Tyler Russell '24 Recruiting Profile

Basketball simply has saved my life. It has been my passion, my therapy, my joy, my escape since I was five years old.

My dad died when I was five ,my mom died when I was 14 and I have lived with my aunts since I was 11 years old. I grew up in a house filled with drugs and  really bad people, but my aunts open their doors to me and my sister and it has saved my life. My aunts put a basketball in my hand every time I would come and visit them and when I would go back into the bad situation with my parents that’s what I did to escape and to keep me safe.

I want to go to college and I want to become a teacher. My whole life I’ve struggled with learning disabilities and dyslexia and I’ve been grateful enough to be able to attend a school that understands my learning challenges. I want to be able to give back to kids that are like me and learn like me. I want to be able to teach kids how do use sports like basketball in a healthy way like I have.

I’m a good basketball player I want to continue in  College because I want to become a great basketball player! I love the sport it has meant more to me than most people can possibly imagine. My hope is that coaches will see through an average grade point average and understand that I am a smart ,intelligent young guy who has gone through more than most people will ever go through in a lifetime and I have survived and it’s all been because of the opportunities I’ve been given and the opportunity to play basketball.

Thanks for reading this. Don’t be afraid to take a chance on me.