Hailing from the Marquette Golden Eagles, Tyler Kolek is making waves in the college basketball scene. At just 22 years old, he’s already made a colossal impact on the game. Last season, Kolek propelled Marquette to victory in the BIG East regular season and the BIG East Tournament.

Let’s dive deep into why the 22 YO baller might just become the next big thing.

Who is Tyler Kolek?

Born on March 27, 2001, Tyler Kolek has been a game-changer for the Marquette Golden Eagles in the Big East Conference. Hailing from Cumberland, Rhode Island, Tyler’s passion for basketball ignited during his high school years at Cumberland High School. He transferred to St. George’s School before his junior year.

As a junior, Tyler’s talent couldn’t be denied. He wowed everyone, averaging 18.6 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 2.5 steals per game. His play earned him the title of Rhode Island Gatorade Boys Basketball Player of the Year. The basketball world had taken notice, and Tyler had college offers pouring in from Elon, Northeastern, Holy Cross, and Vermont, but he chose to commit to George Mason.

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Tyler Kolek’s journey in college basketball began at George Mason. As a freshman, he was named the Atlantic 10 Conference Rookie of the Year. He averaged 10.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. However, after that impressive season, Kolek decided to take a bold step and entered the NCAA transfer portal.

The transfer led him to Marquette, where he embraced the opportunity to shine even brighter. In his first season with the Golden Eagles, he averaged 6.7 points per game and did something remarkable—he led the Big East Conference with an astonishing 5.9 assists per game. His performance didn’t go unnoticed, and Tyler Kolek was named the Big East Player of the Year and first-team All-Big East as a junior.

But the pinnacle of his achievements came in the 2023 Big East tournament. On March 11, 2023, the Golden Eagles made history by securing their first-ever BIG EAST Tournament title with a resounding 65-51 victory over the Xavier Musketeers. The hero of that memorable night was Tyler Kolek, who scored 20 points, grabbed 8 crucial rebounds, and dished out three assists during the championship game. Kolek was named the BIG EAST Tournament Most Outstanding Player. He averaged 18.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 5.0 assists across three games.

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The junior guard, whose father, Kevin Kolek, was a former standout player and Little East Player of the Year in 1987, is now one to look out for in the upcoming season.

Is Tyler Kolek the next big thing?

Tyler Kolek’s remarkable journey to stardom caught the attention of basketball aficionados. An article, titled “40 Players, Coaches Who Will Shape the 2023-2024 Men’s College Basketball Season,” ranked Kolek in the sixth spot. John Fanta, a prominent college basketball broadcaster and reporter, had high praise for the young talent.

“The reigning Big East Player of the Year is back at Marquette, and the Golden Eagles have championship expectations again with him at the point guard spot. All Kolek did last season was tally 270 assists to just 90 turnovers while leading Shaka Smart’s team to the conference regular season and tournament crowns. In the Big East Tournament, he averaged 18.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists en route to the Most Outstanding Player honor at Madison Square Garden. The senior point guard fits Smart’s system and program well and plays mistake-free basketball,” wrote Fanta.

Kolek himself remains confident about his goals. “We want a national championship. The fact is, we beat the team that did it twice last year. I applaud them (UConn) for winning and representing our league, but we believe we’re right there,” he told Fanta.

As Marquette gears up for the upcoming season, the spotlight shines brightly on Tyler Kolek. The Golden Eagles have their eyes set on a National Title, and Kolek is the man they’re looking to lean on. The last time Marquette graced the Final Four was back in 2003, and their last NCAA Title victory hails from 1977. With Kolek at the helm, the dream of cutting down the nets this season is very much alive.