Prep Hoops Featured Player: Amare Oba Ready To Rock

Las Vegas, NV   For most what comes to mind when they think of Las Vegas is gambling, however, make no mistake, it's a sure bet that you can find a prep basketball star somewhere in the city of Casinos. In recent years players like Dashien Nix of the Houston Rockets, Jaden Hardy of the Dallas Mavericks and Julian Strawther of the Denver Nuggets all spent their prep careers honing their skills in Vegas. Underneath the backdrop and bright lights of Sin City a new player has emerged, preparing to stake his claim as the cities next up. [player_tooltip player_id='1490283' first='Amare' last='Oba'] is a 6'5 SF from Henderson, Nevada who will be attending Red Rock Academy this season. I first got introduced to him when he was a camper at the Las Vegas Middle School Combine. Even at a young age, you could spot the physical tools, however, he was a reluctant shooter who almost seemed embarrassed by his physical gifts. He came away from that camp with a reputation as a raw, but talented prospect. Fast forward almost two years and the reluctance is gone. Oba has turned into an uber-bouncy, deadly scoring weapon with deep three-point shooting ability. He spent his freshman season learning the ropes for defending state champ and 5A powerhouse Liberty, playing well enough to attract the eye of one of the top grassroots programs in the country, Southern California's Dream Vision, giving him a chance to display his talents on a National scale. After a Grassroots season that saw him finish Top 2 in rebounding and scoring on the 3SSB circuit, he has become one of the fastest rising players in his class. His hard work this summer was rewarded with an offer from Big East power Creighton, and there will undoubtedly be more schools ready to fall in line for the services of the high academic wing. In addition to the work he puts in on the court, Oba completed his first year of high school rocking a 3.8 GPA. Whether it's his play at camps, or hammering home a jaw-dropping dunk, as a freshman in a state championship game, Oba always seems to capture the moment. A sentiment agreed on by his Dream Vision coach.   <blockquote class="wp-block-quote"> Amare is a very unique and talented player. Day one upon evaluation of his skills, I could tell that he had the “It” factor. </blockquote>   - Dream Vision Robert Dawson   Oba backs up the intangibles with effort, production, and physical skills that impress even the most seasoned of coaches including new coach Derek Thomas. Thomas is a lifer that knows talent, serving 5 years as head coach of Western Illinois before a stint as head scout and assistant coach with the NBA's Atlanta Hawks. He has high praise for the incoming sophomore.   <blockquote class="wp-block-quote"> "He's a high energy player with a nose for the ball, a gym rat that can score in bunches. "I've seen a lot of (young) kids his size, and what separates Amare is how hard he plays" </blockquote>   - Red Rock HC Derek Thomas   With his meteoric rise, and the weight of mounting expectations growing, it would be understandable if the pressure got to the newly turned 16-year-old phenom, however, his close-knit family helps keep him grounded.   <blockquote class="wp-block-quote"> "He is a good player from a great family" </blockquote>   - Robert Dawson Dream Vision   That family includes his mom Tiffany who holds a Masters's degree in Administrative Security and is a responder wellness coordinator for Clark County fire department.   <blockquote class="wp-block-quote"> ” I am proud of Amare not just because of what he can do it on the court, But because of who he is as a young man and how he continues to grow and develop.” </blockquote>   His father Asi owns a bachelor's degree in business administration and is a Fire Engineer, with the Clark County Fire Department.   <blockquote class="wp-block-quote"> "When he was younger he was never considered to be one of the best players on his teams but he always had the ability to “raise the bar from the bottom” meaning everyone seemed to feed off his energy and play harder. He changed my life the moment he entered it, and I always knew that he would have that same positive impact on others." </blockquote>   Now the sophomore looks to leave a positive impact on a Red Rock program that shocked the high school world last year by upsetting powerhouse Arizona Compass. Oba enters as a key piece for this year's team and perhaps the foundation of the program. Through it all the 6'6 sophomore remains grounded, preferring to keep a team-first mindset when we sat down to talk.   Q: What is the one thing you want people to know about You?  AO: "That I'm a player that communicates with his teammates on defense or offense.    Q: Who do you model your game after?   AO: "Paul George"   Q: What did you learn playing with Dream Vision This year?  AO: "The biggest thing I learned was how to play with really good players"   This week, Oba takes his talents to North Carolina to participate in the CP3 Camp competing against some of the top players in the country. If past experiences provide any indication of future performances, then expect [player_tooltip player_id='1490283' first='Amare' last='Oba'] to capture the moment once again.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyGtbG--wK0 </div></figure>

Las Vegas, NV