Each and every time Phenom Hoop Report gets to report or sees a commitment from a player we have seen over the years, it is always a fantastic day. It is great to see players achieve their goal to play at the next level and it is such a great accomplishment for that player.
Here is the latest commitment.
Player: Tyler Lundblade
Class: 2021
Committed to: SMU
What the Player Said:
Q: What made SMU the place to call home in the coming years?
Lundblade: SMU is the perfect balance of basketball and academics. I love the coaching staff, their players, and the playstyle. I also got straight into Cox School of Business and their connections into the work world in Dallas are incredible. Also, being back home so that all my friends and family can come to see my play was a huge factor.
Q: What are they hoping you can bring to the court?
Lundblade: They love the fact that I can stretch the floor but play off the bounce too. They also like the size that I have at my position, so bringing me into play small ball at the 4 is something they would like to do as well.
Q: How did you inform the staff and what did they have to say when you told them about your decision?
Lundblade: I called Coach Duncan and Coach Jank to tell them my decision. They were very excited and couldn’t wait to see me in person in June. We talked more about how I fit into their system and the future of the program.
What Was Said by Phenom Hoops:
“He has the size and skill set that translates to the next level, to go along with a tremendous IQ for the game. Lundblade understands how to operate within the offense, whether he can step out with his high release and knock down perimeter shots, or moving well without the ball, running the offense, and looking for high-quality shots around the rim; he is a three-level scorer. And I repeat, this young man is a competitor and a leader on the court. Watching him when he first came to North Carolina in open gym, that is a quality we immediately noticed with his play on the court. Something has to be said about the production level he had in Texas, averaging 22.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists, shooting 54 percent inside, and 40 percent from behind the arc (236 made three-pointers in 3 years). And now bringing that to Greensboro Day and producing as well. The move also helped him develop and elevate his game.” – Patrick O’Brien in 2021
“Well rounded and efficient. I pride myself on not having to take 20 shots to get 20 or 30 to get 30. I can score from the perimeter, rim, and mid-range, and I can do it on the ball or off the ball. I can also facilitate and find open teammates.” – Lundblade in 2020
“Despite being the lone transfer on this list, Lundblade also enters North Carolina as the most productive player of the group. He possesses size, skill, and the ability to score in a strong variety of ways. Lundblade places emphasis on efficiency and finds opportunities within the flow of the team, but can also take over when necessary. He shoots the ball well despite having somewhat unorthodox mechanics. Lundblade offers useful secondary ball-handling ability, rebounds at a nice rate, and defends well for his position, which should generate a lot of buzz going forward.” – Jeff Bendel in Jan 2021