Tyler Kolek
Kolek with George Mason in 2021
No. 11 – Marquette Golden Eagles
PositionPoint guard
LeagueBig East Conference
Personal information
Born (2001-03-27) March 27, 2001 (age 23)
Listed height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Listed weight195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school
College
Career highlights and awards

Tyler Joseph Kolek (born March 27, 2001) is an American college basketball player for the Marquette Golden Eagles of the Big East Conference. He previously played for the George Mason Patriots.

Early life and high school career

Kolek grew up in Cumberland, Rhode Island and initially attended Cumberland High School.[1] He transferred to St. George's School prior to the start of his senior year. Kolek was named the Rhode Island Gatorade Boys Basketball Player of the Year as a junior after averaging 18.6 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 2.5 steals per game.[2] He committed to playing college basketball for George Mason over offers from Elon, Northeastern, Holy Cross, and Vermont.[3]

College career

Kolek began his college career at George Mason.[4] He was named the Atlantic 10 Conference Rookie of the Year as a freshman after averaging 10.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game.[5] Following the end of the season, head coach Dave Paulsen was fired[6] and Kolek entered the NCAA transfer portal.[7]

Kolek ultimately transferred to Marquette.[8] He averaged 6.7 points per game and led the Big East Conference with 5.9 assists per game in his first season with the Golden Eagles.[9] Kolek was named the Big East Player of the Year and first team All-Big East as a junior.[10][11] He was also named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2023 Big East tournament after averaging 18.7 points, seven rebounds, and five assists in the three games.[12] Kolek averaged 12.9 points, 7.5 assists, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.8 steals over 36 games on the season.[13]

Kolek was named the preseason Big East Player of the Year as well as to multiple preseason All-American teams entering his senior season.[14]

Career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

College

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2020–21 George Mason 22 18 30.7 .399 .358 .794 3.6 2.3 1.3 .1 10.8
2021–22 Marquette 32 32 29.3 .320 .281 .810 3.7 5.9 1.4 .1 6.7
2022–23 Marquette 36 36 32.3 .471 .398 .802 4.1 7.5 1.8 .1 12.9
2023–24 Marquette 30 30 32.8 .491 .397 .854 4.8 7.9 1.6 .1 15.3
Career 120 116 31.3 .436 .357 .819 4.1 6.2 1.5 .1 11.5

Personal life

Kolek's father, Kevin Kolek, a retired police officer, played college basketball at Southeastern Massachusetts University (now the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth) and was named the Little East Conference Player of The Year twice.[15] His older brother, Brandon, plays basketball at Franklin Pierce University.[16]

References

  1. ^ "RI native Tyler Kolek playing for Marquette at The Dunk vs. PC". The Providence Journal. January 29, 2022. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  2. ^ "St. George's junior Kolek named R.I. boys basketball Gatorade Boys Basketball Player of the Year". The Newport Daily News. March 15, 2019. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  3. ^ Koch, Bill (September 17, 2019). "St. George's guard, Cumberland native Tyler Kolek commits to". The Providence Journal. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  4. ^ Kayata, Joe (January 14, 2021). "Homecoming for Cumberland's Kolek". TurnTo10.com. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  5. ^ "George Mason transfer Tyler Kolek Marquette Shaka Smart". The Providence Journal. April 14, 2021. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  6. ^ "Paulsen out after six seasons at George Mason". ESPN.com. 2021-03-16. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
  7. ^ Kayata, Joe (March 19, 2021). "Cumberland's Kolek enters transfer portal". TurnTo10.com. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  8. ^ "Atlantic 10 freshman of year Tyler Kolek transfers to Marquette". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. April 14, 2021. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  9. ^ "Cumberland's Kolek continues to excel at Marquette, earns Big East Player of Week honors". The Valley Breeze. February 2, 2023. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  10. ^ Steele, Ben (March 5, 2023). "Marquette's Tyler Kolek, Oso Ighodaro, Kam Jones earn Big East honors". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  11. ^ Steele, Ben (March 8, 2023). "Big East honors Marquette's Tyler Kolek and Shaka Smart as conference's basketball player and coach of year". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  12. ^ "Marquette aims to douse upset bid by 15-seed Vermont". CBS Sports. March 14, 2023. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  13. ^ Tucker, Kyle (October 30, 2023). "Men's college basketball preseason All-Americans: Edey, Kolek lead The Athletic's list". The Athletic. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  14. ^ "Marquette's Tyler Kolek is Big East preseason player of year". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. October 24, 2023. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  15. ^ "Marquette guard Tyler Kolek could be Big East player of the year". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. February 21, 2023. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  16. ^ Hart, Mike (March 9, 2022). "Get to know Marquette Golden Eagles guard, No. 22 Tyler Kolek". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved March 7, 2023.

External links

2024 NCAA Men's Basketball Consensus All-Americans
NCAA Division I men's basketball season assists leaders
Big East Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year
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