As he squirms in his seat, uncrosses and crosses those long legs and plays with the cast shackling his right wrist, Greg Oden looks like a kid who has been cooped up for far too long.

Which, say those who know him best, sounds about right.

The Ohio State freshman is the biggest thing to hit college basketball in decades. Only the fourth two-time national high school player of the year, the 7-footer has dazzling, game-changing skills at both ends of the court. He's already so good, USA Basketball invited him to hang with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and other NBA stars at its training camp this summer.

But the 18-year-old might not be as eager to join the NBA as everyone thinks, especially with a wrist injury forcing him to miss the first half of the season.

"He wants to experience the college environment, and he still hasn't got to experience that yet," said Mike Conley Jr., one of No. 7 Ohio State's five heralded newcomers and a friend of Oden's since grade school.

First, Oden must get healthy. His right wrist has been immobilized since June 16, when a screw was inserted to repair a torn ligament. The injury kept him off the U.S. team for the world championships and, though the pin was removed several weeks ago, still limits what he can do in practice.

But a warning to everyone on Ohio State's schedule: The cast on his right wrist -- Buckeye scarlet and grey, naturally -- could make Oden even better. A weight-room regular, Oden has added about 15 pounds of muscle since arriving in Columbus and now weighs 280 pounds. He has also been working on his left hand. Tirelessly.

He was named to the preseason All-Big Ten team, believed to be a first for a true freshman. A starter all four years at Lawrence North in Indianapolis, Oden scored 1,873 points He led Lawrence North to three consecutive Class 4A titles and a 103-7 record.

Pitt

The Panthers' women's team signed four players to National Letter of Intents during the early signing period. The four are: 6-3 Chelsea Cole (Lumberton, N.J.), 6-0 Taneisha Harrison (Bowie, Md.) 5-11 Ashley Henderson (Greensburg Central Catholic) and 6-1 Shayla Scott (Gateway).

Penn State

The Lions' men's team signed Talor Battle to a letter of intent. Battle, a point guard, averaged 29.4 points, 5.4 assists and 5.9 rebounds a game in his junior year last season for Bishop Maginn High School in Albany, N.Y.

Last night's game

Youngstown State opened with a 74-50 win against Central Michigan in the 2K Sports College Hoops Classic in East Lansing, Mich. Quin Humphrey had 25 points for Youngstown.