Adrian Oliver
Encyclopedia
Adrian McClinton Oliver is an American
professional basketball shooting guard
. In college, Oliver played for the University of Washington
from 2006 to 2007 and San Jose State University
from 2008 to 2011. For the 2009–10 season, Oliver was among the top ten scorers of college basketball.
, Oliver was raised by his single mother and grandparents after his father left the family when he was seven. Oliver graduated from Modesto Christian High School and graduated in 2006. He was a two-time, first-team all-state player who averaged 25.5 points as a senior and 26.1 points as a junior. Adrian Oliver's uncle Allen Oliver coached the Modesto Christian team while he played there.
and Kentucky
, Oliver attended the University of Washington
from 2006 to 2007. At Washington he played in 38 games including 12 starts and averaging 4.7 points in 32 games in 2006–07, and 2.8 points in 6 games in 2007. Oliver was part of the recruiting class which included 2006 NBA draftee
Spencer Hawes
.
On December 4, 2007, Oliver announced that he would leave Washington for personal reasons; his mother and stepfather could not move to Seattle. In a 2010 interview with Metro Silicon Valley, Oliver revealed that he transferred to SJSU because he received a phone call stating that his grandparents were ill. The day before visiting the campus while exploring schools where to transfer, Oliver first learned about SJSU. Under NCAA rules, Oliver sat out of the basketball team for one year after transfer until December 2008.
point guard
Justin Graham
in an Amateur Athletic Union
team. At San Jose State, Oliver majors in sociology
. On December 20, 2008, Oliver debuted for San Jose State and scored 27 points in an 89–78 victory against Northern Colorado. On November 20, 2009, Oliver and his San Jose State team visited Oliver's former school Washington for a game; the Spartans lost 80–70. That game was the first and only time Oliver would play against his former team.
Averaging 22.5 points per game, Oliver was tied for fifth nationally with Devan Downey
of South Carolina
among the leading college basketball scorers of 2009–10. SJSU ended the 2009–10 season with a 14–17 record after being 12–8 at one point in February 2010; SJSU coach George Nessman
commented, "That hit Adrian harder than anybody" and "Adrian always has been a really competitive kid, but he's really owning the team's results now." With his high scoring statistics, Oliver was seen as a key to SJSU having its first winning basketball season in nearly 20 years.
On January 26, 2010, Oliver won the Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week Award from the U.S. Basketball Writers Association for games ending the week of January 24, 2010. He was also selected as WAC Preseason Player of the Year prior to the 2010–11 season. During the summer before his senior season with the Spartans, Oliver worked with a personal trainer and played pickup basketball in Las Vegas, Nevada
with NBA players like Chuck Hayes
, who attended Modesto Christian High. Oliver graduated with his bachelor of science degree in sociology with a concentration in criminology in May 2010.
When San Jose State beat Oregon
75–72 on November 20, 2010, that was the first time SJSU beat a Pac-10 team since 1992. Prior to that game, Oliver had 1,066 career points, the 10th-highest all-time total among Spartans men's basketball players. By December 2010, Oliver became the Spartans' lead scorer, having scored 34 points in the season opener 67–60 victory against Eastern Washington
and 35 points in an 80–77 victory over UC Riverside. The San Francisco Chronicle
reported that Oliver was the top scorer of all San Francisco Bay Area
college basketball players.
In the 2011 WAC Men's Basketball Tournament
, eighth-place San Jose State beat fifth-place Hawaii
75-74 after Oliver scored a jumper with 5 seconds left. The Spartans then defeated fourth-place Idaho
74-68. However, in the semifinal game, San Jose State lost to first-place Utah State
58-54. Oliver missed a potentially game-winning three-pointer with eight seconds remaining in the second half, and Tai Wesley
made two free throws to seal the victory. San Jose State finished 2010-2011 with a 17-15 record including 5-11 in regular season WAC play.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional basketball shooting guard
Shooting guard
The shooting guard , also known as the two or off guard, is one of five traditional positions on a basketball team. Players of the position are often shorter, leaner, and quicker than forwards. A shooting guard's main objective is to score points for his team...
