The desire to play college basketball never really left Brock Osweiler’s mind.
A two-sport star at Flathead High School in Montana, Osweiler had his choice of playing basketball or football in college. He chose to play quarterback at ASU and ever since he has always thought about trying to join the men’s basketball team.
The sophomore backup decided recently that now was the time and will join the ASU men’s basketball team once football season is over.
“The thought has never really left my mind since I came to ASU,” Osweiler said Wednesday. “It got a lot more serious this summer and I really thought long and hard about going to the coaches at that time but I didn’t. It kind of all happened recently.”
First he had to get the approval of his football coach. Osweiler approached ASU football coach Dennis Erickson recently about becoming a multi-sport athlete.
“I think he just wants to see where he is at,” Erickson said. “There are no guarantees he is going to make that team; that’s a pretty good team. He wants to go out and try and see where he’s at. I don’t have a problem with that.”
While Osweiler is serious about playing basketball, football remains his top priority.
“I’m just focusing on the football season,” Osweiler said. “That’s the main thing right now. Football is the number one priority and it is going to stay like that.”
In 2006, the 6-foot-8 inch Osweiler committed to Gonzaga to play basketball. During his junior year of high school, he decided to switch sports and committed to ASU for football.
“When I was going to the Nike All-American camp my freshman year I took an unofficial trip over to Gonzaga and fell in love with everything right away and committed to them,” Osweiler said. “I held that commitment strong all the way to the end of my junior year when I decided to switch sports entirely.”
That means it has been a while since Osweiler took to the hardwood in a competitive game. His last organized basketball game took place in June of 2009.
“I’ve been going in and doing a little bit on my own,” Osweiler said. “To be real, I feel pretty good right now. Obviously I won’t know exactly where I’m at until I get into a game-like situation or a scrimmage in practice.”
For Osweiler’s passion to play basketball to come to fruition, ASU basketball coach Herb Sendek had to be on board.
“He wouldn’t promise me anything, which is fair and understandable,” Osweiler said. “[He said] ‘you might be a scout team player this year.’ It is up to myself to see what kind of playing time I get. Coach Sendek is opening the opportunity up and that is all I asked for. I am very grateful for that.”
Osweiler will be joining the team about a month into the season, at the earliest. He said he is committed to playing basketball regardless of how much playing time he gets.
“I am making this commitment right now to play for the ASU basketball team this season,” Osweiler said. “If that means if I end up being a scout team player for the entire season than I am going to stick it out.”
The last athlete to compete in football and men’s basketball at ASU is current Baltimore Ravens tight end Todd Heap, one of ASU’s most successful athletes of all time.
“I heard about that after I made the decision, that’s a pretty cool thing,” Osweiler said. “I’d love to sit down and talk to Todd about it sometime and just get his perspective on the issue.”
When Osweiler will join the team is still up in the air. If the football team makes a bowl game it could be as late as Jan. 10, or it could be after the regular season ends on Dec. 3.
Reach the reporter at andrew.gruman@asu.edu
