Devin Oliver led the University of Dayton to an Elite Eight appearance as a senior co-captain in 2013-14. The versatile left-handed forward led the Flyers in minutes (29.9), rebounding (7.4) and assists (2.3), and was second in scoring (11.2). He also shot .484 (149-308) from the field, .396 (42-106) from three-point range and .763 (100-131) from the line.
Oliver was also named UD’s Chris Daniels Memorial Most Improved Player, earning him the distinction of being the first two-time Most Improved Player and the only Flyer to be named MVP and Most Improved Player in the same season.
Even though he was named the 2013 Chris Daniels Most Improved Player by improving his scoring average four points to 8.9, his shooting percentages were nowhere near his hard work in the off-season put them his senior year. After shooting .468 from the field, .283 from 3-point range and .628 from the line as a junior, he is shooting .494 (127-257) FG, .398 (33-83) from beyond the arc and .810 (85-105) FT this season. If the Daniels Award was determined by career improvement, the Kalamazoo Central High School product would have still earned the award going away. In 32 games as a freshman, he averaged just 1.4 points while shooting .322 FG, .158 from three, and .375 FT.
Oliver was named Third Team All-Atlantic 10 and to the EA Sports Maui Invitational All-Tournament Team.
He was also the subject of a tweet from President Barack Obama after Dayton’s win over Syracuse that propelled the Flyers into the Sweet Sixteen. Oliver had met the President as a high school senior, when he was part of a team that produced a winning entry in a national “Race To The Top” competition. The prize was a commencement address by President Obama, and graduates received their diploma from the nation’s leader.
When Oliver received his diploma, he cheekily challenged Obama to a quick game of one-on-one after the ceremony. The story was told during the Syracuse game telecast, and after the win Oliver received a congratulatory tweet and a message of “I may need to take you up on that pick-up game one of these days.”
2012-13
Devin Oliver saw action in all 31 of the Flyers’ games during the 2012-13 season, which included 26 starts. He led the Flyers in rebounding (7.8 rpg), which ranked fifth in the Atlantic 10. He led the team in steals with 36 and was fourth on the team in scoring with 8.9 points per game. Oliver connected on .468 (104-of-222) of his shots from the field and hauled in a total of 243 rebounds. Oliver totaled 883 minutes (28.5 mpg) and had 277 points for the 2012-13 season.
Oliver won the team’s “Shorty” Sharpenter Memorial Rebounding Trophy as he was the team’s top rebounder, and won UD’s Chris Daniels Memorial Award as the team’s most improved player.
Oliver scored 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting and hauled in eight rebounds against Boston College in the Charleston Classic. In the next game in the Charleston Classic, Oliver scored 12 points and hauled in six rebounds against Auburn. The Boston College game started a string of five consecutive games where Oliver scored in double-figures.
Oliver had a double-double of 10 points and 12 rebounds against Manhattan. He had another double-double of 15 points, 10 rebounds and six assists vs. Miami. Oliver then followed that up with another double-double of 13 points and a career-high 14 rebounds against Florida Atlantic.
Oliver tallied his fourth double-double of the season at USC as he tallied 11 points, including the game-tying lay-up to send the game into overtime, and 12 rebounds. At VCU, Oliver scored nine points, hauled in 11 rebounds, dished out five assists and swiped four steals.
Against Temple, Oliver had 12 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the season. He scored 12 points, grabbed six rebounds and had two steals at Rhode Island.
Oliver was named College Sports Madness Atlantic 10 Player of the Week after his efforts at Charlotte and at home against Richmond. Oliver had double-doubles in both games as he scored 16 points and hauled in 11 rebounds at Charlotte and had 19 points and 10 rebounds vs. Richmond.
2011-12
Devin Oliver played in all 33 of UD’s games, including eight starts. The left handed forward played a total of 676 minutes (20.5 mpg) while tallying 162 points (4.9 ppg) and hauling in 164 rebounds (5.0 rpg). Oliver shot .418 from the field (56-of-134) and .741 from the foul line (43-of-58).
Oliver earned the team’s Uhl Family Endowed Scholarship, which is given annually to the UD player who best exemplifies the qualities of good sportsmanship and character, and follows the University’s creed of “Learn, Lead, and Serve” on and off the court.
