UC Davis lands another commitment

UC Davis has done it again. First, Jim Les and Company secured the services of Utah wing Tyler Ott and now it's backcourter Olivier Betu of Worcester Academy in Massachusetts, by way of Montreal.

With a need for added athleticism and the ability to create, the Aggies have set a very solid foundation in what is really an initial recruiting class.

Jamie Sullivan, the head coach at Worcester Academy, lauded both Betu and also the Davis staff.

"Olivier loved the school and the coaches and was impressed by the system Coach Les will be using," Sullivan offered. "They [mentioning Les and Assistant Coach Chris Davis] did a great job recruiting him."

About his protege, Sullivan said, "Olivier is a quiet kid, a great kid with a tremendous family. He's 6-foot-1, 6-foot-2 and more of a scoring guard, very quick, athletic and can really stroke it. Olivier will thrive in the uptempo Phoenix Suns style offense Davis will be running."

He added, "Olivier is best when put in position to drive to the basket."

Others have described Betu as a natural scorer.

Here's Joey McKitterick, Betu's AAU coach, in a 2009 interview: "Olivier is one of the most intelligent people I have ever met. He translates this well onto the court.”

Betu weighs in the 160-165 pound range so added muscle will be necessary.

Sullivan also said Worcester Academy has a college style atmosphere akin to attending a university so his players usually find the transition elsewhere to be a smooth one.

It's important to note that Worcester plays in the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC), a very tough gathering of schools. A number of 19-year-olds (doing a prep year) dot the various rosters so competing against older players is the norm.