Tyree Pickron made a name for himself in the Philadelphia basketball scene. He was a standout at Archbishop Wood Catholic High School while also raising eyebrows on the AAU circuit with K-Low Elite. Pickron currently plays his college ball at Division I Quinnipiac University.
Q: Tyree, thanks for taking time to interview with us. I want to start at the beginning. You’re originally from Philadelphia. How did growing up in Philly impact who you are today, both on and off the court?
A: "Growing up in Philly has impacted who I am today, both on and off the court, because of the competitiveness Philadelphia brings with not only basketball, but everything. Even how you dress is a competition."
Q: "You played your high school ball at Archbishop Wood alongside great players like Collin Gillespie. What did playing at Wood and in the stacked Philadelphia Catholic League do for your game?"
A: "Playing at Wood was definitely something that I have loved since my freshman year. That was the first time I played at a stage of basketball where it is competitive every night and the better players aren’t just going to win. Collin definitely helped my game then, and he still does today. Just correcting me on different things and just being that person that could be hard on me. And I don’t care how he says it because that’s my boy."
Q: "Who, of all the players you faced, was the toughest player to guard, and who was the toughest defender to score on?"
A: "I think I’m going to pick Chris Clover from St. Joe's. My guy gets buckets. He put me in my place as a freshman. The toughest defender to score on I think is Antwuan Butler. He knows I can shoot. He won’t just let me get my shot off, he’ll make me have to work for the bucket."
Q: "What was it about Quinnipiac that caught your interest and led you to commit there?"
A: "When committing, I really just wanted to go somewhere that I was comfortable and liked the environment. So if anything, at least I liked where I was at. And if some things maybe weren’t going my way, I could try to change them happily."
Q: You now play for coach Baker Dunleavy, who was an assistant on the 2016 national championship Villanova squad. Do you feel that his experience gives the team a leg up on a game-to-game basis?
A: "Definitely. Besides Coach Dun’s experience, his passion for the game alone gives us a boost because he sees how certain things are done. So, he tries his best to give each player advice to their specific needs. But Coach Dun’s experience definitely helps us in how we prepare and attack our work because he has seen it done at a high level."
Q: "Speaking of coaching, the biggest offseason news in the MAAC was Rick Pitino agreeing to become the head coach at Iona. What will it be like playing against a legendary coach like Pitino for the next two seasons?"
A: "I am definitely looking forward to it. Playing against Coach Pitino will be fun and I am interested to see what their team turns into. It’s hard to actually have a feeling about it because of how the season ended. I am kind of hungry to play everyone but Iona is always a fun game."
Q: "During your freshman year, your high school and AAU teammate, Seth Pinkney, committed to Quinnipiac. What has it been like to have an old familiar face on campus? Do you think you’ve been able to help him transition to the college level?"
A: "Basketball aside, it was great to introduce one of my best friends at home to my guys at school and help him adapt to a lifestyle that i am accustomed to living already. I think I helped him a little bit by just having somebody there to help him, just as he did for me even though it was my second year."
Q: "You were showing significant statistical improvement from your freshman season despite missing the first half of the season due to injury. What were the challenges of missing so much time?"
A: "I believe one challenge was just trusting myself to do certain things because I haven’t done them in so long. Another was not lifting weights for a while. I was a little weak, but that was expected when I came back to play."
Q: "The team was hit hard this offseason by the transfer portal, losing three players. What do you as a unit have to do to make up for the lost production?"
A: "I think, as of right now, this is a time for everybody to elevate their game and continue to develop. When we return, we have to compete and push each other to be our best everyday. Losing Rich, Nate, and Kev was huge, but I think we have some guys that are hungry and ready to step up and prove themselves."
Q: "Looking ahead, how do you think your physical attributes and your skill set translate to the next level?"
A: "I think my attributes and skills translate to the next level because I can shoot and am a willing defender. Besides everything else, I think my determination will help me no matter what."
Q: "Basketball players across the board are being affected by the coronavirus pandemic, with most courts and gyms closed. What have you been doing to keep up with your training?"
A: "I workout two times a day with strength and conditioning then basketball. I have loved ones helping me out and keeping me in shape."
Q: "There are a lot of question marks surrounding the upcoming season, especially in the state of Connecticut, which has more restrictive reopening policies than almost any other state. It’s possible that students might not be back on campus at the normal time, and there could even be delays to the start of the basketball season. But, those factors aside, what are some goals that you have for yourself and the team?"
A: "The ultimate goal is definitely to win a championship. But besides that, I think it is important for me to be on a team with a bunch of guys that are willing to do anything to win. We all bring that intensity and focus everyday to not just be a normal team. If we do that, we will be in position to have everything we want by the end of the season."
5 Fast Favorites
Food: Any type of fish (especially salmon)
Movie: Love and Basketball
Music Artist: Drake
Travel Destination: Miami
Sports Memory: Winning the league championship my junior year in front of 9,000+ fans was definitely one to remember.
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