Against Buffalo, Oliver had seven points on 2-of-4 shooting and hauled in seven rebounds. He scored 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting and snagged five rebounds versus USC Upstate. Oliver scored nine points on 3-of-5 shooting and hauled in eight rebounds against Illinois-Chicago. At Saint Bonaventure, he tallied eight points and grabbed six rebounds. Versus Duquesne, Oliver scored nine points on 3-of-4 shooting. Against Charlotte, he netted 14 points on 4-of-8 shooting from the field and hauled in six rebounds.
At Duquesne, in Oliver’s first career start, he scored eight points on 4-of-6 shooting and grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds. In the following game versus Massachusetts, he netted 10 points and snagged seven rebounds. In the regular season finale versus George Washington, Oliver just missed a double-double with nine points and nine rebounds.
In the first round of the Atlantic 10 tournament against George Washington, Oliver played a career-high 37 minutes. In that game he scored a career-high of 19 points on 8-of-13 shooting from the field and hauled in eight rebounds. In the quarterfinals of the Atlantic 10 tournament versus Xavier, Oliver scored eight points and grabbed eight rebounds.
2010-11
Devin Oliver played a total of 305 minutes (9.5 mpg) in 32 games for the Flyers during the 2010-2011 season. He totaled 44 points (1.4 ppg) and 74 rebounds (2.3 rpg) for the season. Of all the players on the Flyers roster 6-7 and under, Oliver placed only behind Chris Johnson in offensive rebounds with 17.
Against Florida A&M, Oliver hit his first collegiate three and finished with five points and three rebounds. At U.S. Bank Arena against Cincinnati, he snagged for a career-high eight rebounds.
Oliver recorded a career-high of eight points on 3-of-4 from the field, including 2-of-3 from downtown against Winthrop. In the win over Fordham, he netted four points and hauled in six rebounds, including a career-high four offensive rebounds.
Oliver scored four points in consecutive games at Duquesne and home to Saint Bonaventure. At Charlotte, he scored four points and hauled in three rebounds.
Oliver hauled in four rebounds in consecutive games at home against Duquesne and Xavier. In the home match-up with Saint Louis, he netted three points and snagged three rebounds. Against St. Joseph’s and Richmond in the A-10 tournament, Oliver recorded two points and three rebounds in each game.
High School
As a senior at Kalamazoo Central, Oliver averaged 17 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 2.5 steals.
He helped lead Kalamazoo Central to a top-three ranking in the state of Michigan Class A and to an undefeated record in the school’s division. He led Kalamazoo Central to a 74-65 victory over Ann Arbor Huron in the Class A State Tournament Final. Oliver had a game-high 26 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter. Kalamazoo Central finished that season at 27-1. Oliver was a two-time All-State performer and finished fifth for Mr. Basketball in the state of Michigan his senior year.
The 6’7” 200 pound small forward was named MVP of the 2010 Michigan Prep All-Star Game. Oliver just missed a triple-double as he led his All-Star team to a 101-98 victory with 24 points, 13 rebounds, 8 assists, and 3 steals.
Oliver also excelled in the classroom. He finished with a 3.86 grade point average in high school, and was part of a team of students who produced the winning video in the national Race To The Top Commencement Challenge. First prize was having President Barack Obama deliver the commencement address at Kalamazoo Central’s graduation.
Personal Data
Full Name: Devin Michael Oliver
Nickname: DMO
Son of: Kelvin Oliver and Amy Oliver
Siblings: Miya Oliver (17)
Birthday: July 2, 1992
Major: Electronic Media
High School Coach: Michael Thomas
AAU Team: Michigan Mustangs
Career Goal: To play in the NBA or become an ESPN broadcaster
Why I Chose UD: The coaches, family atmosphere, academic success, and winning program.
Dayton Career Highs
Points: 26, at Ole Miss (1/4/14)
Rebounds: 14, Florida Atlantic (12/15/12)
Assists: 6, Miami (12/8/12)
Steals: 4, at VCU (1/9/13)
Blocks: 2, Rhode Island (2/12/14); vs. Florida (3/29/14)
FGs Made: 11, at Ole Miss (1/4/14)
FT Made: 9, VCU (1/22/14)
Minutes: 39, at Ole Miss (1/14/14)
Flyer 5’s...
Andy Meyer (1992-96), Darnell Hoskins (1996-97), Chad Vorhis (1997-98), Nate Green (1998-2003), Nick Stafford (2004-07)
