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By File photoSAYING BYE-BYE TO THE BISON — Todd O’Brien, a freshman who had minutes in every game this past season, has left the program, according to Bucknell men’s basketball coach Pat Flannery. Though not official, word is that O’Brien may become a Hawk at St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia.
By Chris Brady
Standard-Journal
Tue Apr 15, 2008, 12:16 PM EDT
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LEWISBURG — The Bucknell men’s basketball team was dealt a blow recently when it was announced that promising freshman Todd O’Brien has left the program.
Bison head coach Pat Flannery announced O’Brien’s departure over the weekend at the annual year-end basketball banquet at the Langone Center.
O’Brien, at 6-11, made an impact with the Bison this year as injuries hampered the team early in the season and forced Flannery to give each of his three newcomers significant time off the bench.
O’Brien’s soft touch around the rim and knack for blocking shots earned him more than 16 minutes per game this season.
Though no official word has come down, O’Brien’s name has been linked with a transfer to St. Joseph’s. The Philadelphia school would have to accept his transfer before officially announcing it. Should he transfer to another basketball program, he will have to sit out a season per NCAA regulations.
O’Brien is from New Hanover, which is located halfway between Reading and Philadelphia.
His 42 blocks this season led the Bucknell team and ranked third in the Patriot League. O’Brien averaged 4.4 points per game and averaged 4.3 rebounds per game, which ranked second on the team. He started two contests and played in all 31.
O’Brien’s departure causes concern for the Bison in the post where only junior Josh Linthicum returns with any size — 6-11. Pat Flannery will welcome 6-8, 235-pound freshman Enoch Andoh next season, a promising prospect from a top-flight prep school in San Jose, Calif.
The Bison will also have Probese Leo, a 6-9 forward from the Bahamas, joining the frontline.
TheTruth
Players transfer from all schools. It's a part of the game with scholarships. I hope he finds what he is looking for at St. Joe's.
Lafalum
Transfers like this don't happen in healthy programs. This is a blow to the PL as well as Bucknell. This kid was an impact player and had a great future at Bucknell. It wasn't like he wasn't getting minutes or ink. I am saddend for the league..it is not a good thing.
Franks Tanks
Lafalum wrote:
Transfers like this don't happen in healthy programs. This is a blow to the PL as well as Bucknell. This kid was an impact player and had a great future at Bucknell. It wasn't like he wasn't getting minutes or ink. I am saddend for the league..it is not a good thing.
Perhaps he didnt like the school itself. Lewisberg is rather isolated and not for everyone. Perhaps he was struggling academically and is looking for an easier school. This is complete conjecture but there are plenty of non-athletic reasons that a player may transfer, especially in the PL where the athletes actually care about studies.
seenalot
Too bad he does not take the route of Don Griffen - as best as I recall he was the only kid who ever went from from BU hoops to LC. He might have even played with (or just prior to) Pat F.
TheTruth
I agree his transferring is not healthy for the league but this is part of the game with scholarships. It happens at all schools in all conferences. Like FrankTanks said, it could be for a whole host of reasons. Non-student-athletes transfer all the time with no press releases. Most of the time their reasons are more telling about the health of the college.
i wish him luck and hope the grass is greener.
bison137
seenalot wrote:
Too bad he does not take the route of Don Griffen - as best as I recall he was the only kid who ever went from from BU hoops to LC. He might have even played with (or just prior to) Pat F.
Griffin played for BU in the 74-75 season, two years before Flannery arrived. He played in most of the games that year and averaged 3.0 ppg.
Under PL rules, I think that an intra-league transfer would have to sit out two years.
seenalot
Had forgotten the two year role. Don's years at LC were a lot more productive than they were at BU.
