Jake O'Brien has one year left of NCAA eligibility and has decided to transfer from Boston University after they were deemed ineligible for tournament play. Apparently he is considering crossing Comm. Ave and playing for Steve Donahue at Boston College.
O'Brien sat out the entire 2011-12 season while recovering from his second foot surgery. His junior year, however, he was quite effective for the Terriers. He led the team in rebounding with 5.8 boards per game and added 11.6 points per game. For his efforts, he was named to the American East third team.
What would he bring to the Eagles if he chose to transfer to BC? Well, first off he'd bring some experience. Academically, he was a senior last year but still has one year left to play college basketball. That'd be a welcome addition to an absurdly young BC team. Last year, the Eagles found their "veteran leadership" from guys like John Cahill. While Cahill was great for the locker room and acted as another coach on the floor, it'd be nice to have a guy who provided both veteran leadership and could still contribute on the court. As a skilled 6-9 forward, O'Brien would instantly be one of the best big men on the Eagles' roster.
We're expecting big improvements from sophomores Dennis Clifford and Ryan Anderson -- O'Brien could help round out a solid three-man rotation.