Osiris Eldridge

Osiris Eldridge (born June 18, 1988) is an American professional basketball player for Tüyap Büyükçekmece of the Turkish Basketball Super League (BSL). He played college basketball for Illinois State. As a freshman, he won the Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year award, and as a sophomore, he was runner up in MVP honors while leading ISU to its most wins in school history with 25.

As a junior, averaged 21 points, six rebounds, three assists and nearly five steals. As a senior, averaged 25 points, eight rebounds and three assists per game. Named first team all-city in 2006. A second team all-state selection by Illinois Hoops and was on the third team all-state by the Associated Press. Played in the 2005 Wallace Prather, Jr. Memorial All-Star Classic, which features the top players from the adidas camp. The 2005 IHSA Class AA Slam Dunk Champion. Played in the 2006 Riverwar All-Star Game.

Eldridge shooting a three pointer

Freshman

The 2007 Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year averaged 9.5 points-and 4.5 rebounds-per-game. He was named Valley Newcomer of the Week February 26. His career-high 28 points at Creighton (Jan. 1) tied the third-highest single-game total by a freshman in Illinois State history. He also tied the school record with eight made three-pointers in the game at Creighton.

Sophomore

First-Team All-Missouri Valley Conference and the Larry Bird MVC Player of the Year runner-up. Averaged 15.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.3 steals per game on a 43.2 field goal percentage. Two-time Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week (Nov. 18, Feb. 18). Averaged a league-second-best 17.1 points per game to go along with 5.6 rebounds per game on a 47.2 shooting percentage in Valley play. Eldridge has given the Redbirds more confidence and more hype than ever. Eldridge has earned the nickname "King O" and looks to lead the Redbirds the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1998.

The Illinois State men's basketball team has been projected to finish third in the Missouri Valley Conference, according to the 2008–09 preseason poll determined by a panel of league sports information directors, head coaches and media members. Junior guard Osiris Eldridge was also tabbed as the league's preseason player of the year, after finishing second in the 2008 Larry Bird Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year voting. the league's preseason player of the year, Eldridge was also one of five Valley student-athletes named to the league's preseason all-conference team. As a first-team All-Missouri Valley Conference selection last season, Eldridge averaged 15.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.3 steals per game.

The Chicago native posted 30 double-digit scoring outputs during the 2007–08 season, including nine games with 20 or more points. He scored a career-high 34 points at Indiana State last season, and posted his first-career double-doubles at Eastern Michigan and Bowling Green.

Junior

Joining Eldridge on the Valley's Preseason All-Conference Team were Drake's Jonathan Cox and Josh Young; Southern Illinois' Bryan Mullins; and Creighton's P'Allen Stinnett. Evansville's Shy Ely and Jason Holsinger received honorable mention honors, along with Bradley's Andrew Warren and Theron Wilson.

Eldridge averaged 34.8mpg and 14ppg. Also led the team in steals at 1.5 per game. He took the redbirds to the championship game of the MVC tournament but lost in overtime to Northern Iowa.

Named the 2009 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament Most Outstanding Player, only the second player in league history to receive the award from a member of the runner-up team. Earned First-Team All-Missouri Valley Conference honors. Selected to the Valley's All-Defensive Team. Scored the 1,000th point of his career at Central Michigan. Received the 2008–09 Bob and Audrey Weber Endowed Scholarship in June 2008.

He decided to enter his name in the 2009 NBA draft but did not hire an agent so he could still retain his right to return to school the next season. He later opted out and dropped his name from the list to return to school.

Senior

Eldridge went into his senior season as the preseason favorite for Missouri Valley Player of the Year by Blue Ribbon Yearbook. He led the conference in scoring, averaging 15.9 points a game. Adam Koch of Northern Iowa won the Missouri Valley Player of the year award.

College career

• 2007 Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year
• 2008 First-Team Missouri Valley Conference
• 2009 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament Most Outstanding Player
• 2009 First-Team Missouri Valley Conference
• 2009 Missouri Valley Conference All-Defensive Team

Valley Player of the Week – Dec. 1, 2008; Jan. 5, 2009; Feb. 16, 2009; Nov. 18, 2007; Feb. 18, 2008