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Growing taller, Oates steps up
HARRIMAN: The freshman at Don Bosco has grown two inches taller and added polish and confidence with an introduction to AAU competition.
By Kevin Gleason
The Times Herald-Record
kgleason@th-record.com
John Oates has one shoe box filled with college recruiting letters and is working on filling another. Quite an accomplishment given his size-16 feet.
They go nicely with his 6-foot-9 frame tailor-made for big-time basketball. Those numbers draw close examination in relation to another number: 15.
That's Oates' age.
Oates is a different player from the one who led the Sacred Heart CYO team in Monroe last year. One season with New Jersey-based Don Bosco and high-caliber off-season competition have done the trick.
Oates has fully introduced himself to AAU ball, New York City-style. He likes the flavor.
Oates, of Harriman, began playing regularly for AAU juggernaut Riverside Church last month. His game has mirrored the rise in competition.
"I found out those kids really want it and if I don't, I'm going to get chewed up,'' Oates said of his AAU culture shock early last summer. "It took me three, four months to believe I could play with these kids.''
Oates believes. He is more vocal and sure of himself on the court. His confidence seems to have grown with his body.
Oates is almost two inches taller and 25 pounds heavier than last year. Weight-lifting has resulted in a firm 215-pound body.
Oates figures his vertical jump has increased eight or nine inches as well. He used to get bruises on fingers from dunking. Now his forearms show bruises.
"I'm not cocky or anything like that,'' Oates said. "I know I can play with most kids. I know if I'm going to be the best player, I have to lead my team.''
New Jersey high school scouts are taking notice. Oates is ranked high by a number of analysts. New Jersey Hoops ranks Oates the No. 2 freshman in the state. Another ranking lists him the ninth best freshman in the tri-state area.
Oates especially enjoys the attention from colleges. St. John's, North Carolina, USC, Seton Hall, Tulsa, Florida, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest and Memphis are among the schools seeking Oates' services beginning in 2004.
Oates, carrying a B average at Bosco, feels no pressure from the added attention. Nor does he feel burned out from playing year-round.
His greatest adjustment in high school has been handling reduced minutes at Bosco, which allows players to bounce back and forth from jayvee to varsity. Oates averaged 19 points and 10 rebounds on the jayvee but six points with modest playing time on the varsity. Watching from the bench was a new experience.
"I was really frustrated, really angry,'' Oates said.
Oates got over it. Chalk up his frustration to another growth area: competitiveness.
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