- Details
- Category: Current Issue
Consider it
a dream
deferred
Tyson Etienne, the former PSA star, decided to pull his name from the NBA Draft and return to Wichita State for his junior season. Etienne worked out for eight teams and impressed many in NBA circles with his athleticism and ability to run the pick-and-roll, but his lack of experience running an offense as a point guard was the knock against him and likely keeping him out of the first round. That is expected to change next season with the Shockers.
“I had NBA teams that were guaranteeing me a selection in the draft,” Etienne told The Wichita Eagle on July 7, the deadline for his decision.
“I had teams and organizations that were really sold on me and wanted to invest in me. I had that on the table. It wasn’t like I was going to hope. I had a real chance.”
So why, when he was so sure of hearing his name called at the Draft on July 29, did he go the other direction?
“At the end of the day, it’s great that there were NBA teams that wanted to select me, but personally, I just don’t like how I went out last season,” said Etienne, speaking of his dismal performance in the Shockers’ First Four loss to Drake in which he missed all six of his shots and finished with one point. “That’s not who I am. I want to come back and brush up on my game and do the things I need to do for coach (Isaac Brown) and the rest of the staff, so I can lead the program the way I want to lead it.
“I still use that as fuel,” Etienne said. “I still remember how I felt after that game. I know I could have gotten drafted in the 2021 class, but I think a piece of me would have always felt incomplete. That’s why I’m giving it one more shot. I feel like another year of polishing up on the things that I need to do will set myself up for an even better situation next year.”
Etienne averaged 16.3 points and was named the American Athletic Conference Co-Player of the Year in a breakout sophomore season.
“I think going through the process was super beneficial for me,” he said. “I learned so many different things. Like how these organizations operate and what they’re looking for and what workouts are like and what all the draft process entails. Now I know what I’ve got to do to make myself a super high draft pick next June.”
By Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy
.