4-star Tyler Betsey setting first official visit; talks future visits

Tyler Betsey is the No. 19 player in the 2024 On3 150. The 6-foot-8 forward averaged 17 points and 6 rebounds in the National Prep Showcase. He is the 2024 On3 Consensus No. 59 player in the class.

“Ever since Peach Jam, I’ve been working on getting to the rim,” Betsey told On3. “I’ve normally been known as a catch-and-shoot guy. Prep school is a whole different animal. They scout you and have help defense, so I’ve been working on playing off the bounce and getting to the rim. I watch a lot of Paul George and how he uses his jabs and pumps to get to the rim. I watch a little bit of Jayson Tatum too. He demands the ball, and I need to be able to do that when there’s a situation where I need to score.”

The four-star shot 40.7 percent from three with the NY Rens program on Nike’s EYBL 16u Circuit this summer. On3 caught up with Tyler Betsey after a recent game to talk about his recruitment.

“I’m going to take my first official visit to Indiana,” Betsey said. “It will be around December 20, but the date has not been finalized. I’ll be going to Rutgers soon for an unofficial. I hear a lot from Duke and LSU too.”

Betsey talks recruiting

Indiana: “They have an NBA coach, and the assistant coach is really tight with me. They text me every other day, so they show me that they really want me. It’s just an iconic basketball place. The striped pants and all, everybody knows that Indiana.

“They let their guards go. So I’m planning on going to college with another good guard; I don’t know who yet, but if I can get a good guard, that can create advantages. I can be there to catch and shoot. So they really stick out to me.”

Rutgers: “The coaches are good guys. They offered me after Peach Jam. They talk to me a lot, and it’s local and close to home, so my mom would be able to come to the games. Ron Harper, Jr. went there, and they let him go. They let him play through his mistakes and everything, so that’s really intriguing.”

Duke: “They say they can help me with a lot of little things. They say I’m good right now, but I’m just scratching the surface of what I can be. He can help me player lower to the ground, play stronger, and just help me become a better player. Duke is iconic. Coach K, Cameron Indoor, everybody knows about Duke.

LSU: “I talk to (assistant coach) Cody Toppert a lot. That’s my guy. He sends me film on players and has trained NBA guys. He knows I can really shoot the ball, and he’s worked with a lot of shooters, so he told me I could come in and be that shooter that they need. I know when LSU had Will Wade, they were getting recruits, recruits, recruits. 

In Betsey’s words

“I didn’t grow up a fan of any school because I really didn’t grow up watching basketball. I can really remember UConn because I’m from Connecticut, so I remember the UConn and Kentucky National Championship game. That’s the earliest memory I have of college basketball.

“I want to have a close relationship with the coaching staff. I’m looking to go in with a group of guys that can compete for a National Championship as a freshman. I’m going to look and see who they have there and their history. I want to see what campus life is like, just being a kid, because it’s not all basketball. I’m probably going to be off the court more than I’m going to be on the court, so it’s important to have a family feel out there.

“I’m trying to develop into a full-time two-guard. I want to be able to handle the ball a little bit more instead of just being a catch-and-shoot guy. I would like to be used as a secondary ball handler and be put in some ball screens. Then again, I can spot up and spread out the defense. I just want to be versatile and be able to do whatever they need.”

Scouting report

Tyler Betsey has excellent length and a projectable frame. He is a smooth shooter with a quick release and deep range. At 6-foot-8, he is a threat off the catch, with outstanding balance and a high, repeatable release. He uses his length in the passing lanes with natural instincts, getting a lot of deflections. Betsey is a good athlete. He needs to continue to develop off the bounce, creating for himself, but he plays efficiently in the half-court. Strength will be a big thing for him moving forward, but he is developing into the three-and-d type of prospect that is so valuable in today’s game.