On the playgrounds, one will often hear "Get Buckets." The self-explanatory phrase means to score points on the basketball court. For the Freedom Falcons, they turn to 2013 guard James O'Neal for this all-important task.
O'Neal is the No. 30 ranked 2013 prospect according to NorCalPreps.com as he is averaging 16 points in league games as the Falcons are 17-5 and are in a fight for the Bay Valley Athletic League title. He put up 18 points against Heritage, 28 points against Deer Valley, and 18 points against Liberty. But things have not always been so rosy for the 6-foot-2 and 160 pounds scoring machine.
Freedom Head Coach Drew Torres comments on O'Neal's maturation. "James has really grown as an individual in the past year. He is taking his workouts in the weight room more seriously and he is stepping up as a leader. Also, last year, he let things outside of his control affect his game such as referees. This year, he has done a great job of not letting things outside of his control affect his game. I tell him that the only person that can stop him is he. It has been very rewarding to watch him mature and grow as a person."
O'Neal has a wiry frame but has the ability to score both on the perimeter and taking the ball to the basket. His accuracy and aggressiveness to the basket also gets him to the free throw line often. And left alone from the three-point mark, O'Neal can consistently convert.
But Torres does not see O'Neal as only a scorer. "James' strengths are his court vision, passing ability, dribbling with either hand, finishing at the rim, outside shooting, and defense on and off the ball. He is very skilled. He also has a very high basketball IQ," said Torres. "On the court, James has a calm demeanor. He is very confident in his ability. He is a leader by example during games and has become more of a vocal leader during practices. He is very unselfish. He gets as much gratification in assists as he does with scoring. He also has a knack for knowing when to take over a game."
According to Coach Torres, O'Neal has heard from various colleges but Northern Colorado and the Pacific have expressed the most interest. As a result, a strong upcoming summer and senior year next year can help with his recruiting.
"I believe James can play at the Division 1 or 2 level," says Torres. "In order to do that, he needs to get quicker and stronger. He also needs to work on getting his shot off quicker since there is less time and space at the next level. James has the best court vision of anyone that I have ever coached. He is able to pass off the dribble with either hand. His teammates love playing with him because he is so unselfish."
Expect Freedom to be a postseason threat in the current season. If any spectator in Oakley, California hears the phrase, "Get Buckets," then do not be surprise to see O'Neal scoring in waves.
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