HIGH SCHOOL

Tech's Trey Lyles wins IndyStar Mr. Basketball award

Kyle Neddenriep
kyle.neddenriep@indystar.com
Mr. Basketball, 2014, Trey Lyles, 18, from Tech High School.

When Trey Lyles had an opportunity to help design a special game jersey prior to his high school senior season at Tech, his first thought was pink. Not only was it a way to honor a number of players' family members impacted by cancer, it was a fashionable alternative to the Titans' traditional forest green uniforms.

"We wanted to show we're supporters of those with any type of cancer," Lyles said. "And a lot of guys like to wear pink."

It also carried deep personal meaning for Lyles. His uncle, Darrell, a longtime smoker, died from lung cancer in October of 2010, a month before Trey played his first varsity game as a freshman. Trey was close with his uncle and the pair shared many of the same interests and attributes. When Trey would mock the way Darrell would fall asleep on the couch watching television, his uncle would give it back to him.

So when Trey pulled on the pink jersey for a few games this season, he felt like Darrell was with him again, at least in spirit.

"I was hoping that he'd be able to be around for at least one game," Lyles said. "I wrote his name on my shoes and wore pink shoes for that reason, but it hurt. I wish he could have been there."

Darrell would have taken great pride in his nephew's accomplishments, which now includes 2014 IndyStar Mr. Basketball. The 6-10 Lyles pulled down the award in an epic three-player race over Park Tudor's Trevon Bluiett and Marion's James Blackmon Jr.

Lyles, who led Tech to its first state championship, was named on 117 ballots cast by media and coaches, while Bluiett (108) and Blackmon Jr. (95) followed closely behind. Greensburg's Bryant McIntosh and Lake Central's Tyler Wideman each received seven of the 344 total votes.

The Mr. Basketball award caps an incredible run for Lyles, who was named a McDonald's All-American, the state's Gatorade Player of the Year and the Class 4A Trester Mental Attitude Award winner following Tech's 63-59 win over Lake Central in the state title game.

Lyles is Tech's second Mr. Basketball winner, following Joe Sexson in 1952, and the first from an Indianapolis Public School since Washington's George McGinnis in 1969.

"I'm proud and honored to be a part of such a special group of players who won it before me," he said. "I think it'll take a while for it to sink in."

It may have seemed predestined for Lyles five years ago. As a 6-7 eighth grader at Decatur Middle School, his talent was obvious. Indiana coach Tom Crean and Purdue coach Matt Painter were among those who came to watch him as a middle schooler. Just a few months later, prior to his freshman year at Tech, Lyles committed to Crean and Indiana.

Unlike his close friend, Blackmon Jr., who also committed prior to his freshman year, Lyles didn't sign with Indiana. After opening up his recruitment prior to his junior season, Lyles pledged to Kentucky a year later.

Though he insisted at the time that the negative backlash on social media to his decision to pull the commitment from Indiana had little impact, Tech coach Jason Delaney said there was a noticeable difference in his demeanor as a senior.

"I saw him smile more this year than I have in three years," said Jason Delaney, who took over as Tech's coach prior to Lyles' sophomore season. "He had fun. He played and worked and made his teammates better. We preach family all the time, but they truly were a family. That was the most fun part of this year for me was seeing them have fun playing together."

Perhaps the biggest upset of all was that Lyles, ranked as one of the top prospects nationally in his class from his freshman year on, stayed at Tech for four years and didn't transfer to a prep school like many of his peers.

And there were opportunities. A couple of prep schools were particularly persistent, Lyles said. Delaney would hear rumors and check in with Tom Lyles, Trey's father and Tech assistant coach. The elder Lyles would occasionally, jokingly, make Delaney sweat. But there was never any intention of transferring from Tech.

"Those schools would call a lot," Tom Lyles said. "But you never know for sure what's on the other side. There were a lot of things Trey wanted to accomplish at Tech. And he wanted to finish it with the guys he started with. He never really gave it a second thought."

