'23 Tyrese Proctor talks Arizona, Duke, and what's next
One of the hottest names across the college recruiting landscape this season has been 6-foot-3 Tyrese Proctor. The 2023 guard at the NBA Academy (Global) took off when playing at the Tarkanian Classic in December. He came back to the United States for a second time, playing this week in the National Prep School Invitational (NPSI). On3 Sports was able to talk with him about his game and recruitment.
“I think I am a good playmaker,” Proctor told On3 Sports. “I can find my guys when they are open and score when I need to score. Since coming into the NBA Academy, I have improved on my defense, guarding on the ball, off the ball, and rotating. I watch a lot of Allen Iverson and Jamal Crawford; they’re being shifty and hard to guard. I also watch a lot of Chris Paul and Steve Nash, with their ability to come off on balls and read the on balls.”
After his first American showing this season, college coaches quickly took notice. The native of Sydney, Australia, recently visited Arizona and has an upcoming visit set for Duke. Tyrese Proctor spoke exclusively with On3 Sports at the NPSI about his recruitment.
Proctor talks recruitment
Arizona: “I had a lot of fun. It was the first college I visited in America. I learned a lot about the program. Tommy (Lloyd) was great to me. I spent a lot of time with him, getting into his head and what he likes to run. It was great overall.”
Duke: “I can’t wait to visit Duke, they are a big school, and there is a lot of hype around them. I got to go in and pick things from their brains, see how they like to play, and then weigh it all out in the end.”
“Yeah, since Vegas, I have been talking to Tennessee a bit, Louisville, Ole Miss, Oklahoma, schools like that.”
Proctor’s take
“I am not sure what other visits I am going to take right now,” Proctor said. “I have a lot of time. So I might talk to the schools organize a couple more along the way. (Visiting this month) was a lot easier because our team came over to the US to play. Whether we organize the visits before or after we play, or if the visit is an entirely separate trip, I am just going to talk with my parents and coaches to organize it and make it happen. I am not sure the exact time I will commit, but by the end of the year or so.
“I will be looking for a good fit for me. Being from Australia, I will be away from home. So I want to go to a place that will make me comfortable and feel at home. I am going to look at the coach and the system, and I want to get a good vibe from the coach I will be playing for.”
Proctor’s genes
“My dad played for Mississippi College for a couple of years,” Proctor said. “He then came out to Australia and played professionally for a lot of teams in Sydney and Melbourne.”
On3’s take
Tyrese Proctor has a smooth quality to his game. What sticks out immediately is his jump shot, off the catch. When his feet are set, and he gets a clean look, you can count it. Proctor is also an excellent passer, able to distribute the ball to, and from, all angles of the court. He will have to continue working on shooting off the dribble – especially going left – and tightening his handle when being pressured. There is no denying Proctor’s extensive IQ, it will be interesting how much explosive burst he can gain as he continues to age. Proctor’s NBA Academy Global program has recently produced Josh Giddy, Taran Armstrong, and Dyson Daniels.