Piedmont to the pros: Hunter Tyson’s path from Monroe to Clemson — to the NBA champs

Hunter Tyson waited long enough.

He waited as he played five years at Clemson, which included two season-altering injuries, one NCAA Tournament, and one National Invitation Tournament.

Most recently, he sat at his home in Monroe, North Carolina, surrounded by family and friends, and waited again — through 36 picks of the 2023 NBA Draft — until his name was called.

But called it was, closing the collegiate chapter of his basketball life and starting a new one at the same time.

“We felt like he had a chance to be a really good player,” his father, Jonathan Tyson, said. “I don’t think we ever said, ‘Oh, Hunter’s going to be an NBA player.’ We continued to encourage him and he continued to work, and we’re very thankful and grateful he has this opportunity.”

Tyson’s lofty goals and hoop dreams

The summer before his junior year in high school, Hunter Tyson was in the car with his basketball coach, Jay Fitts, on a recruiting trip. Curious, Fitts asked him what his life’s goal.

Without hesitation, Tyson said it was to make it to the NBA.

“I think people saw that he was special very early,” Fitts said. “I remember when he said that to me, he just said it with so much conviction that I believed him.”

The 2023 Clemson graduate wasn’t even a top-50 NBA prospect on most draft boards. While it was a surprise to many when he was selected by the NBA champion Denver Nuggets at pick 37, it wasn’t nearly as shocking to those who know him best.

Having dealt with multiple injuries and limited playing time at various stages of his career, the 23-year-old impressed observers during his fifth year at Clemson, putting him on the radars of NBA scouts. The 6-8 forward finished the 2022-2023 college season with first team All-ACC honors, averaging 15.3 points and 9.6 rebounds per game on 47.9% field-goal shooting.

“He’s always been a good shooter, and he’s always been a guy that has had a nose for the ball,” Clemson head coach Brad Brownell said. “...just became an extremely productive player as his confidence rose.”

Basketball beginnings in Piedmont

Tyson’s club coach, Team Curry’s Sim Frazier, watched his progression from high school to Clemson. He saw Tyson’s body develop and his basketball IQ grow throughout the years as he dealt with adversity and injuries, all of which culminated in his final year with the Tigers.

“He’s gotten a lot stronger,” Frazier said. “What you really saw last year is him coming into his own and being more than just a catch and shoot guy.”

Just as he did at Clemson, Tyson left his mark on the Piedmont basketball team, finishing his senior year in the top 25 all-time in North Carolina for career points, averaging 27.1 points and 9.1 rebounds per game. Fitts said he was the best high school shooter he’s ever coached.

Jonathan Tyson was the Piedmont High School principal from 2012 to 2019, before beginning his current role as Union County Public Schools’ assistant superintendent. Cade Tyson — Hunter’s younger brother and a rising sophomore on the Belmont University basketball team — played for Piedmont following his brother’s departure in 2018.

The outpouring of congratulations the family has received since the draft is a testament not only to Hunter Tyson’s admirable reputation, but also to the family’s involvement in the community.

“Everyone’s been very very gracious and supportive.” Jonathan Tyson said. “The Monroe community is very close knit. We always want to see individuals, whether it’s from our family and Hunter or anyone, to be as successful as possible.”

His basketball ability may be what impresses most on paper, but his character and leadership qualities off the court played just as much a part in his journey from Monroe to the Mile High City.

“All of his teammates saw how hard he worked every day and saw how committed he was,” Fitts said. “Relationships are very important to him, because that’s something that’s been instilled through his family. The people that are close to him, he loves and cares about them deeply.”

Onward to the NBA

Tyson will assuredly impress the Nuggets with his personality, but how he’ll fit into the team’s rotation is still up in the air. His ability to knock down shots, especially beyond the 3-point line, adds yet another weapon to Denver’s rotation — a team that was fourth overall in 3-point percentage last season.

In an interview on the team’s YouTube channel following the draft, Nuggets vice president of scouting Jim Clibanoff said Tyson’s profile is diverse enough for him to slot in at both the small and power forward positions, where he can showcase his shooting and rebounding.

“Came in for a pre-draft workout for us, we had breakfast, (he) interacted so well with everybody at the table with us,” Clibanoff said. “Came at the workout, hit like every shot … You’re gonna love the guy’s intensity, work ethic.”

Tyson’s first Summer League game is slated for 5 p.m. Friday in Las Vegas (available on ESPNU and Altitude TV).

Achieving a dream of becoming a professional athlete is, statistically rare. Besides talent, it takes a special kind of drive, determination and skill to even be considered a prospect, especially for fifth-years.

Now, he has his shot. And if his growth at Clemson has indicated anything, it’s that his journey in the professional world is just beginning.

“He’s really one in a million. You’re really not going to come across a Hunter Tyson more than once in your life, Fitts said. “The work ethic, the character. It’s unparalleled.

“I really think that Hunter can be an all-star in the NBA. He’s someone who is kind of just starting to tap into who he can become.”