Getting to Know Tyler Neal

Aug. 4, 2010

Getting to Know Archive

Nick Thompson | 6-9 | 212 | Forward | Eastern Utah

Carl Blair | 6-2 | 214 | Guard | University of New Orleans

NORMAN, Okla. -- Tyler Neal, last year's Oklahoma player of the year at Putnam City West High School, says he always wanted to be a Sooner. That's why he didn't sign last fall with any of the several schools that coveted him. He chose instead to play the waiting game in hopes of an OU scholarship offer in the spring.

Neal says he received some criticism for the decision to wait. Turns out that criticism was unnecessary, as OU head coach Jeff Capel indeed extended the offer. The 6-7 forward was quick to accept.

In Neal, the Sooners are getting a versatile player who can do damage inside or out. He averaged 18.2 points, 8.9 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game last year in helping West to its first state tournament appearance since 1977. He shot .557 from the floor and drained 45 3-pointers on the year (shot .421 from behind the arc). The National Honor Society member has always been productive in the classroom.

We sat down with Neal this week to talk about his summer, the type of player he is, his strengths and weaknesses on the court, how he envisions his role this year and what he does away from basketball.

A Q&A with Neal follows below and a separate three-minute video interview is available in the player above.

Q: How has your summer been and how have you spent it?
A: "It's been good. I had about two weeks after high school ended before I came to Norman. Then I moved in and started working out with the guys. I've been working out until this past week and now I'm headed home for the rest of the summer and will come back just before school starts."

Q: What classes did you take this summer?
A: "In June I took 'History of Jazz' and in July I took 'U.S. Government.'"

Q: How have the workouts been and have you noticed a difference in your body?
A: "In the mornings we do weightlifting -- just a variety of different things each day. Usually it's the same thing each Monday, and then something different on Tuesdays, etc. And then two days a week we do boxing and Pilates. I lost a little bit of weight when we first started, but I think that was some body fat. I've gained a few pounds since."

Q: Most of the team has been in Norman this summer. How would you describe the guys and how everyone interacts with each other?
A: "I really like the guys. That's a big plus. Being able to look up to the older guys like Cade (Davis) is definitely a big plus. I think we've grown well together this summer, even without the coaches around. It's been good to be able to be together in the summer."

Q: You were named state player of the year by Gatorade, the Oklahoma Coaches Association and The Oklahoman. Was that type of recognition even on your radar heading into your senior season?
A: "I knew it was a possibility, but our team was just focused on winning state. Unfortunately, that didn't happen. I was named preseason player of the year, but I felt actually fulfilling it was something entirely different. That's what everyone told me during the year, especially my dad and brothers. They said you can't worry about the preseason stuff. Just play and stuff will come."

Q: Putnam City West had quite a year. Looking back, how would you summarize your senior season?
A: "We had four or five seniors who had been playing together (for a while), including my buddy Amric (Fields) who's at TCU now. We all tried to buy in and win it, but it didn't happen. We had a good season and it was the first time West had been to state in I think 33 years. So just seeing the morale of the school that high was really fun, and so was knowing that we were a big part of that."

Q: OU started recruiting you kind of late. Did you know as soon as Coach Capel showed interest that you wanted to be a Sooner?
A: "Yeah, for sure. I grew up here and so I've always been an OU fan. I knew I'd come here if I ever got the chance, no matter what else happened. So when he offered I was like, "That's it. Let's take it."

Q: How'd that make you feel?
A: "It was crazy. Everyone was criticizing me for waiting on who to pick. But then OU finally came. It was amazing how it all came together."

Q: How would you describe yourself as a player?
A: "Just a player who can kind of take advantage of mismatches. If a smaller guy's guarding me I like to post up like I did in high school. If I have a bigger man on me I like to play outside and shoot it.

Q: Do you prefer to play inside or out?
A: "I think it just depends. Recently I've been playing outside, which is fine with me. And I wouldn't care if Coach Capel put me inside. It's just whatever he'd like from me."

Q: What do you consider as some of your biggest strengths and weaknesses on the floor?
A: "My weaknesses -- I need to get better with my ball handling if I'm going to play outside. And also my on-ball defense -- mainly foot speed. My strengths are my versatility, ability to take advantage of mismatches and shooting."

Q: Coach Capel said he thinks you have a pretty good feel for the game. Do you agree?
A: "Yeah, I think so. My high school coach agrees with that. Part of that is just having a basketball family at home and always watching games when I was growing up."

Q: What do you like to do when you're not playing or thinking about basketball?
A: "My buddies and I will hang out at one of our houses, or we'll go to a movie, play X-box, grab some ice cream -- just whatever comes up."

Q: Do you have any hobbies, read books or anything like that?
A: "If I'm going to read it has to be a really good book recommended by a lot of people, or it has to be a school requirement. I do every once in a while. I read The Bible, too."

Q: You've had a lot of success in the classroom. Have you picked a major yet?
A: "I have not. I talked to my parents a little, but I haven't totally thought about what I'd like to do. I'm just going to see how things play out with some general education classes my freshman year and go from there."

Q: What are some of your favorite OU basketball memories?
A: "I was always an OU fan, but there's that time when you actually start paying attention. For me, it was the Hollis Price days. My brother and I really loved how he played, how he could shoot it and the great leader he was. That's probably my favorite memory."

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