Ed was considered as one of the best CIF players of all-time playing at Artesia High School where he led his team to the CIF and state titles his senior year. He averaged 25 points and 10 rebounds per game. The 6-8 O’Bannon was a McDonald’s HS All-American, the ‘Basketball Times’ HS Player of the Year and won the 1990 California Mr. Basketball award. After missing his freshman year at UCLA due to ACL knee surgery, O’Bannon came back to lead UCLA to the 1995 NCAA title win with 30 points and 17 rebounds in the championship game against Arkansas.

He was named Tournament MVP. He won the Wooden Award and the USBWA College Player of the Year honors. He was the first round NBA draft pick of the New Jersey Nets and then finished his pro career overseas. He was inducted into the UCLA Athletic Hall of Fame and Pac-12 Hall of Honor. UCLA retired his number 31 jersey. He was coaching high school basketball in Las Vegas.