Peoria Christian High School's Alex O'Neill gets scholarship offer from Bradley

[Da Coach]

Here is a discussion of redshirt, grayshirt, blueshirt, and greenshirt athletes-

http://informedathlete.com/old-shirt-new-shirt-red-shirt-blue-shirt

http://recruiting.scout.com/story/1509458-one-ship-two-ship-green-shirt-blue-shirt

Most of these cases (except redshirting) apply more to football, so coaches can recruit more athletes than they have scholarships for, but then get them working out with weight and conditioning coaches and prepare them to compete without wasting a scholarship year.

Though he does fit the blueshirt definition (used almost exclusively in football), I think Alex's situation is more of a mutually agreed on, classic redshirt, only without a scholarship the first year.

[Deadguy35]

I'm surprised by this. Not all scholarship players are meant to be starters, but is he someone that can even be counted on to provide depth? I have a hard time believing that he'll ever play a meaningful minute barring a drastic improvement to his game or a situation where a number of interior players on the roster are injured or ineligible.

Isn't this the same type of offer than Nebraska-Omaha made to him, which later caused him to back out of his commitment? Does he have any other D1 offers? I know Creighton was looking at him as a walk on.

[Da Coach]

I'm surprised by this. Not all scholarship players are meant to be starters, but is he someone that can even be counted on to provide depth? I have a hard time believing that he'll ever play a meaningful minute barring a drastic improvement to his game or a situation where a number of interior players on the roster are injured or ineligible.

Isn't this the same type of offer than Nebraska-Omaha made to him, which later caused him to back out of his commitment? Does he have any other D1 offers? I know Creighton was looking at him as a walk on.

I disagree. He is only 17 and skinny, but has a lot of potential. Even in the videos it's evident he has quick reflexes and good footwork, as well as good court awareness and quick, pinpoint passing. He's made tremendous progress from even a year ago when there wasn't a single D1 school looking at him. I think it's a great move. He does not cost Bradley a scholarship for this next year, and if his development doesn't progress, they can part ways. Nothing will be lost.
He is not being offered with the intent to provide depth this coming season.

[ihatetea]

Bradley has a lot of history of taking large guys and having them become productive players even if only in small roles...after they have been here a few years.

Egolf, Singh, Sticks to some degree, Wells to some degree, even guys like Heemskirk and Collins eventually got to the point where they could contribute.

Size is one thing you can't teach, give him a chance to mature physically and he could be at least a solid role guy. Not necessarily a waste even if he doesn't play the first two years.

[bradleyfan124]

I'm surprised by this. Not all scholarship players are meant to be starters, but is he someone that can even be counted on to provide depth? I have a hard time believing that he'll ever play a meaningful minute barring a drastic improvement to his game or a situation where a number of interior players on the roster are injured or ineligible.

Isn't this the same type of offer than Nebraska-Omaha made to him, which later caused him to back out of his commitment? Does he have any other D1 offers? I know Creighton was looking at him as a walk on.

Have you heard the story of the early college days of Frank Kaminsky at Wisconsin?