For any basketball team to be successful, it needs to "glue" players, those who do a little of everything. They score when needed, box out to get key rebounds, play defense, hustle, and basically do whatever is needed to help their team win. The glue guy for the McClymonds High Warriors is combination guard Lawrence "Steady" Otis, who is the No. 8 ranked player in the NCP 2012 boys basketball rankings.
As a sophomore last year, Otis was part of a very young Warriors team of the Oakland Athletic League (OAL) that finished 13-15 with a first round playoff loss to Castlemont 68-53. In the current season, Otis is teamed with talented junior teammates Dulani Robinson and Jamaree Strickland. However, Strickland was out for over the first half of the season as the team struggled early.
McClymonds High Coach Brandon Brooks says, "Lawrence's strengths on the basketball court are his vision and his creativity. He makes the game easy for his teammates but can score when he has to. I think he will be one of the best big guards in California who will be a major Division I player in the future. Lawrence is a student athlete who has a 3.0 core GPA and he is the team's comedian. At the NCAA level, he could be a great point guard if he works on the mental side of the game. Physically, he has the talent and is built like a linebacker. With the work ethic and the talent he has, he will make any college coach happy to have him on the team."
At 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds, Otis started playing organized basketball ten years ago. His older brother is Frank "Mook" Otis who was a 2008 McClymonds High forward and was at SMU before transferring to Weber State.
During the summer, Otis works on his defense and athleticism. In addition, he plays for his Drew Gooden Soldiers club team. Carl Foster, who was previously a Soldiers' coach, says about Otis, "Lawrence is a strong, powerful guard who is explosive off the dribble, with a competent jump shot, with a keen ability to draw fouls. He has a body that is already "collegiate" in size. He is a tough defender of both shooting guards and wings. He can rebound on both ends of the floor exceptionally well because of his size."
The recruiting process is early for Otis but Utah State and Washington State have been in contact with him. Foster says, "Lawrence profiles to be a High Mid Major Conference player at the shooting guard position. His biggest weakness is overall consistency. When he performs at his best, he is the best shooting guard prospect in the class of 2012."
With Strickland slowly getting back to full strength, McClymonds expects to challenge Oakland High for the OAL title. When Strickland returns to full strength, Otis will be able to roam the court more, pick up loose balls, break on transition, help out on defense, follow up on offensive rebound put backs, and anything else needed by the team. Otis will be able to be the glue that puts everything together for the Warriors on the basketball court in Oakland.
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