Tyler Kolek (basketball)

Last updated
Tyler Kolek
Tyler Kolek passing to a teammate from George Mason vs. Fordham at Eagle Bank Arena in Fairfax VA, February 10, 2021 (Patrick Rouin - All-Pro Reels Photography).jpg
Kolek with George Mason in 2021
No. 13New York Knicks
Position Point guard
League NBA
Personal information
Born (2001-03-27) March 27, 2001 (age 23)
Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Listed weight195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school
College
NBA draft 2024: 2nd round, 34th overall pick
Selected by the Portland Trail Blazers
Playing career2024–present
Career history
2024–present New York Knicks
Career highlights and awards
Stats   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg at NBA.com

Tyler John Kolek (born March 27, 2001) is an American professional basketball player for the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the George Mason Patriots and the Marquette Golden Eagles. He was drafted as the 34th pick in the 2024 NBA draft by the New York Knicks.

Contents

Early life and high school career

Kolek grew up in Cumberland, Rhode Island and initially attended Cumberland High School. [1] He transferred to St. George's School prior to the start of his senior year. Kolek was named the Rhode Island Gatorade Boys Basketball Player of the Year as a junior after averaging 18.6 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 2.5 steals per game. [2] He committed to playing college basketball for George Mason over offers from Elon, Northeastern, Holy Cross, and Vermont. [3]

College career

Kolek began his college career at George Mason. [4] He was named the Atlantic 10 Conference Rookie of the Year as a freshman after averaging 10.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. [5] Following the end of the season, head coach Dave Paulsen was fired [6] and Kolek entered the NCAA transfer portal. [7]

Kolek ultimately transferred to Marquette. [8] He averaged 6.7 points per game and led the Big East Conference with 5.9 assists per game in his first season with the Golden Eagles. [9] Kolek was named the Big East Player of the Year and first team All-Big East as a junior. [10] [11] He was also named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2023 Big East tournament after averaging 18.7 points, seven rebounds, and five assists in the three games. [12] Kolek averaged 12.9 points, 7.5 assists, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.8 steals over 36 games on the season. [13]

Kolek was named the preseason Big East Player of the Year as well as to multiple preseason All-American teams entering his senior season. [14]

Professional career

New York Knicks (2024–present)

Kolek was selected with the 34th overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft by the Portland Trail Blazers, however, he was subsequently traded to the New York Knicks in exchange for the draft rights of Dani Díez and second-round picks in 2027, 2029, and 2030. [15] On July 5, he signed with the Knicks. [16]

Career statistics

Legend
  GPGames played  GS Games started MPG Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage 3P%  3-point field goal percentage FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game APG  Assists per game SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game PPG Points per game Bold Career high

College

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
2020–21 George Mason 221830.7.399.358.7943.62.31.3.110.8
2021–22 Marquette 323229.3.320.281.8103.75.91.4.16.7
2022–23 Marquette 363632.3.471.398.8024.17.51.8.112.9
2023–24 Marquette 313133.0.496.388.8514.97.71.6.215.3
Career12111731.4.436.355.8194.16.21.5.111.5

Personal life

Kolek's father, Kevin Kolek, a retired police officer, played college basketball at Southeastern Massachusetts University (now the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth) and was named the Little East Conference Player of the Year twice. [17] His older brother, Brandon, played basketball at Franklin Pierce University. [18]

Related Research Articles

Anthony George Douglas Mason was an American professional basketball player. In his 13-year career he played with the New Jersey Nets, Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks, Charlotte Hornets, Milwaukee Bucks, and Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association. He averaged 10.8 points and 8.3 rebounds in his 13-year NBA career. Mason earned the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award in 1995 and led the NBA in minutes played in the following two seasons. In 1997, he was named to the All-NBA Third Team and the NBA All-Defensive Second Team. He was selected to the 2001 NBA All-Star Game. Mason was a member of the 1993-1994 New York Knicks team that reached the NBA Finals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Novak</span> American basketball player (born 1983)

Steven Michael Novak is an American former professional basketball player who is currently a television analyst for the Milwaukee Bucks on Fox Sports Wisconsin. He is listed as 6'10", 225 lbs. He played college basketball at Marquette University. Novak split time at both small forward and power forward. He was the NBA regular season leader in three point percentage during the 2011–12 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marquette Golden Eagles</span> Sports clubs representing Marquette University

The Marquette Golden Eagles, formerly known as the Marquette Warriors, Blue and Gold, Gold, Hilltoppers, and Golden Avalanche, are the athletic teams representing Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They compete as a member of the NCAA Division I level, primarily competing in the Big East Conference for all sports since its establishment in 2013. The Golden Eagles are a founding member of the current Big East, having been one of the seven members of the original Big East that broke away to form a basketball-focused league. They had joined the original Big East in 2005, having previously competed in Conference USA (C-USA) from 1995–96 to 2004–05, the Great Midwest Conference from 1991–92 to 1994–95, and the Horizon League from 1988–89 to 1990–91. They also competed as an independent from 1916–17 to 1987–88. Men's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, tennis, and track & field, while women's sports include basketball, cross country, lacrosse, soccer, tennis, track & field and volleyball.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marquette Golden Eagles men's basketball</span> College sports team in Milwaukee, USA

The Marquette Golden Eagles men's basketball team represents Marquette University in NCAA Division I college basketball and competes in the Big East Conference. The team plays its home games at Fiserv Forum in downtown Milwaukee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jae Crowder</span> American basketball player (born 1990)

Corey Jae Crowder is an American professional basketball player for the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ryan Arcidiacono</span> American basketball player

