We've seen a lot of players come through our doors over the years, varying in appearance, skill level, and everything in between. We decided to put forth a series on some players who have attended events over the past few years but still remain on the lesser-known side of things. Each of these prospects embody being a student-athlete and getting it done in the classroom as well as on the basketball court, and today's edition will take a closer look at Oliver O'Brien of Lake Norman Charter.
We've seen O'Brien in every possible setting, including at our NC Phenom 150 Camp, where we stated, 'Moving onto a player that showed flashes of making things happen on both ends of the floor, Oliver O'Brien. He's a guard prospect that can handle the ball or operate as an off-ball cutter and spot-up threat along the perimeter. O'Brien does a nice job deferring to teammates and hitting the open guy whenever possible. Next in his development process is working to become a more useful defender and rebounder, as it would make him a more complete all-around player. Coach Whitely on O'Brien: 'Oliver is a good kid. He has an above average basketball IQ and attitude. He can run a team, but needs to improve his ball-handling against ball pressure. His defense needs to improve in all areas. If Oliver plays with more intensity, he will become a quality player. He should continue to work on his off-hand and ability to move without the ball.' O'Brien had a solid showing at camp and should continue working to expand his skillset on both sides of the ball.'
Coming off his junior season, O'Brien offered Lake Norman Charter with a reliable, unselfish, complementary backcourt presence. He has the ability to toggle between either guard position due to his blend of shooting and ball-handling. O'Brien is a fairly well-rounded player with a quality feel for the game on both ends of the floor. He's a solid defender and rebounder that can grab and go with relative ease. O'Brien simply knows how to make a consistent impact. His production and understanding as a role player should have various college programs interested, as he could be a useful addition to many teams.
