6-11 guard/forward Kelly Olynyk

[Jimmy Chitwood]

the only white recruit signed for the 2009-10 year for the previously very-white Gonzaga Bulldogs, Canadian phenom Kelly Olynyk is the total package.

The Big O's show may have been short, but it was long on history and highlights


By Howard Tsumura
<DIV ="line">VANCOUVER -- When comets are forecast to streak across the night sky, there is an understanding that while the view will be spectacular, the moments will be fleeting.
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<DIV ="clear">That's the best way to sum up the anticipation, the fireworks and ultimately the memories that Kelly Olynyk left during his four-day performance at the recently-completed B.C. boys Triple A basketball championships at the PNE Agrodome.
Although his South Kamloops Titans did not win the B.C. title, the 6-foot-11 guard-forward was picked the tournament MVP after doing something that may never again be repeated.
<DIV ="clear">
<DIV ="clear">Olynyk is believed to be the first player in the events' 64-year history to lead the field in scoring (36.5 points per game), rebounding (15.5 rpg) and assists (7.2 apg). He also tied for the tournament lead in blocked shots per game at 3.5.
<DIV ="clear">
<DIV ="clear">"You'll never see that again, no you won't," offers Richmond-R.C. Palmer head coach Paul Eberhardt who began watching games at the tournament as a grade schooler in the late 1970s and has coached Olynyk on provincial teams the past two summers. "I told everyone that I didn't think it was going to matter what place (South Kam) came in, that Kelly was going to be the MVP."
On Saturday, the best of B.C.'s graduating Class of 2009 will take part in the provincial high school all-star game at UBC (5:30 p.m., www.basketball.bc.ca/high school), but the streaking comet will not be there. Prior commitments to both Basketball Canada's elite development program and to junior national team meant a flight back east this past Monday for the Gonzaga-bound big man.
It's a shame, but his absence only seems to fuel the notion that no one got a chance to appreciate, over the full length of a high school playing career, everything that made him such a special player. And with that comes a mystique, a realization that if you missed his Agrodome performance, you missed something truly historical.
After all, in Grade 10 Olynyk was a 6-foot-3 point guard with the South Kamloops varsity. In Grade 11, he broke his left arm playing quarterback for the Titans football team and missed the entire basketball season.
Along the way he grew almost eight inches and never lost a hint of coordination, setting in place a single-season farewell tour that seemed to be over as quickly as it started.
But perhaps most amazing of all was that his play surpassed his massive pre-B.C. tournament hype.
Olynyk scored 30 the first game, 33 the second, 37 in an epic overtime loss to eventual champion St. George's, and then 46 in a third-place win over White Rock Christian Academy.
B.C.'s most ardent basketball purists would love the ability to go back in time and watch the likes of Lars Hansen, Steve Nash and J.D. Jackson as high school players. You can add Kelly Olynyk's name to that list.

Kelly Olynyk is literally head and shoulders above the competition, but early rumors have him taking a redshirt year at Gonzaga... while the numerousblack "canadians" Gonzaga signed are expected to be immediate big time contributors. this despite the fact that Olynyk thoroughly out-played them throughout his career. only in America...

Edited by: Jimmy Chitwood

 

[j41181]

I hope he does not red shirt for all our sake. He could be:

The next white superstar of basketball.
The next great Canadian baller (after Nash).
For his sake, he's not the next Bird, or next Dirk.

He overall looks promising. If he grows 2 more inches (6'10-7'0), and adds 50 pounds to his frame (205-255 lbs.), then you've got yourself another phenomenal basketball player. Best of luck to him!

 

[Jimmy Chitwood]

he doesn't need to grow another 2 inches and put on 50 pounds to become a phenomenal basketball player.

a 6-10 point forward? how many of those are there in the world?


sure, i'm certain he will need to get stronger (as virtually all high school players do), and that he will gain weight and get more explosive as he grows into his body, but to think he needs to become a super muscular center to be good makes me scratch my head.

 

[j41181]

he doesn't need to grow another 2 inches and put on 50 pounds to become a phenomenal basketball player.

a 6-10 point forward? how many of those are there in the world?


sure, i'm certain he will need to get stronger (as virtually all high school players do), and that he will gain weight and get more explosive as he grows into his body, but to think he needs to become a super muscular center to be good makes me scratch my head.

My mistake, I meant him being 6'10 and 225 or 235 lbs. (from 205 lbs.).

A point guard/forward you say? I doubt they will let him run the show and play the point, like the way Calathes is being given the chance in Florida. But the concept is very interesting, and if he does run the show and play the point, AWESOME!!!

 

[Jimmy Chitwood]

Kelly Olynyk has been named the Player of the Year in Canada.

[quotePLAYER OF THE YEAR: Kelly Olynyk - Forward - 6'10" - South Kamloops, British Columbia.


