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Stop me if you've heard this before, but Tony Bennett and UVA Men's Hoops are pursuing a transfer option. After adding Anthony Gill and pursuing other transfers like T.J. McConnell and Brian Sullivan, Virginia is still looking for a veteran player that can step right in and make a big impact. Jake O'Brien might be that guy.
O'Brien, a 6'9'' forward, played at Boston University for three years before redshirting the 2011-2012 season with a foot injury, an injury he suffered 14 games into his Junior season. Because O'Brien has finished his undergraduate studies at BU, NCAA transfer rules allow him to transfer to a school that offers a grad school program that BU doesn't offer, without sitting out a year. This is basically the same circumstance that allowed Quarterback Russell Wilson to transfer from NC State to Wisconsin for 1 season without having to sit out a year. Virginia is apparently very interested in bringing in O'Brien for 2012-2013, where he could, in a sense, step in for Anthony Gill, who has to sit out this season after transferring from South Carolina. Other schools O'Brien is considering are Providence, Temple and Boston College, and a decision is expected after he takes visits.
Jake O'Brien was the America East Conference Rookie of the Year in 2009, and made 3rd team All-Conference as a Sophomore. O'Brien started all but 2 games for the Terriers in his career, before he got hurt. The Weymouth, Mass. native averaged 12.9 points per game and 5.6 rebounds per game over his injury-shortened career at BU. One intruiging thing about O'Brien is that for a big man, he had a lot of success shooting from deep. O'Brien attempted 378 three pointers over his two and a half year career, making 36.5% of his attempts. A big man with that type of range would be a great asset for Virginia in Tony Bennett's system.
O'Brien is trying to get down to Charlottesville before making his decision, and if that visit takes place before the team travels to Europe in early August, this one could get really interesting. Stay tuned to Streaking the Lawn for all the latest on yet another UVA transfer saga.