Overtime Elite’s Bryson Tiller, a projected class of 2025 star, talks college recruitment
Bryson Tiller is set to become the most coveted college basketball recruit yet to emerge from the Overtime Elite pro league in Atlanta.
The 6-foot-9, 224-pound power forward is ranked as a five-star recruit in the class of 2025 by the 247Sports Composite, and is listed as the No. 5 player overall in the class.
Despite still being in his sophomore season, Tiller holds an impressive list of high-major college offers, including from the likes of Auburn, Houston, Indiana and Xavier.
The college interest in Tiller is only expected to grow after a landmark season in which he became the first high school sophomore to ever sign with Overtime Elite.
Tiller played alongside projected NBA Draft lottery picks Amen and Ausar Thompson and won the OTE championship with the City Reapers team. Tiller averaged 11.5 points and 6.9 rebounds per game, and scored in double figures in 12 of the 15 games he played last season.
This included a 15-point, eight-rebound performance in the championship-clinching game for the City Reapers.
Tiller, an Atlanta native, adjusted well to the physicality and size in the Overtime Elite league, despite being one of the youngest players at OTE. This came after Tiller starred last summer while playing up two age groups for the Atlanta Xpress AAU program.
Earlier this month during Overtime Elite’s Pro Week at the OTE Arena in Atlanta’s Atlantic Station neighborhood, the Herald-Leader spoke with Tiller about how the move to Overtime Elite has improved his game and the early stages of what should be a blockbuster college recruitment.
CONVERSATION WITH BRYSON TILLER
Q. What did you think you showed during OTE Pro Week?
I think my versatility, on offense and defense, just showed that I could get to my spots and continue to be a leader on the court.
Q. When you think about the goals you had entering today for what you wanted to show the scouts in attendance, how close did you feel you were to hitting those goals?
I think I did a pretty good job. There’s obviously things I can improve on. I can always make more shots, but at the end of the day I played very hard and I got the results that I wanted to get better to show that I was working hard.
Q. How much more of a benefit has it been being at Overtime Elite compared to someplace else?
The biggest thing for me is the competition level, playing against guys like the Thompson twins, projected lottery picks, playing against them and going against them, learning from them every day, it’s been a blessing.
To have the skills-development staff, the teachers are great here, so I’m blessed to be here.
Q. What did it mean to you to play in front of all these professional scouts?
It’s great, it’s an opportunity that most kids don’t get at a young age. ... I’ve been working to impress these scouts, so that’s what I did today.
Q. How much has the practice schedule and the structure of Overtime Elite helped you and your teammates progress as basketball players?
It’s helped me a lot. I’m usually a locked-in person. ... I love being in the gym all the time, as you can tell I’ve gotten a little bigger. It’s great. The structure is great. I think it’s really going to lead me to my next step, my next journey.
Q. How are you preparing for when coaches and college recruiters can begin contacting you this summer?
I’m close to my family so I’ll talk to them, my dad, my mom, my sisters, so just talking with them and just staying focused right now on basketball is the main thing. Eventually, I’ll get to that point and I’ll be ready.
Q. How did you feel the Overtime Elite season went for you?
It was really good. I got what I wanted out of it to get better, we won the championship so that’s also a plus and I just love the connection with the guys. ... I’ve grown a lot and matured a lot as well.
Q. How much better is the day-in, day-out process at Overtime Elite compared to the traditional high school route?
It’s a really big thing. Playing with these guys, you’ve got 7-footers, you’ve got guys that are 5-11 that can get by you really quickly. So guarding them, playing my game against them has really prepared me for the next level.
Q. What do you think are your biggest strengths for the next level?
My versatility is a big thing, I can get to my spots in the mid-range, low post. Continue to work on the three-point shot, just getting it more consistent. Overall just my versatility.