Kelly committed to West coast power Gonzaga in December and has an A+ academic average in the classroom. He scored 54 points in a game in late January in a tournament in Kelowna, BC. In the B.C. Triple "A" tournament, Olynyk took his team to the semi-finals where they lost in overtime. In three games in the tournament, Olynyk scored 100 points and had 47 rebounds. He was a member of Canada U18 basketball team which won a bronze medal in Argentina last July under coach Greg Francis.[/quote]

 

[Jimmy Chitwood]

Another Award for Olynyk. Outstanding high school basketball player in BC.

South Kamloops Titans basketball player Kelly Olynyk added another award to his trophy case this week.

The senior, who has committed to Gonzaga University, in Spokane, was named the Basketball B.C. outstanding high school player.

Olynyk led the Titans to a third-place finish at the B.C. High School AAA Basketball Championships at the Agrodome and was named the tournament's most valuable player.

 

[RBNY123]

he is very similar to duke's new five star recruit 6' 10" 210 pound power forward/point guard.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFYo8qH0eo8

 

[Jimmy Chitwood]

it's official. Kelly is now a Zag. i've not seen him play, but his resume indicates that he could be a special player.

SPOKANE, Wash. Kelly Olynyk (Oluh-nick), a 6-10, 215-pound forward/guard from Kamloops, British Columbia, has signed a letter-of-intent with Gonzaga <NOBR>University</NOBR>, head men's basketball coach Mark Few announced Thursday.

The South Kamloops High senior was named the Basketball B.C. outstanding high school player after leading the Titans to a 36-2 record and a third-place finish in the B.C. AAA High School Boys' Basketball Championships in March. Both losses came in overtime, including an 81-74 verdict to St. Georges in the championship semifinals after Olynyk fouled out at the end of regulation with 37 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists. He went 16-for-29 from the field, including 2-for-5 from 3-point range. South Kamloops was ranked No. 1 throughout the season.

Olynyk came back with 46 points in the bronze medal game, connecting on 15-of-30 field goal attempts, 4-for-8 from 3-point range and 12-for-14 from the free throw line. He also grabbed 15 boards, dished out 5 assists and had 5 blocks.

In the AAA Championship he led the tournament in scoring at 36.5 ppg with 146 points in four games, led in rebounding with 15.5 rpg with a game-high 19 in the second round, shot 52.8 percent from the field (56-for-106) and 39.1 percent from 3-point range (9-for-23) in <NOBR>earning</NOBR> MVP accolades. He paced the tourney in assists/game (7.2), blocked shots/game (3.8) and also averaged 2.2 steals/game to rank among the leaders.

"Kelly is an exceptional shooter and ball handler and will provide both an inside and outside presence for us," Few said. "He played point guard in high school and has great court awareness. He continues to develop his game and improve his skills."

In addition to playing for South Kamloops, he is also a member of the National Elite Development Academy which also includes incoming Gonzaga freshman Mangisto Arop of Edmonton, Alberta.

Last summer Olynyk was a member of the Canadian Junior Men's National Team and played in the FIBA
Americas U18 tournament in Formosa, Argentina.

Olynyk also quarterbacked the Titans football team, suffering a broken arm near his shoulder joint in a November, 2007, playoff game. He rehabilitated the shoulder, earned the spot with NEDA and capped his high school career with an outstanding season that saw him average 35.0 ppg and 13.0 rpg. He scored a career-high 54 points in a game in January.

 

[DixieDestroyer]

Even if they kept him at Guard, he'll need another 20-30 lbs of mass. Most likely they'll have him shifting between shooting guard, wing & some center. He'll need more weight to bang inside the paint. Looks like a very talented kid, and I wish him the best.

 

[j41181]

Kelly Olynyk's Highlight Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RYfHUkEmG0

Okay, I know the video doesn't tell the whole story, but he's very much like Dirk Nowitzki, Andrea Bargnani, and Donatas Montiejunas. He's got MaD Skillz and Hopz for a big-man!

WARNING!!!!!
Black Music!!!!

Edited by: j41181

 

[DixieDestroyer]

Kelly Olynyk's Highlight Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RYfHUkEmG0

Okay, I know the video doesn't tell the whole story, but he's very much like Dirk Nowitzki, Andrea Bargnani, and Donatas Montiejunas. He's got MaD Skillz and Hopz for a big-man!

WARNING!!!!!
Black Music!!!!

Thanks j41181! This kid is loaded with skill & athletic ability. I put the ol' laptop on mute whilst watching.

I also didn't notice too many "affletes" (1?) in that highlight film. Must not be that many in Western Canada?

 

[whiteathlete33]

Three white players are on the All America team.  Luke Harangody, Kyle Singler, and Cole Aldrich.  Aldrich will be a lottery pick and might even go in the top 5.  Most mock drafts had Harangody going in the second round.  That is a little dissapointing.  Aldrich should be a very good center in the NBA unlike past dissapointments like Chris Mihm.


Edited by: whiteathlete33