Summer Profile: Zac O'Dell

                                                                 Zac O'Dell

Let's say you had to play an entire basketball game without being able to shoot the ball once. Would you still be able to have an impact on the game?

Fewer people took more of a scoring hit from their norm this summer than Zac O'Dell, a senior hailing from local Schalmont HS that is their standout and consistent 20+ point scorer. He can score, don't get me wrong. His team, undefeated champion Team 518, just needed other things that he could provide more than they needed his scoring. He took a backseat from being 'that guy' in the box score and took the driver's seat of being 'that guy' in every other facet of the game with some points coming along the way, and the variety of things he brought to his team were not only essential to their success, but it was more than enough to garner him a 1st team selection.

The 6'5" (well, maybe 6'6" now) senior is no stranger to the accolades. He was the MVP of the Colonial Council and 4th team all-state in Class B this winter, and he's also highly regarded as a wide receiver in the fall. He also ranks very highly in the classroom, and his exploits in athletics mixed with his high academics have given him plenty of suitors for playing at the next level.

Colleges may have never seen him in this light before though. He still scored, but at 9.56 points per game, he's the only 1st team selection that didn't average double digits in the scoring column - the next lowest averaged 14. What we did was, simply put, everything else. He was a very effective rebounder on both ends, consistently racking up 7-10 boards. He showed his worth as a passer as well, using deceptively great court vision and passing ability to work a 2 man post game with teammate & MVP Andrew Sischo. O'Dell is also a great defender - his strength allows him to guard posts effectively, and his length & quickness allows him to defend guards. He often was given the task to shut down the opposition's best player after they had already started to go off, something he was always successful at. With the combination of those tools, he's impossible to effectively run a pick & roll against. He anticipates the action well and seemingly always makes the right play.

O'Dell is another (warning, buzzword coming) 'borderline scholarship kid'. He has received serious interest from dozens of Division III programs, and there has been some interest & inquiry coming from higher levels. Whatever level he ends up at and whatever school he goes to, he's bound to have a successful career - on the court and in the classroom - and give his coach some job security for 4 years.

Again, I ask: let's say you had to play an entire basketball game without being able to shoot the ball once. Would you still be able to have an impact on the game? Zac can give his team 20-30 points if his team needs 20-30 points, no problem. But Zac O'Dell was the best in the league at everything that his team needed him to be the best in the league at, and they dominated wire-to-wire - with another easy 1st team choice - because of it.


Zac O'Dell
Schalmont HS
Class of 2016
6'5"

9 games played
9.56 PPG
86 total points
Season High 14