One of Ohio State's all-time basketball greats will deliver the commencement address to university graduates this summer.
Michael Redd, who played for the Buckeyes from 1997-2000, will be the featured speaker at Ohio State's virtual commencement for approximately 1,600 graduates this summer, the university announced Thursday.
“Michael was a leader on the court for Ohio State and continues to lead off the court in the Columbus community,” said Ohio State executive vice president and provost Bruce McPheron. “His commitment to excellence as an athlete and an entrepreneur will inspire our graduates as they prepare to lead in their communities.”
A native of Columbus, Redd earned team MVP honors in each of his three seasons at Ohio State, where he scored 1,879 points – the sixth-most in Ohio State history – while averaging 19.6 points per game over three seasons. He was the Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 1998 and a first-team All-Big Ten selection in 2000, and was inducted into both the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame and Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009.
Redd went on to play 12 seasons in the NBA, including 11 with the Milwaukee Bucks, including one NBA All-Star selection in 2004.
Redd, who completed his degree at Ohio State in 2015, still lives in the Columbus area and currently works with multiple tech-based startups.
Ohio State's virtual summer commencement is scheduled to be held Aug. 9, beginning at 2 p.m., and will be livestreamed by WOSU.
