Recruiting Report: Tyson Hancock (2018)
As a scout that takes pride in covering my entire state, there are still certain areas that I’m learning more and more about. Last season, one of the areas I wanted to get to know was Lynchburg, and what I found out was that despite it being known for producing high level football players, it also has a fair amount of ballers on the hardwood as well.
One of the kids I kept hearing about was a 6’2” guard out of Brookville named Tyson Hancock, who was hanging 20 plus almost every night. After watching him this summer with the VA Bullets, a team made entirely of kids from Lynchburg, I can see why. He’s a smooth guard who’s a crafty finisher in transition and can score with ease from all three levels.
While he’s been lighting up opponents over the last year, he’s still looking for his first offer, which is all he’s been waiting on this summer.
“Basically, I’m just trying to pick up an offer,” Hancock said. “I know I’m under the radar, but this summer is mainly to get my name out there and let coaches see some of my ability on the court.”
While he doesn’t have an offer yet, Hancock said his recruitment has picked up recently as he’s seen interest from Liberty, Lynchburg, CNU, Virginia Wesleyan, West Virginia Tech and a whole lot of more D2 and D3 schools. Much like his recruitment, he says he’s a guy who picks it up later, which he’s shown multiple times by taking over games this summer.
“I am kind of a slow starter,” Hancock admitted. “I’m a second half performer, I see that my team needs points, or rebounds or anything I’m going to go do it to help us win.”
Hancock has had a huge July, and college coaches are starting to take notice.His takeover ability is one of the best parts of his game, because he’s able to keep everyone involved early in the game and then get it going when he needs to. Even after he gets it going, it’s easier for him to make plays for others in transition and get his teammates good shots. It’s something that he can showcase with his AAU team much more than he can in high school.
“With this team, we have more scoring options and I don’t need to have the ball in my hands as much. As you have seen, we have guys everywhere that can score it and make plays by themselves,” he said.
“At Brookville, we lost a lot of our key guys after my tenth grade year, so I knew I had to step it up last season, and I accepted the go-to guy role and had to take over.”
While his recruitment is still shaping up, Hancock says he’s really interested in going somewhere that he can contribute, but also be part of something special.
“I want to join a team that’s already successful, and I can just work my way into whatever role or whatever my coach needs me to do. I’ll do anything to win, and whatever my coach needs me to do I’ll do.”
If he continues to improve and can show that he can be a leader on a winning team, Hancock could be a steal at the scholarship level for a team in need of a versatile scoring guard.