the society in which I live.”
Craft has played basketball professionally in the NBA's G League (then known as the D-League), as well as the EuroLeague for six years. During his two seasons in the D-League, Craft was twice named to the NBA D-League All-Defensive First Team and was the D-League Defensive Player of the Year in 2015 while leading his team to the league's title.
In Europe, Craft has played for four different clubs – Szolnoki Olaj in Hungary, Aquila Basket Trento in Italy, AS Monaco in Monaco, and Budućnost VOLI in Montenegro. He won the French Leaders Cup with AS Monaco in 2018, as well as Pro A Best Defender honors.
Craft also suited up with The Basketball Tournament team of Ohio State alums during the offseason for the past three seasons, winning the tournament championship and a $2 million cash prize this year.
