SPIRO, Okla. — This past season was a breakout year for former Spiro and Har-Ber standout Tylor Perry.
Perry earned Conference USA Player of the Year honors after averaging 17 points per game at North Texas.
The senior was named Most Outstanding Player of the NIT after leading the Mean Green to their first-ever NIT title in March.
“That was the biggest thing for us, was being able to cut the nets down and getting an opportunity to do that and we were blessed with the NIT bid,” Perry said. “Just to go through that and win with this team, we’re forever solidified.”
But Perry’s place in major college hoops, wasn’t always solidified.
He starred three years at Springdale Har-Ber, before moving back to Oklahoma his senior year to play at Spiro.
As a Bulldog, he was an all-state player, averaging 25 points per game, yet received no Division I looks.
He didn’t let that deter him.
“I’ve been through it all,” Perry said. “JUCO, not being recruited and all that.”
“I was about to go D-II, and my dad ended up talking me out of that.”
Perry instead went to Coffeyville Community College in Kansas, where he scored 14.7 points per game. In his second season, he led the Red Ravens to the NJCAA Division I National Championship while winning tournament MVP.
The following season, the player with no Division I offers out of high school was playing Division I hoops at North Texas.
“It just shows if you continue to work hard and believe in yourself and God, you can do anything,” Perry said. “I continued to stay down, and continue to be me and trust in myself, and those around me, and it eventually got me here.”
After two successful seasons with the Mean Green that included back-to-back first-team all-conference selections, Perry is now looking to take the next step.
He’s entering his name into this summer’s NBA Draft, while also entering the transfer portal to potentially play in a high-major conference. Perry says Arkansas is one of the schools that has reached out.
But regardless of whether his future lies in the NBA or another year of college basketball, Perry is thankful for the journey he’s taken from being under-recruited at Har-Ber and Spiro, to where he is now.
“Couple of years ago, I never thought I’d be in this position,” Perry said. “You always have dreams of doing it, but I never thought I’d be here a few years ago. Now I have the opportunity and man, I’m just so blessed.”