| Billy Oliver |
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Oliver returns for his fourth season at Penn State after successfully completing his first healthy season last year. A strong passer with three-point range and strong perimeter skills, the 6-8 forward has also displayed the anticipation and long arms to block shots and grab rebounds around the rim. He has added 30 pounds to his frame since arriving on campus. A pair of concussions early in his true-freshman season sidelined him for 2008-09 and chronic exercise induced headaches limited him to five games in 2009-10. The Academic All-Big Ten honoree owns better than a 3.2 grade-point average in finance.
"He is shooting the heck out of the basketball. I have never seen someone shoot the ball the way he does. I love that a four man can stretch the defense and he can take it off two dribbles and do something with the ball, which nobody even knows about.
- Patrick Chambers
2010-11 • SOPHOMORE
Oliver saw his first action in his third season at Penn State and played in 32 games, averaging 14.3 minutes per game...averaged 2.3 ppg and 1.3 rpg and made 11 threes in 44 attempts on the year...scored in 19 games on the year...scored 10 points on 3-of-6 shooting and added three boards in a season opening win over Lehigh (11/12)...left the Duquesne game after getting hit in the head in the second half and suffering a headache...was held out of the subsequent game...scored nine points and had four rebounds in 23 minutes vs. Virginia Tech (12/12)...scored six points and had three boards in a Big Ten loss at Illinois (2/1)...Academic All-Big Ten honoree.
2009-10 • FRESHMAN
Oliver played in five games on the year before being sidelined with chronic exercise induced headaches in late December...he could potentially apply for a medical redshirt for the season and gain another season of eligibility...did not participate in any workouts in the final three months of the season...saw his first collegiate action with five minutes in the season-opening win over Penn (11/13)...scored his first points with a free throw vs. UMBC (12/8)...made his first career field goal in a win over Gardner-Webb (12/19)...returned to normal exercise in April...consultation with several doctors an specialists brought the headaches under control.
2008-09 • REDSHIRT
A pair of concussions suffered during pre-season and early season workouts sidelined Oliver and he elected to take a redshirt season...he used the time to hit the weight room and dining hall and added more than 20 pounds of muscle to his frame...displayed a high basketball IQ and deft passing in the Lions summer exhibition tour of Canada...posted point totals of eight and seven in the Lions' last two games.
HIGH SCHOOL
Oliver averaged 18 points, 10 rebounds and six blocks per game while leading Chatham to a 26-7 record in his senior season...he scored a school record 1,300 points on his career and earned team MVP honors in three seasons for the Cougars...he earned first-team All-County pick and was an All-time Group II selection as a senior while also earning nomination as a McDonald's All-American...a three-time team captain, he averaged 13 points, eight rebounds and four blocks per game as a junior helping lead the team to a 31-2 record and New Jersey state Group 2 championship...Oliver, who shot 39 percent from behind the three-point line, was named Morris County Player-of-the-Year, Star Ledger Player of the Year and a third team all-state selection by the Associated Press and New Jersey Hoops, which also ranked him among the top 20 seniors in the state...his team won Iron Hills Conference and Morris County titles...he posted 25 points, seven boards and 10 blocks in the MCT title game...Named the MVP of the county tournament and was also the Player-of-the-Year in the conference...played in a fast-paced, pressing system under coach Todd Ervin at Chatham, which helped the team win 30-straight games and earn an invitation to the NJSIAA Tournament of Champions
PERSONAL
The son of Bill and Laura Oliver...born on May 12, 1990...has a younger brother, Brian, and two younger sisters, Kate and Sarah...carried over a 3.0 grade-point-average and was voted Homecoming King...he is an accomplished piano player.
