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Kelly Olynyk: From the Penticton Herald today:
No thread is complete without a pic, so here's one from another story we posted here recently:
One of country's top high school players comes to Penticton
James M. Miller, Managing Editor
02/22/2009
On this particular Friday night in Penticton, the area gymnasium is almost filled to capacity for a high school basketball game, a strange occurrence considering the home team is winless and most sports fans prefer to watch the BCHL’s Penticton Vees.
The star attraction this night is Kelly Olynyk, one of the best high school basketball players in the country and his South Kamloops Titans, the No. 1 ranked team in British Columbia. Olynyk recently signed a letter-of-intent with Gonzaga Bulldogs, one of the top NCAA programs in the U.S.
Parked outside the school is a yellow school bus used to transport both the girls’ and boys’ teams on their four-hour journey from Kamloops, a far cry from what he’ll experience next year when the Bulldogs travel first class.
Kamloops coasted to a 93-33 win over Pen-Hi and Olynyk’s minutes were limited to 18 in a 40-minute contest.
He finished the game with 14 points, often preferring to pass off or move out to the three-point line. Although the six foot, 10 inch player was unable to dunk (he saved those for warm-ups) he did bring the crowd to its feet with a half-court shot at the end of the second quarter plus an unbelievable blocked shot.
....
Very mature for his young age of 17, Olynyk carries an academic average of over 90 per cent.
James M. Miller, Managing Editor
02/22/2009
On this particular Friday night in Penticton, the area gymnasium is almost filled to capacity for a high school basketball game, a strange occurrence considering the home team is winless and most sports fans prefer to watch the BCHL’s Penticton Vees.
The star attraction this night is Kelly Olynyk, one of the best high school basketball players in the country and his South Kamloops Titans, the No. 1 ranked team in British Columbia. Olynyk recently signed a letter-of-intent with Gonzaga Bulldogs, one of the top NCAA programs in the U.S.
Parked outside the school is a yellow school bus used to transport both the girls’ and boys’ teams on their four-hour journey from Kamloops, a far cry from what he’ll experience next year when the Bulldogs travel first class.
Kamloops coasted to a 93-33 win over Pen-Hi and Olynyk’s minutes were limited to 18 in a 40-minute contest.
He finished the game with 14 points, often preferring to pass off or move out to the three-point line. Although the six foot, 10 inch player was unable to dunk (he saved those for warm-ups) he did bring the crowd to its feet with a half-court shot at the end of the second quarter plus an unbelievable blocked shot.
....
Very mature for his young age of 17, Olynyk carries an academic average of over 90 per cent.
Why Gonzaga?
Olynyk can rhyme off Bulldog stats quicker than any ESPN announcer. The seven-hour driving radius from Kamloops to Spokane, WA was only a small factor in his decision.
"I liked Gonzaga for many different reasons, a big one being coach Mark Few, who runs a top-notch program. It's a place where I’ll be able to play and make a different in a style that fits me, similar to the international game. They work with their athletes to complement their personal skills rather than relying solely on athletic ability."
While his physical stature is obvious, Olynyk possesses tremendous speed, amazing hands and a great understanding of the game.
"Kelly is a 6’10 kid who also has guard skills. He sees the floor better than any other guy I’ve coached," said South Kamloops coach Del Komarniski.
"Kelly’s ceiling is still ways ahead. He’s going to be a heck of a player. Right now, he’s just starting to grow into his body."
While signing the letter-of-intent remains his career highlight, he has two major goals between now and starting university. His high school team is 30-1 with its lone loss being an exhibition game to an American school, using U.S. rules. In the summer months he’s one of the youngest members of Canada's junior men’s national team which will play in the World championships in New Zealand. To reach the World championship, Canada had to place in the top three of a Tournament of Americas, winning the bronze medal game 80-65 over Puerto Rico.
Olynyk can rhyme off Bulldog stats quicker than any ESPN announcer. The seven-hour driving radius from Kamloops to Spokane, WA was only a small factor in his decision.
"I liked Gonzaga for many different reasons, a big one being coach Mark Few, who runs a top-notch program. It's a place where I’ll be able to play and make a different in a style that fits me, similar to the international game. They work with their athletes to complement their personal skills rather than relying solely on athletic ability."
While his physical stature is obvious, Olynyk possesses tremendous speed, amazing hands and a great understanding of the game.
"Kelly is a 6’10 kid who also has guard skills. He sees the floor better than any other guy I’ve coached," said South Kamloops coach Del Komarniski.
"Kelly’s ceiling is still ways ahead. He’s going to be a heck of a player. Right now, he’s just starting to grow into his body."
While signing the letter-of-intent remains his career highlight, he has two major goals between now and starting university. His high school team is 30-1 with its lone loss being an exhibition game to an American school, using U.S. rules. In the summer months he’s one of the youngest members of Canada's junior men’s national team which will play in the World championships in New Zealand. To reach the World championship, Canada had to place in the top three of a Tournament of Americas, winning the bronze medal game 80-65 over Puerto Rico.
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