Recruiting Report: Brady O’Connell (2019)
Already with one Division I offer to his name, Milton 6’7 point-forward Brady O’Connell seems one the verge of breaking out this year.
The junior is enjoying some success as a starter for the Eagles this season, and says that though he’ll likely play the guard position in college, he’s embracing the opportunity to toughen up as a post for his high school squad.
“I’ve been working a lot on my ball-handling and my shooting, and finishing at the basket. And for college, I think I’ll probably play lead guard, because when I attack, I have great vision,” said O’Connell. “But right now, for my team, I’m playing more of a four and five and playing real physical down there; and I think that will help me in the long run.”
O’Connell mentioned what his role is this season with Milton, and what he strives to accomplish each night out with his squad.
O’Connell on his visit to Lipscomb“For right now, we’re just trying to get everyone ready for regional play. And I’m trying to get a lot of rebounds for the team as a role player,” he said. “And I’ve been working on my defense lately, and helping the team out as much as I can, and just really trying to be a team leader.”
As for his recruitment, it was Western Carolina that granted O’Connell his first offer, just before his sophomore season started. He’s seeing interest come in from other D1s of late.
“Obviously, I want to get to college, I have an offer from Western Carolina, and then interest from schools like Lipscomb, I went on a visit there. And then there’s some schools that are interested in me, that I need to go on some visits to,” said O’Connell.
“But, ya, that’s the whole goal is to just go to college.”
With a brother at Duke, Alex O Connell, Brady (whose dad, Dave, also played at Duke in the 70s) has seen the recruitment process work. And though he did not play grassroots ball last season, he says he’ll play 17U ball this summer.
He’ll decide what program he’ll play with sometime soon, and is eager to see his recruitment potentially take off this spring and summer.
“I just really want my recruitment to spike. I just really want my name to get out there,” said O’Connell. “Obviously my brother plays at Duke, so that helps a little bit. But, I just really want to get my name out there, and get some high-major schools to notice.”