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At Putnam Science Academy, Tyson Etienne’s work ethic is legendary. Those who know say no one was a harder worker. The folks at Wichita State are seeing to for themselves now too.
And it is paying off in a big way, as Etienne — the former PSA and current Shockers star — was named the American Athletic Conference’s co-Player of the Year (sharing with Houston’s Quentin Grimes). Etienne, who played for the Mustangs for the 2018-19 season, averaged 17.1 points and led Wichita State to a conference title in a season that started with unrest and controversy. Seven players transferred out of Wichita State in the offseason and head coach Gregg Marshall resigned amid allegations of misconduct.
“It just symbolizes the importance of sticking to a code, sticking to a moral code, that I have,” Etienne said. “I pride myself on loyalty, and I was overcome with a lot of gratitude, especially knowing what this season has been for our team, and knowing what I had to do as an individual to prepare myself to play. I was grateful to have my team with me. We won this award; I didn’t win it by myself. We won the conference, which put me in position to do this.”
Etienne put in countless hours during the offseason, strengthening his weaknesses such as his first step on drives and finishing at the rim.
“He got better off the bounce,” said Shockers coach Isaac Brown, who was named the conference’s Coach of the Year. “Last year, he was more of a catch-and-shoot guy. Now he’s one of those guys who can come off ball screens and iso by himself one-on-one. He put in the work this summer.”
It was the same thing he did at PSA. He was always in the gym, before and after everyone else. That work ethic is something he developed in his mid-teens, when he wasn’t applying himself to the game the way he could have. And personal tragedies in his life at that time caused him to step back and reflect on life.
“We get opportunities, we get things that some people aren’t fortunate to have, and some people get it taken away from them,” said Etienne, an accomplished amateur photographer. “So I apply myself every single day, that I’m here for a reason, for a purpose, and I don’t want to look back and say that I didn’t give it everything I had.
“I want to set the example for people coming up behind me, or for people who are my age, and for people who are older than me. I want people to believe that you can accomplish whatever you want to as long as you put your grind to it, and put your mind to it.”
In terms of fun, Etienne said this season ranks up there with other enjoyable ones at Long Island Lutheran (where he played high school ball) and his one year at PSA. But it was so much more than just fun when he was in Putnam.
“My time there is invaluable,” he said. “I always remember it and I’ll always be grateful for my time there, and for the people that I met there. My time at Putnam was divine because I needed to learn to be by myself and take care of myself on my own. When I went to Putnam Science, I had to really learn what I had to do to take care of myself as a man.
“Plus, just being with a bunch of players who were so talented. I was able to learn how to lead a bunch of different personalities. Putnam Science will always be home for me. I’m thrilled that I was able to be a part of the lineage there because there are so many great players that have through there.”
Etienne and the Shockers got the news they were waiting for Sunday night when they received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Shockers, an 11-seed in the West, will be part of The First Four and take on Drake. Former PSA player Darnell Brodie for Drake. PSA has 10 former players in the NCAA Tournament. In addition to Etienne and Brodie, there are: Josh Gray (LSU, 8-West) taking on Kyle Lofton and Osun Osunniyi (St. Bonaventure, 9-West); Akok Akok (UConn, 7-East) facing Eric Ayala (Maryland, 10-East); Vlad Goldin (Texas Tech, 6-South); Gabe McGlothan (Grand Canyon, 15-West); and Abou Ousmane (North Texas, 13-South).
Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy
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