UNION, N.J. — Tyler Ulis recently cut his list to seven schools, and by the end of August he hopes to trim it even further.
The 5-foot-8 point guard from Chicago Heights (IL) Marian Catholic currently lists Michigan State, Iowa, Florida State, USC, Purdue, DePaul and Northwestern.
“I cut my list to that seven but me and my dad are going to try and sit down here soon and cut it down,” Ulis told SNY.tv last week at the Nike Skills Academy at Kean University.
Reached by phone, James Ulis, who works for Nike, said his son would likely take officials after July to Iowa, Michigan State and Florida State. USC could possibly get the final official. Iowa has been recruiting him the longest.
Tyler has already taken one to Oregon State in January, but they are no longer on his list because it’s too far from home.
DePaul and Purdue will likely receive unofficials because they’re closer to home.
Ulis recently look unofficials to both Michigan State and Northwestern.
“Both were great,” James said. “We had great conversations with Coach [Tom] Izzo] and Coach [Chris] Collins. Izzo has a great resume. Collins is a local Chicago kid and [Illinois] Mr. Basketball. His dad coached in the NBA. He coached at Duke and coached in the Olympics. That speaks to Tyler’s growth.”
Added James: “I just want to see Tyler continue to grow and play in a system that fits his style. I want him to be happy. He knows what’s right for him.”
Tyler said he models his game after Chris Paul and Trey Burke but also got to match up on Kyrie Irving at Kean.
“I did get to guard Kyrie but he didn’t keep it long,” he said. “He gave it up real quick. He gave it up.”
As for college, Tyler said he’s flexible about where he lands.
“It doesn’t matter where I go,” he said. “I don’t really have to stay in the area of Illinois because I’m actually from Ohio. It’s just wherever fits best.
“Hopefully, if I get the right pieces around me I can be pretty good. I’m a pass first point guard and hopefully that will open it up for me.”
