Senior Spotlight: Mainland Regional’s Jake O’Neill has added consistency to his game

By GIUSEPPE UNGARO Managing Editor Even the biggest and most naturally gifted athletes on the planet still need time to reach their full potential. They need time to practice, time to experience competition, and time to develop. That was the case for Mainland Regional High School’s Jake O’Neill. The 6-foot-10 center spent his freshman year and part of his sophomore year at St. Augustine Prep in Richland before transferring to Mainland. As part of the Mustangs, O’Neill waited patiently behind older players such as Darius Jerkins and Kenny Randall. The wait was over last year, but he was far from a finished product. Although he certainly had his standout moments last year on the hardwood, the Northfield resident is better and more consistent this season. “He has improved quite a bit this year. And one of my assistants pointed out that he is a senior and he is 18 years old and he had the expectations because of his size and all, but this is really only his second year of playing varsity basketball,” Mainland coach Dan Williams said. “He didn’t get much, if any, time out in St. Augustine, an understandably so, they have some real studs out there. By the time he transferred over, we had Darius Jerkins and Kenny Randall, so he didn’t get a ton of time. Those two guys were very good and had experience. Jake O’Neill, a 6-foot-10 center for Mainland Regional, is a force in the paint, whether it is blocking shots or altering them. (Glory Days Magazine photos/Dave O’Sullivan) “He really stepped up. His scoring numbers might not reflect a huge improvement but he is up this year in rebounds and blocked shots. He really has become a defensive force for us. Even if people try to go to the hole he makes things challenging. Even if he is not blocking shots, he is in their heads, knowing that he is there to alter shots.” It’s not just size that makes O’Neill a force on the basketball court. The Mainland big man of course uses his height to rebound and block shots, but he also can score when needed and can pass the ball well. As for his defensive skills, O’Neill proved he is a force in the paint when he swatted 14 shots in a triple-overtime game against Pleasantville on Jan. 13. In that contest against the Greyhounds, O’Neill also pulled down 20 rebounds. O’Neill now feels much more comfortable on the court. It took some time, but his confidence is catching up to his skill level. “I think repetition instills confidence. That’s the biggest thing for me. I work on my game a lot during the offseason but being able to play 5-on-5 with refs allows me to get used to the feel of it. Now, every game I feel like I’m getting more confidence. That’s what really helped me step my game up.” Another reason why O’Neill has helped the Mustangs this season is that he no longer feels as much pressure. Admittedly, the Mustangs center put too much pressure on himself in the past. It wasn’t until Williams and others told him to just play and let the game come to him that he began to feel more relaxed. “I think in his own mind he felt like he needed to do so much more for our team, and he would force the issue too often instead of keeping things really simple,” Williams said. “But we want him to do those simple things tough and effectively. He was trying to do far too much. I think that wore on him and frustrated him because they weren’t necessarily getting done, at least not consistently. Now he is playing a much more simple game.” “I have been trying to keep it simple, keep the game simple, focus on being a defensive factor, getting the rebounds and when I have opportunities to score, take advantage of them,” O’Neill said. O’Neill’s focus is on making the Mustangs a solid playoff team. Once the school year is over, O’Neill will focus on his next stop at Ursinus College in Pennsylvania. “The players and coaches are great and the campus felt like it was me,” he explained. “The coaches there were great. They run a system I will fit into. The big man can pass there.” O’Neill can do that — and much, much more. Contact Giuseppe Ungaro: gungaro@acglorydays.com; on Twitter @GDgisepu [adsense]