Hello! First time on the site, looks good discussion. Some of you may remember me as the redhead that came off the bench a few years ago for the basketball team.
I don't usually do this type of thing, but I need your help. We need to get this kid at least a look from our FB recruiters. Anyone that watches the video and sees what I see in this kid, please help. Here is the story:
I am in Atlanta this summer for an internship and I went to play ball(basketball that is)last week. Oli and I end up on the same team, and this guy is an absolute ball hawk. First game he has 7 steals, every rebound, and looks like Russell Westbrook with the speed burst on the break. Wow. And this is ball in Atlanta, guys, so you can imagine the demographic of who we are playing against. He's doing this against athletes. Games 2 through 10 looked similar as Oli cleaned up every rebound, etc. and I pitched enough scoring to hold the court.
I've played open gym with a lot of BYU football players and I'm telling you, they didn't move like this guy. Makes Mike Reed look slow. Cole Miyahara was the closest athletically that I've seen but didn't have the same toughness and a nose for the ball like this guy did. And Oli wanted to win. Most of the time, these skills translate to the football field.
Anyways, Oli moved from Samoa to Missouri his senior year. He then quickly had to break in to an established rotation at a pretty good 5A school in a state where they play good football. By the end of the season, he ends up being 2nd team All-state Missouri and leading the team in tackles and INTs in 5A ball. First year of competitive football.
Again, he's the most athletic guy I've played ball with in a long time, with good instincts. He at least deserves a phone call, I really think our recruiters just missed him.
He has 4 years eligiblity left, he moved with his family to Atlanta this year at the request of his mom and is just waiting around to go on a mission or decide what to do next, I think. Lets help him out. Anybody have a contact? My contacts are all hoops-related.
Video:
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/82866/highlights/276981#.T-tnmlYN1c4.email
Google his name, Oli Tauiautusa to see stats and articles
