The Independence men's basketball program is easily among the best around; they develop talent, keep their players, earn scholarships, and always seem to have a competitive roster to take into battle. As players like Matt Smith and AJ McKee depart, guys like Omarion Bodrick and Anthony Allen are ready and willing to rise to the occasion. These next two seasons should be particularly exciting to watch unfold, especially for Bodrick, who has a legitimate chance to become one of the top two-way prospects in the state. He still might be somewhat under-the-radar, but expect that to change by the end of summer.
We've been familiar with Bodrick for quite a while now. He's grown physically and has consistently gotten better over the years, but now looks ready to start truly dominating his competition. There's already so much to like about Bodrick and his approach to the game. He built his foundation by playing incredibly hard and establishing smart defensive habits, but has worked to become a pretty intriguing offensive threat with clear upside. Bodrick's feel for the game seems to improve each time he competes, even though he already understands how to carve out a role alongside any group of teammates. He possesses an exceptional frame with size, length, explosion, and unbelievable fluidity, which tends to make him a matchup problem against all types of opponents. Bodrick has a useful handle and a formidable jumper, but he typically doesn't force the action on offense and maintains a pretty unselfish mentality. He's a terrific cutter and constant threat to score in transition, but also does a great job of attacking the basket within the half-court. All that being said, Bodrick is even more impressive on the defensive side of the ball. Independence High School is like Team Charlotte in that they really embrace playing defense and setting the tone with IQ, toughness, and aggression. Bodrick exemplifies those traits with unwavering consistency and is a leader by example on that end of the floor. He's a defensive dynamo, given his rebounding and versatility, which allows him to force turnovers and defend all five positions at this level.
It's difficult to understand how Bodrick doesn't already hold at least a handful of scholarship offers, seeing as he could become a major building block for a variety of programs. Right now, it feels like he's simply underappreciated in the bigger scheme of things. He doesn't try to go for forty every night or look to score every time he touches the ball and is still a proven star. Bodrick embraces his strengths and weaknesses as well as anyone in North Carolina's Class of 2021, and should be regarded as a top-tier prospect sooner than later. Buy all the Bodrick stock now, as smart college coaches are certain to get involved with him before he blows up.
