CENTRAL – A.J. Oliver’s basketball life began before he was introduced to the world.

During his nine months in the womb, his mom was an assistant coach at Virginia.

“Once the game would start, he would stop moving and be still the entire game,” said Audra Smith, who’s in her third year as Clemson’s head coach.

“It was almost as if he was in the womb watching the game.”

It’s been basketball ever since for Oliver, who committed to the Tigers on Tuesday at Daniel High School.

“A.J. being a coach’s kid, he’s got all the intangibles, in terms of being coachable and being a great kid,” said Austin Reid, a coach with the Upward Stars AAU basketball program. “He’s just wired exactly as you want him as a coach. He’ll do what you want him to do. He has no ego.”

Reid was the head manager at Clemson from 2009-13, so he recognizes high-major talent.

“He’s definitely a high-major scorer. That’s what he’s advertised as and that’s what he is. He’s a high-level shooter,” Reid said. “He’s really improved his driving ability and making a play. Defensively, he works as hard as anyone. That’s definitely an area that he can improve. Obviously, coach B is going to improve him. He’s a high-major player, in terms of scoring ability. He’s got great upside.”

Mom went into further detail.

“His dad and I are his worst critics,” Smith said. “Sometimes he plays, we’re like, A.J., you’re like a bad middle school player. Son, what are you doing?

“A.J. has always been a very good shooter. He’s an exceptional shooter. He’s definitely stepped up his game to a different level, to where now he has a very good mid-range game, can create off the bounce, get to the basket, finish with contact. Exceptional free-throw shooter, so the offensive piece, he has. He’s good. His ball-handling has improved tremendously.

“The defensive part, being a coach, that’s the biggest thing you have to teach. Granted, he’s just starting his junior year. That’s the biggest the adjustment we have to deal with as coaches — freshmen coming into college is that defense, because you’re dealing with strong, quicker, faster players.”

She added, “His game has elevated, it really has, but he’s got a long way to go. He needs to be stronger. I do feed him, I promise, but he needs to put weight on. I’m hoping that I can stretch another two inches out of him.

“His confidence level is there. He knows that he has to do a lot for his team. His passing ability is good, but it could be better, as well. The main thing we’re focusing on right now is for A.J. to be a much better defender.”