The common goal was to lead Tech to a state title. After a 7-13 season in Lyles' freshman season, the Titans improved to 16-5 the following year and 21-5 in 2012-13. But tournament success eluded Tech. Lyles injured his knee and was unable to play in the final game of his junior season, a 66-50 loss to nemesis Cathedral.

The tears flowed freely following that game. From the outside, there were those who questioned Lyles' toughness. The feeling after that game added to his sense of urgency.

"I never wanted myself or my teammates to feel like that again," he said. "The rest of the school year was pretty much a downer because of how we finished. I thought back to that before every game this year. It kept running through my mind to push us to get a better result this year."

Armed with a talented and experienced roster, Tech left little doubt this season. Playing the toughest schedule Delaney and athletic director Victor Bush could put together, the Titans defeated nationally-ranked teams like Huntington Prep (twice) and La Lumiere. The only hiccups were a four-point November loss to Bowman Academy and a six-point loss to Hamilton Southeastern in February that came two days after the City tournament championship.

Lyles, a willing passer and perimeter threat, simply parked himself on the block in some games and forced teams to foul him or give up dunks. In a 95-88 overtime win over Park Tudor on Jan. 4, he scored 45 points on 27-for-33 free-throw shooting (Bluiett scored 51). He averaged more than 10 free throw attempts per game, making 74 percent (218-for-275).

"That's something we talked about before the season," Lyles said. "Me going down on the block was going to give us the best chance to win."

Tech broke down barriers, winning the program's first sectional and regional titles since the Landon Turner days of 1978. The Titans survived a furious comeback by Bloomington North for their first semistate title since 1966 and then defeated Lake Central for its first win in a state championship game in five tries.

Time marches on. Lyles wants to come back to Indianapolis for the Final Four next year and win a national championship in his hometown with Kentucky. After college, he has hopes of an NBA career. But in the aftermath of the state title, that journey alone seemed like one worth celebrating.

"Hopefully," Lyles said, "we'll be remembered for a long time."

Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649.

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IndyStar Mr. Basketball vote breakdown

1. Trey Lyles, Tech, 117

2. Trevon Bluiett, Park Tudor, 108

3. James Blackmon Jr., Marion, 95

4. Bryant McIntosh, Greensburg, 7

5. Tyler Wideman, Lake Central, 7

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Trey Lyles bio

School: Tech, 27-2, won Class 4A state championship

Height: 6-10

Position: Forward

College: Kentucky

Season highlights

2013-14: Averaged 23.7 points, 12.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.4 blocks, shot 58 percent

2012-13: Averaged 17.9 points, 12.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.3 blocks, shot 56 percent

2011-12: Averaged 21 points, 14.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.3 blocks

2010-11: Averaged 18.0 points and 12.0 rebounds

Career highlights

Career points: 1,888 (ranks first in school history, 83rd in state history)

Career rebounds: 1,219 (ranks first in school history, eighth in state history)

Was named three-time City Player of the Year

2013-14 Gatorade Indiana Boys Basketball Player of the Year

2013-14 Class 4A Trester Mental Attitude Award winner

2013-14 McDonald's All-American

Led Tech to steady improvement in record, from 7-13 to 16-5 to 21-5 to 27-2

Led Tech to first sectional and regional titles since 1978, first semistate since 1966 and first state title in school history

Quotable

On dealing with criticism in the public eye: "I tried to embrace it because in the career path I want to take, it's going to be worse. A lot of schools don't like Kentucky, so I'm sure I'll get worse than I did the last couple years. I just try to let it go in one ear and out the other."

On finishing his career with a state title: "It meant a lot because a lot of us had been together for three or four years. It was sort of a sad moment, too, because I won't be playing with them anymore. The friendships and relationships we built in high school are lifelong. I'll never forget them and I hope they never forget me. We worked together to achieve one goal and we achieved it."

On the memorable showdown with Trevon Bluiett, who ended up second in the Mr. Basketball balloting: "I think about that game a lot. It was great not only for us, but it was a great high school game. I think the better team won that night of course, but I have nothing but praise for Trevon. He's a great player and a lot of the accolades like McDonald's All-American he should have gotten. It was a fun night to go up against him like that."