. In college, Oliver played for the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
from 2006 to 2007 and San Jose State University
San José State University
San Jose State University is a public university located in San Jose, California, United States...
from 2008 to 2011. For the 2009–10 season, Oliver was among the top ten scorers of college basketball.
Early life
Born in Modesto, CaliforniaModesto, California
Modesto is a city in, and is the county seat of, Stanislaus County, California. With a population of approximately 201,165 at the 2010 census, Modesto ranks as the 18th largest city in the state of California....
, Oliver was raised by his single mother and grandparents after his father left the family when he was seven. Oliver graduated from Modesto Christian High School and graduated in 2006. He was a two-time, first-team all-state player who averaged 25.5 points as a senior and 26.1 points as a junior. Adrian Oliver's uncle Allen Oliver coached the Modesto Christian team while he played there.
University of Washington
Turning down scholarship offers from GonzagaGonzaga University
Gonzaga University is a private Roman Catholic university located in Spokane, Washington, United States. Founded in 1887 by the Society of Jesus, it is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities and is named after the young Jesuit saint, Aloysius Gonzaga...
and Kentucky
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
, Oliver attended the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
from 2006 to 2007. At Washington he played in 38 games including 12 starts and averaging 4.7 points in 32 games in 2006–07, and 2.8 points in 6 games in 2007. Oliver was part of the recruiting class which included 2006 NBA draftee
2006 NBA Draft
The 2006 NBA Draft was held on June 28, 2006 at the Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City and was broadcast in the United States on ESPN. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players,...
Spencer Hawes
Spencer Hawes
Spencer Mason Hawes is an American basketball player who is currently playing for the Philadelphia 76ers. He was selected by the Sacramento Kings in the 2007 NBA Draft and is the nephew of Steve Hawes, a retired NBA player.-High school:Hawes played center at Seattle Prep, an elite college-prep...
.
On December 4, 2007, Oliver announced that he would leave Washington for personal reasons; his mother and stepfather could not move to Seattle. In a 2010 interview with Metro Silicon Valley, Oliver revealed that he transferred to SJSU because he received a phone call stating that his grandparents were ill. The day before visiting the campus while exploring schools where to transfer, Oliver first learned about SJSU. Under NCAA rules, Oliver sat out of the basketball team for one year after transfer until December 2008.
San Jose State
Oliver last played basketball with San Jose State SpartansSan José State Spartans
The San Jose State Spartans is the name of the athletic teams representing San Jose State University. SJSU sports teams compete in the Western Athletic Conference at the NCAA Division I level...
point guard
Point guard
Point guard , also called the play maker or "the ball-handler", is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position – essentially, he is expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that...
Justin Graham
Justin Graham
Justin Jaymes Graham is an American professional basketball player for the Bakersfield Jam of the NBA Development League. Graham played college basketball at San Jose State University.-Early life and high school:...
in an Amateur Athletic Union
Amateur Athletic Union
The Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
team. At San Jose State, Oliver majors in sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
. On December 20, 2008, Oliver debuted for San Jose State and scored 27 points in an 89–78 victory against Northern Colorado. On November 20, 2009, Oliver and his San Jose State team visited Oliver's former school Washington for a game; the Spartans lost 80–70. That game was the first and only time Oliver would play against his former team.
Averaging 22.5 points per game, Oliver was tied for fifth nationally with Devan Downey
Devan Downey
Devan Deangelo Downey is an American professional basketball player.-Amateur career:He was born in Chester, South Carolina where he attended Chester High School. Named S.C. Class AAA Player of the Year and Mr...
of South Carolina
South Carolina Gamecocks men's basketball
The South Carolina Gamecocks men's basketball team represents the University of South Carolina and competes in the Southeastern Conference. The program attained national prominence under hall of fame coach Frank McGuire, posting a 205-65 record and three NCAA Sweet 16 appearances from 1967-1976...
among the leading college basketball scorers of 2009–10. SJSU ended the 2009–10 season with a 14–17 record after being 12–8 at one point in February 2010; SJSU coach George Nessman
George Nessman
George Nessman is an American college basketball coach and the current head men's basketball coach at San José State University. Nessman coached at the high school and community college levels before becoming an assistant basketball coach for University of California, Berkeley.-Education and high...
commented, "That hit Adrian harder than anybody" and "Adrian always has been a really competitive kid, but he's really owning the team's results now." With his high scoring statistics, Oliver was seen as a key to SJSU having its first winning basketball season in nearly 20 years.
