Class of 2025 forward Bryson Tiller was in Indianapolis on Thursday evening playing games with the Overtime Elite program.
The 6-foot-9 and 240-pound Tiller is averaging 12.2 points and 9.4 rebounds at Atlanta-based Overtime Elite.
A consensus national top-15 prospect in the class of 2025, Tiller visited Indiana in December when the Hoosiers hosted Kansas.
The Daily Hoosier and other outlets caught up with Tiller. Here’s a transcript of the media Q&A on Thursday evening in Indianapolis.
Q. Bryson what was it like to come to Indianapolis and play in front of such a big crowd tonight?
Tiller – It was great. It was really unexpected for me, I’m really just blessed to be in this position. It was a great atmosphere.
Q. What about your game do you feel is best right now, and what do you want to add for the next level?
Tiller – Just my versatility, guarding the ball, defending, blocking shots, rebounding, dunking. Shooting the ball – I’m working on that a little bit more, just getting more consistent, especially from the three-point line.
Q. What stood out about your Indiana visit?
Tiller – The atmosphere was amazing. How they play is amazing. They run an NBA style. Coach Woodson obviously has years of experience. It was a really good visit. I enjoyed my time there.
Q. What’s the Indiana staff’s message to you?
Tiller – It’s really about me working. I’m not expecting to be given anything. I’m ready to work for everything. The system that they run, how they use their forwards, I like it a lot.
Q. When you go on visits, what are the main things you are paying attention to?
Tiller – The developmental side of it. (Do they) have great assistant coaches as well as the head coach. But just things that are going to prepare me for the next level. I’m just taking it day-by-day, I’m not really too focused on that right now, but I’m blessed to even be in a position to think about that stuff.
Q. I’ve heard you say you’re open to the idea of reclassifying. What does that process look like in terms of figuring out if that is something you might want to do?
Tiller – The plan right now is to stay in 2025 and continue my high school career in that class. I wouldn’t count anything out, but that’s pretty much the plan right now.
Q. If you can draw up your game a few years down the road, what would that look like?
Tiller – I model my game after a few different players. Giannis, Kawhi Leonard, a little bit of Jayson Tatum. Being a two-way player, that means a lot to me, guarding the ball, being on the help side, doing all the little stuff. I know that coaches really appreciate that, and that’s what I do.
Q. Your coach mentioned he wants you to improve your ball handling. How do you go about that?
Tiller – Just work. That’s all you can really do. That’s all I’m doing is working every day and getting that better.
Q. Your motor really stood out getting rebounds. Is that something you take a lot of pride in?
Tiller – Definitely. Rebounding is the main thing I’ve been focusing on this year, because I know if I do that, that gets me going, and that creates all the other aspects of my game.
Doug Martin, Tiller’s coach at Overtime Elite, also took some questions.
Q. What makes Bryson a special player?
Martin – The first thing is his size, he’s an imposing player. His skill set is catching up to his size. And his desire is undeniable.
Q. His motor as a rebounder really stands out. Where does that come from?
Martin – It’s who he has to be. If he wants to get to the level he wants to play at, the first thing he has to do is be an elite rebounder. I think rebounding translates. If you’re a good rebounder in high school, you can be a good rebounder in college, and you can be a good rebounder in the NBA.
Q. How do you think he fits positionally at the college level?
Martin – I personally think that he’s a small ball five. His skill set is better at that position than it would be at a four. As a small ball five, he can be elite. We’ve had conversations, and I’ve told him what Jaren Jackson, Jr. does in the NBA is what he should be aiming to do at this level.
Q. What skills do you want him to add to be ready for the next level?
Martin – Being a better ball handler, being a better passer, being a better catcher. Those are things that we’re working on with him. He’s not going to be a knock down 3-point shooter, but if he can shoot 36/37 percent from the top of the key and the two corners, that’s where he needs to be. But the first thing is not playing basketball with one hand. You’re not 6-9, 240 when you’re trying to catch with one hand, pass with one hand, and trying to rebound with one hand.
Q. He looks like he has a college ready body?
Martin – I would say he’s got an NBA body. I don’t think you can go around the country and find twelve kids with that physique. He’s a worker. That’s the best thing I can say about him. He wants to get better. He accepts coaching.
Q. How do you think he would do playing at Indiana for Mike Woodson?
Martin – I will tall you this, whatever school he picks, he’s gonna enhance that program. I’ve got friends on that (Indiana) staff, so I feel a certain type of way as well, but I’ve never had a conversation with Bryson about his college decision. I think he’d be fine running out of the tunnel in the candy striped sweatpants.
For complete coverage of IU basketball recruiting, GO HERE.
The Daily Hoosier –“Where Indiana fans assemble when they’re not at Assembly”
- Find us on Facebook: thedailyhoosier
- You can follow us on Twitter: @daily_hoosier
- Seven ways to support completely free IU coverage at no cost to you.
