Jon Diebler (photo. Ohio State Athletics)

Dime: You’re from Upper Sandusky, Ohio?
JD: Yes.

Dime: It’s not quite the big city, is it?
JD: No, it’s a very small town. Not too many people. They love Ohio State. I was fortunate enough to have a very good high school career (Diebler is the all-time career scorer in Ohio’s high school history) there and play four years at Ohio State. Had a lot of support back home. There’s a lot of agriculture in my town, it’s not a big city. Like you said, it’s not really a city at all. It’s a nice place to live. I loved the years I lived there.

Dime: Your dad was your head coach (in high school). Playing for him, what’d he teach you about the game of basketball?
JD: He taught me a ton. It was him and my two little brothers. I’ve always been around the game. Even my mom played basketball in high school, and she knows quite a bit about the game as well. Just growing up in a basketball family, constantly being in the gym, I mean, I learned at a young age how to play the game correctly and the fundamentals of basketball when I was younger. It’s just something I’m blessed with to have in my life.

Dime: Is it kind of crazy to come from a quiet town and then play with guys at Ohio State who went to the NBA, and now you’re in their position? Can you just talk about that whole journey.
JD: It’s kind of surreal. I was talking to (former Ohio State teammate David) Lighty, we were at a workout together, sitting at a hotel. I told him like, “Man, you remember watching the combine on TV, watching it last year. Watching (former Buckeye) Evan (Turner) going through the process and you hear about some of our teammates going through the process?” It’s just always been a dream to get the opportunity to play at the next level. And to go through this process now has just been great. I’ve really tried to enjoy every day of it, you know, not getting stressed, just taking it one day at a time and enjoying it.

Dime: Do you have any plans for Thursday night? Are you going to watch or not pay attention and just see what happens?
JD: I’ll watch it. Not just for myself, but I’d like to see a couple people that I’ve gotten to know in this process, some of my teammates where they end up. I’m going to watch it with my family. We have a place up near Lake Erie, we’re going to head up there. It’s nice and peaceful and relaxing, so my wife and I will head up there and then my family and possibly her family. So nothing big, not a party or anything. We’re just going to hang out and enjoy the day.

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