While it’s not unusual for an elite level HS hoops prospect to have his sites set on the NBA even at an early age, it is highly unusual for a player to predict that they are a one-and-done type player before they even suit up for their very first collegiate game.
That’s precisely the curious case of LSU incoming freshman big man Johnny O’Bryant who when asked by a local Louisiana newspaper if he plans on heading straight to the NBA after his rookie NCAA season, the promising 6’9 power forward promptly replied “Of Course.”
O’Bryant is the jewel of LSU Tigers coach Trent Johnson’s incoming recruiting class featuring Kentucky’s reigning Mr Basketball Anthony Hickey and John Isaac. The 6’9 and 260lb O’Bryant figures to help provide the Tigers with an imposing low post presence in a much improved SEC Conference that may again get multiple NCAA Tourney bids with teams like Kentucky, Florida, Vanderbilt, Mississippi St, and Alabama all in the mix.
The Tigers are coming off of two straight 11 win seasons and were surely hoping that the 5 star PF would stick around the bayou for a few seasons to help the program be on par once again with the Kentucky’s and Florida’s of the conference. He’ll face some stiff competition from day one as the SEC is loaded with prime time big men like Patric Young (Florida), Anthony Davis (Kentucky), and Festus Ezili (Vandy).
Johnny proved to be one of the very best big men in the country last season by averaging 19.7ppg, 14.7 rebounds, and an amazing 6.2 blocks as a senior at Eastside HS in Cleveland, Mississippi. His stellar play was rewarded by being selected for both the 2011 McDonald’s All American Game and this year’s Jordan Brand Classic, in addition to starring on the U17 USA Basketball squad.
He did finish ranked among the Top 50 players in the nation by ESPN but was considered only the 7th best PF in the class. He has tremendous low post skills with his back to the basket and loves to shoot the jump hook and turn-around jumper from within 10-12 feet but must work on expanding his range to excel in the pick-and-roll heavy NBA. He has tremendously soft hands enabling him to corral rebounds and maneuver in tight spots with ease.
O’Bryant was courted heavily by Georgia Tech, Ole Miss, Maryland, and Mississippi before choosing on LSU prior to his senior season.
Coach Johnson surely hopes that with losing 10 lbs and getting acclimated to the college game in a timely fashion will make O’Bryant the game-changing player that the freshman already thinks he is. O’Bryant might want to chose his words more carefully in the future since Mississippi State forward Reynardo Sydney is still stuck in the college ranks after making similar comments 2 seasons ago.
Check out O’Bryant in action during his senior season:
Allen Moll has been a lifelong NBA and NCAA College Basketball fan who watches and studies games religiously, and coaches youth basketball in his native Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. Allen also provides content to Bleacherreport.com, Upperdeckblog.com, in addition to being a tenured NBA and NCAA columnist for TheHoopDoctors.com.
