Published: April 16, 2009 07:14 am         

Jake Odum is Terre Haute South's 8th Indiana All-Star

TERRE HAUTE — Throughout his career, Jake Odum looked at the seven Indiana All-Star jerseys on the wall in Terre Haute South’s gym to draw inspiration and motivation.

Someday a future Brave will likely do the same when looking at Odum’s jersey.

Odum was named to the Indiana All-Star team today by the Indianapolis Star. The Indiana State-bound point guard is South’s first All-Star since 2005 when Armon Bassett, another point guard, earned the honor.

“It’s such an honor. Ever since my freshman year, I’ve looked at those jerseys. It helped me set a goal for myself to keep getting better,” Odum said.

Odum becomes South’s eighth All-Star. He joins Cam Cameron (1979), Kevin Thompson (1980), Tony McGee (1989), Brian Evans (1991), Steve Hart (1992), Maynard Lewis (1998) and Bassett (2005).

Odum couldn’t really place any one thing throughout his South career that put him on the path to becoming an All-Star, other than endeavoring to work at it.

“I don’t know what made me better during my high school career, other than playing the game the basketball. The more you play, the better you get. That’s the way I’ve always approached it,” Odum said.

Odum was a late-bloomer as far as the rest of the state was concerned, showing up on few preseason All-Star lists. His senior season — in which South went 21-5 and was ranked as high as third in the state — made a big splash. Odum averaged 22 points, 6.4 assists, 5.8 rebounds and 3.4 steals in his final South season.

Still, it was touch-and-go going into the final week whether Odum would be honored. He had a good Top 60 workout last week.

“I honestly don’t know what [got Odum selected], but our team played well all year and I think that got some people to take notice,” Odum said.

South coach Mike Saylor felt vindicated after Odum didn’t make the Associated Press All-Star team.

“I just feel a great sense of justice, I’m just so happy that a kid who deserved to be an All-Star had other people that recognized it,” Saylor said. “The AP team? I don’t know what ineptness went into that. The coaches recognized his talent, but I was really kind of worried going into the top 60, what rationale would prevail. Thank God there were some astute people at the helm.”

ISU coach Kevin McKenna saw Odum play a lot, not only as his future coach, but because McKenna’s son Bobby plays for the Braves.

“I just think he’s very deserving. Over the course of the year he’s proven he’s a good point guard. He’ll be good in the All-Star games. The way Terre Haute South played in one of the strongest conferences, I think that’s a reason he was selected. It’s good for him and good for our program,” McKenna said.

The only downer for Odum was that future ISU teammate R.J. Mahurin was not selected. The Rockville senior was also on the All-Star bubble to the last.

“I was hoping he would’ve made it too,” Odum said.

Saylor has long been one of Odum’s most passionate advocates and the South coach didn’t hold back the praise once Odum got the ultimate honor.

“I don’t think there’s ever been a player that was that prominent in scoring, rebounding, assists and steals in Terre Haute history, especially in the modern era of 4A and the MIC. I’ve been around quite a while, there’s never been a player who controlled and dominated games like he has,” Saylor said.

“I’m just proud he’ll be able to take his kids and grandkids to South so they can see his jersey on the wall. He deserves it,” Saylor added.