Ryan Curran Arcidiacono is an American professional basketball player for the Windy City Bulls of the NBA G League. Nicknamed "the Arch of Dimes", he attended Neshaminy High School, where he averaged 20.4 points and 5.6 rebounds per game as a junior to lead Neshaminy to the PIAA playoffs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henry Ellenson</span> American basketball player (born 1997)

Henry John Ellenson is an American professional basketball player for Ibaraki Robots of the B.League. He played one season of college basketball for Marquette, before being drafted 18th overall by the Pistons in the 2016 NBA draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Josh Hart</span> American basketball player (born 1995)

Joshua Aaron Hart is an American professional basketball player for the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was selected in the first round of the 2017 NBA draft as the 30th overall pick by the Utah Jazz before being traded on draft night to the Los Angeles Lakers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quentin Grimes</span> American basketball player (born 2000)

Quentin Marshall Grimes is an American professional basketball player for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Kansas Jayhawks and the Houston Cougars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Markus Howard</span> American basketball player (born 1999)

Markus Anthony Howard is a Puerto Rican-American professional basketball player for Saski Baskonia of the Spanish Liga ACB and the EuroLeague. He played college basketball for the Marquette Golden Eagles, where he was a two-time All-American and led the nation in scoring in the 2019–20 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeremiah Robinson-Earl</span> American basketball player (born 2000)

Jeremiah Christian Robinson-Earl is an American professional basketball player for the New Orleans Pelicans of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Villanova Wildcats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sam Hauser</span> American basketball player

Samuel David Hauser is an American professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for Marquette and, in his senior season, the Virginia Cavaliers. With Virginia, he posted a stellar 50% FG, 42% 3FG, 90% FT shooting season, but came up just .004 short in free throw percentage from officially qualifying for the 50–40–90 club.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">D. J. Carton</span> American basketball player (born 2000)

Desi Justice Carton is an American professional basketball player for the Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association (NBA), on a two-way contract with Raptors 905 of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Marquette Golden Eagles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Justin Turner (basketball)</span> American basketball player (born 1998)

Justin Rafael Turner, nicknamed "Juice" or "JT", is an American professional basketball player for Anwil Włocławek of the Polish Basketball League. He played college basketball for the Bowling Green Falcons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darryl Morsell</span> American basketball player

Darryl Morsell is an American professional basketball player for the Mets de Guaynabo of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN). He played college basketball for the Maryland Terrapins and the Marquette Golden Eagles.

Justin Lewis is an American professional basketball player for the Calgary Surge of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL). He played college basketball for the Marquette Golden Eagles.

Hasen Jamal Cain is an American professional basketball player for the New Orleans Pelicans of the National Basketball Association (NBA), on a two-way contract with the Birmingham Squadron of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Marquette Golden Eagles and the Oakland Golden Grizzlies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Olivier-Maxence Prosper</span> Canadian basketball player (born 2002)

Olivier-Maxence Prosper is a Canadian professional basketball player for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Clemson Tigers and the Marquette Golden Eagles.

Osasere Benjamin "Oso" Ighodaro is an American basketball player for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Marquette Golden Eagles.

Joel Soriano is an American college basketball player for the Charlotte Hornets of the NBA. He previously played for the Fordham Rams.

References

  1. Koch, Bill (January 29, 2022). "RI native Tyler Kolek playing for Marquette at The Dunk vs. PC". The Providence Journal . Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  2. Rueb, Eric (March 15, 2019). "St. George's junior Kolek named R.I. boys basketball Gatorade Boys Basketball Player of the Year". The Newport Daily News . Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  3. Koch, Bill (September 17, 2019). "St. George's guard, Cumberland native Tyler Kolek commits to". The Providence Journal . Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  4. Kayata, Joe (January 14, 2021). "Homecoming for Cumberland's Kolek". turnto10.com . Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  5. Koch, Bill (April 14, 2021). "George Mason transfer Tyler Kolek Marquette Shaka Smart". The Providence Journal . Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  6. Borzello, Jeff (March 16, 2021). "Paulsen out after six seasons at George Mason". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  7. Kayata, Joe (March 19, 2021). "Cumberland's Kolek enters transfer portal". TurnTo10.com . Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  8. Steele, Ben (April 14, 2021). "Atlantic 10 freshman of year Tyler Kolek transfers to Marquette". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel . Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  9. "Cumberland's Kolek continues to excel at Marquette, earns Big East Player of Week honors". The Valley Breeze. February 2, 2023. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  10. Steele, Ben (March 5, 2023). "Marquette's Tyler Kolek, Oso Ighodaro, Kam Jones earn Big East honors". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel . Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  11. Steele, Ben (March 8, 2023). "Big East honors Marquette's Tyler Kolek and Shaka Smart as conference's basketball player and coach of year". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel . Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  12. FLM (March 14, 2023). "Marquette aims to douse upset bid by 15-seed Vermont". CBS Sports . Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  13. Tucker, Kyle (October 30, 2023). "Men's college basketball preseason All-Americans: Edey, Kolek lead The Athletic's list". The Athletic . Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  14. "Marquette's Tyler Kolek is Big East preseason player of year" . Milwaukee Journal Sentinel . October 24, 2023. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  15. "Trail Blazers Acquire Three Future Second-Round Draft Picks in Exchange for 34th Selection Tyler Kolek". NBA.com. June 27, 2024. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  16. "Tyler Kolek Signed by Knicks". NBA.com. July 5, 2024. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
  17. "Marquette guard Tyler Kolek could be Big East player of the year" . Milwaukee Journal Sentinel . February 21, 2023. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  18. Hart, Mike (March 9, 2022). "Get to know Marquette Golden Eagles guard, No. 22 Tyler Kolek". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel . Retrieved March 7, 2023.