Omar Gardner 6’3 165 2020 Carolina Basketball Academy, Elizabeth City NC
Omar is an exceptional playmaker, gifted athletically, sound fundamentally and possessing great instincts. He has an explosive first step complimented by his skillful use of hesitation moves and crafty breakdown moves that allows him to beat defenders and create havoc enroute to the rim. Omar has a quick crossover dribble, stays low and surveys the defense ready to strike at any time off the dribble with the jumper or bursting into the paint where he can find the open man and make the pass, hit the pull up jumper or continue to the rim employing his explosive elevation and 38” vertical to dunk! He has an excellent stutter step variety where he can bounce out and hit the jumper or counter with a change of direction crossover and attack a gap. He hits the jumper from all levels and is especially efficient scoring on the move and hitting the jumper off the dribble. Omar is an excellent finisher able to work past a big defender in front of the basket with his ability to find the angle that offers the uncontested shot and seemingly hang in the air if needed to get his shot off, hit the floater or use his great bounce and dunk the ball. Omar is an excellent passer, looking defenders off and dishing to cutters or using penetrate and kick skills to keep teammates involved. Makes the lob passes with perfect timing and accuracy. Omar seems to be a play ahead of everyone else, a high IQ playmaker with great vision and presence. He is unfazed by ball pressure, controls tempo and really has command of the game. He’s a blur in transition getting end to end with eye popping speed, then seems to shift to another gear if needed to beat a defender and get to the rim! Really excels in the open floor, knows where his teammates are and can make the pass ahead to get his team easy baskets. As much as Omar offers on the offensive end his defensive presence is as influential. He’s a solid on ball defender with excellent footwork and mechanics, quick feet and active hands. He has solid instincts off the ball for steals and is a very good rebounding guard. Omar is a division I caliber playmaker and transfers to Carolina Basketball Academy from John F Kennedy High School, Bronx NY where he was ranked #17 in New York’s 2020 class. Omar has interest from Fairfield, Central Connecticut and Iona currently but Coach Primus is expecting that list to grow much larger in the coming months.
Coach Gregory Primus on Omar Gardner: “Omar brings exceptional athleticism and great energy along with strong on ball defense”. Coach Primus, head coach at Carolina Basketball Academy has a wealth of experience including an NBA background in player development and scouting.