Aaron Craft

Classroom

Craft enters his senior year with a 3.92 GPA. He is preparing for medical school as a nutrition major. His academic awards to date include: three-time first-team Academic All-American, 2013 and 2014 Academic All-American of the Year in Division I men’s basketball, three-time Academic All-Big Ten, three-time Ohio State Scholar Athlete and the Elite 89 Award for the top GPA among participants in the 2012 Final Four in New Orleans.

Character

Aaron’s commitment in the areas of academics, the community and to his team is remarkable. He excels in everything he attempts by giving maximum effort. He is a first-rate citizen, teammate and person. He has spent his summers as a champion of the University traveling with former Ohio State president Gordon Gee spreading the word about the university, fundraising and welcoming incoming freshman classes. In early October, Craft was named winner of the 2013 Preston V. McMurry Scholar Athlete Citizenship Award. Founded in 2008, the award honors an Ohio State student-athlete with a grade-point average of at least 3.0 who best exemplifies the idea of “Education for Citizenship” through significant volunteer service to the community.

Community

Craft gives back. He is involved in numerous charities and has participated in multiple community service events and projects, including: A Kid Again (helps provided experiences to children with life-threatening illness); Nationwide Children’s Hospital (makes regular visits to ill children); Athletes in Action: (campus leader with the organization helping others with their faith through speaking engagements and other activities); and Mission of Hope to Haiti (spent a week in August of 2013 in Haiti planting trees, cleaning the community, teaching, spending time with children and leaving lifelong memories for many living in poverty). His other efforts include: JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes, Make a Wish Charity, reading programs for school children and serving meals to the homeless and less fortunate at Manna Cafe in Columbus.

Competition

In four years at Ohio State, Craft has played in 144 games, starting 108 with an average of 33 minutes a contest. He owns both the Big Ten and Ohio State career record for steals (328) and the Ohio State single season record in thefts with 98 in 2011-12. He is the all-time assists leader at OSU as well with 673 and is No. 6 all-time in the Big Ten. Craft became the 50th Ohio State player of all time to reach 1,000 career points (1,167). On defense he is recognized as one of if not the best defenders in college basketball, all while running the team on the offensive end as well. His most recent awards include: 2014 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, 2014 Big Ten All-Defensive Team, 2014 Second Team All-Big Ten (Media), 2013 First Team All-Big Ten, 2013 Big Ten All-Defensive Team, 2013 Big Ten Tournament Most Outstanding Player and BTT All-Tournament Team. In four years, Craft-led teams have won 2 Big Ten titles, 2 Big Ten tournament titles, played in 3 NCAA tournaments, three NCAA Sweet 16s, two Elite Eights and the 2012 Final Four. He has been part of 117 victories at Ohio State and is the first Buckeye in history with 600 assists, 300 steals and 1,000 career points. Craft is a finalist for the 2014 Collegiate Wooden Cup, given annually to a collegiate and a professional athlete who have made the greatest positive influence in the lives of others. Craft is one of five collegiate finalists for the award.