Coach Jason Delaney on Lyles: "If Trey ever wanted to, he'd be great coach. He knows the Xs and Os and he studies film. He knows the game really well. When his playing days are done, I think he'd be a great coach. He knows how to motivate people and get the best out of them."

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IndyStar Mr. Basketball winners

1939: George Crowe, Franklin.

1940: Ed Schienbein, Southport.

1941: John Bass, Greenwood.

1942: Bud Brown, Muncie Burris.

1943, 1944: No award due to World War II.

1945: Tom Schwartz, Kokomo.

1946: Johnny Wilson, Anderson.

1947: Bill Garrett, Shelbyville.

1948: Bob Masters, Lafayette Jeff.

1949: Dee Monroe, Madison.

1950: Pat Klein, Marion.

1951: Tom Harold, Muncie Central.

1952: Joe Sexson, Tech.

1953: Hallie Bryant, Crispus Attucks.

1954: Bobby Plump, Milan.

1955: Wilson Eison, Gary Roosevelt.

1956: Oscar Robertson, Crispus Attucks.

1957: John Coalman, South Bend Central.

1958: Mike McCoy, Fort Wayne South Side.

1959: Jimmy Rayl, Kokomo.

1960: Ron Bonham, Muncie Central.

1961: Tom Van Arsdale and Dick Van Arsdale, Manual.

1962: Larry Humes, Madison.

1963: Rick Jones, Muncie Central.

1964: Dennis Brady, Lafayette Jeff.

1965: Billy Keller, Washington.

1966: Rick Mount, Lebanon.

1967: Willie Long, Fort Wayne South.

1968: Billy Shepherd, Carmel.

1969: George McGinnis, Washington.

1970: Dave Shepherd, Carmel.

1971: Mike Flynn, Jeffersonville.

1972: Phil Cox, Connersville.

1973: Kent Benson, New Castle.

1974: Steve Collier, Southwestern, and Roy Taylor, Anderson.

1975: Kyle Macy, Peru.

1976: Dave Colescott, Marion.

1977: Ray Tolbert, Anderson Madison Heights.

1978: David Magley, South Bend LaSalle.

1979: Steve Bouchie, Washington (Daviess).

1980: Jim Master, Fort Wayne Harding.

1981: Dan Palombizio, Michigan City Rogers.

1982: Roger Harden, Valparaiso.

1983: Steve Alford, New Castle.

1984: Troy Lewis, Anderson, and Delray Brooks, Michigan City Rogers.

1985: Jeff Grose, Warsaw.

1986: Mark Jewell, Lafayette Jeff.

1987: Jay Edwards and Lyndon Jones, Marion.

1988: Woody Austin, Richmond.

1989: Pat Graham, Floyd Central.

1990: Damon Bailey, Bedford North Lawrence.

1991: Glenn Robinson, Gary Roosevelt.

1992: Charles Macon, Michigan City Elston.

1993: Maurice "Kojak" Fuller, Anderson.

(Sherron Wilkerson was voted Mr. Basketball but relinquished the title.)

1994: Bryce Drew, Valparaiso.

1995: Damon Frierson, Ben Davis.

1996: Kevin Ault, Warsaw.

1997: Luke Recker, DeKalb.

1998: Tom Coverdale, Noblesville.

1999: Jason Gardner, North Central.

2000: Jared Jeffries, Bloomington North.

2001: Chris Thomas, Pike.

2002: Sean May, Bloomington North.

2003: Justin Cage, Pike.

2004: A.J. Ratliff, North Central.

2005: Luke Zeller, Washington (Daviess).

2006: Greg Oden, Lawrence North.

2007: Eric Gordon, North Central.

2008: Tyler Zeller, Washington (Daviess).

2009: Jordan Hulls, Bloomington South.

2010: Deshaun Thomas, Fort Wayne Bishop Luers.

2011: Cody Zeller, Washington (Daviess).

2012: Gary Harris, Hamilton Southeastern.

2013: Zak Irvin, Hamilton Southeastern.

2014: Trey Lyles, Tech.