On January 26, 2010, Oliver won the Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week Award from the U.S. Basketball Writers Association for games ending the week of January 24, 2010. He was also selected as WAC Preseason Player of the Year prior to the 2010–11 season. During the summer before his senior season with the Spartans, Oliver worked with a personal trainer and played pickup basketball in Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
with NBA players like Chuck Hayes
Chuck Hayes
Charles "Chuck" Edward Hayes, Jr. is an American professional basketball player. He is 6'6", 238 pound center/power forward who last played for the Houston Rockets of the NBA...
, who attended Modesto Christian High. Oliver graduated with his bachelor of science degree in sociology with a concentration in criminology in May 2010.
When San Jose State beat Oregon
Oregon Ducks men's basketball
Oregon Ducks men’s college basketball is an intercollegiate basketball program that competes in the NCAA Division I and is a member of the Pac-12 Conference, representing the University of Oregon. The Ducks play their home games at Matthew Knight Arena. Oregon, then coached by Howard Hobson, won...
75–72 on November 20, 2010, that was the first time SJSU beat a Pac-10 team since 1992. Prior to that game, Oliver had 1,066 career points, the 10th-highest all-time total among Spartans men's basketball players. By December 2010, Oliver became the Spartans' lead scorer, having scored 34 points in the season opener 67–60 victory against Eastern Washington
Eastern Washington Eagles
The Eastern Washington Eagles are the intercollegiate varsity athletic teams of Eastern Washington University, located in Cheney, Washington. The athletic program comprises five men's sports: basketball, cross country, football, tennis, and track and field, and seven women's sports: basketball,...
and 35 points in an 80–77 victory over UC Riverside. The San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco Chronicle
thumb|right|upright|The Chronicle Building following the [[1906 San Francisco earthquake|1906 earthquake]] and fireThe San Francisco Chronicle is a newspaper serving primarily the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, but distributed throughout Northern and Central California,...
reported that Oliver was the top scorer of all San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
college basketball players.
In the 2011 WAC Men's Basketball Tournament
2011 WAC Men's Basketball Tournament
-References:...
, eighth-place San Jose State beat fifth-place Hawaii
Hawaii Rainbow Warriors basketball
The Hawaii Rainbow Warriors basketball team represents the University of Hawaii at Mānoa in NCAA men's competition. The school's team currently competes in the Western Athletic Conference. The team's most recent appearance in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament was in 2002...
75-74 after Oliver scored a jumper with 5 seconds left. The Spartans then defeated fourth-place Idaho
Idaho Vandals men's basketball
The Idaho Vandals men's basketball team represents the University of Idaho, located in Moscow, Idaho, in NCAA Division I basketball competition. They currently compete in the Western Athletic Conference...
74-68. However, in the semifinal game, San Jose State lost to first-place Utah State
Utah State Aggies men's basketball
The Utah State Aggies are a Division I men's college basketball team that plays in the Western Athletic Conference, representing Utah State University. The Aggies have enjoyed an extremely high amount of success in recent years under head coach Stew Morrill...
58-54. Oliver missed a potentially game-winning three-pointer with eight seconds remaining in the second half, and Tai Wesley
Tai Wesley
Tai William Evans Wesley is an American professional basketball forward for EiffelTowers of the Dutch Basketball League. He played college basketball at Utah State University.-Early life and college:...
made two free throws to seal the victory. San Jose State finished 2010-2011 with a 17-15 record including 5-11 in regular season WAC play.