In rebuilding year for ER, Tyler Gee takes up leadership role

RAMSEUR — From year to year, roles are going to change for a high school basketball player. One season they may be asked to be a spark off the bench, while the next they may be asked to step into a starting role and contribute in certain areas. Maybe they will be asked to be a facilitator or maybe become a verbal leader.

Eastern Randolph High School’s Tyler Gee has seen his role change dramatically for the Wildcats in his junior campaign. He’s being asked to do everything.

In what is a year of transition for the Randolph County program, Gee is being asked to lead on the floor by scoring points, distributing the basketball and getting teammates where they need to be. In essence, a coach on the floor. 

Off the floor, he is tasked with making sure all his teammates are putting in the work, preparing the right way while also offering encouragement and a kick in the pants when needed.

“Tyler has to be our glue, he has to be our leader,” ER coach Johnny Thomas said. “He’s got to hold guys accountable. I am putting a lot on his plate and expecting him to step up to that challenge. I know as a young man, it can be difficult at times to step up and lead your team. That’s a lot to put on a junior’s shoulders. But he’s adjusting really well.”

Gee played some junior varsity games as a freshman but saw plenty of varsity action. It was then that followers of Eastern Randolph basketball saw a glimpse of what was to come. He hit 24 3-pointers and scored 98 points in limited minutes as ER finished 18-9.

In his sophomore year, his minutes and productivity increased as he hit 45 3-pointers, averaged 10.4 points per game and added 2.3 rebounds and 1.1 assists per contest. However, with Timmy Brower, Will Stalker, DaSean Shamburger, Julian Brooks and Rayden West on the roster, there were plenty of players in that leadership role. Gee could concentrate on putting the ball through the net.

But now with those players having graduated after an 18-11 season, Gee and the Wildcats find themselves in a rebuilding year, one that is led by Gee.

“I told him I need you to be the leader, I need you to get on guys when they are doing things wrong, I need you to get out there and push guys and I think he’s starting to accept his role,” Thomas said. “But for a young man who has never been in that major role … it took Timmy Brower years to get where I wanted him to be. When he gets out here, he’s got to be the leader, he’s got to show out, he’s got to step up, he’s got to be excited, he’s gotta be energetic. There are a lot of things that he has to do this year that he wasn’t quite ready for. But he’s adjusting really well.”

Gee said he’s trying to fill gigantic shoes.

“I have to be a leader because I’m one of the oldest guys on the team and he wants me to lead the younger guys and put them in the right positions and help them so it will better the team,” Gee said. “The first couple of years, we had Timmy and (Brooks) and I didn’t have to do that. This year, I’m trying to do what Timmy did. Get people open so they get their shots.”

Gee has been the most consistent player on the Wildcats this year. The guard has elevated his game as he is just as dangerous driving inside as he is spotting up for a 3-pointer. 

He needs very little time to get his shot off and is one of those players who hustles on every play, dives for the ball, goes into the lane against much taller opponents and truly provides the Wildcats the opportunity to win each and every time on the floor.

He is averaging 20.3 points per game, 2.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists. He has hit 44 3-pointers and has scored 304 points 14 games through the Wildcats’ season. 

“Right now, it’s our defense,” Gee said of what has to improve if the Wildcats are going to be successful the rest of the way. “We have to stop other teams from scoring. If we lead at halftime, they will come out and score like 20 points and we get six. Then we have to fight back. 

“We have the potential to be really good. We have to figure out how to win first. Figure out how to get past the third quarter and stay ahead. We have to keep up the energy in the second half that we have in the first half.”

Thomas said he realizes this year is a rebuilding year and a lot of young players are gaining valuable varsity experience. There is only one senior on the ER roster.

“I try to tell (Tyler) that good teams are led by coaches, great teams are led by players,” Thomas said.

The Wildcats have a great player to lead what they hope will soon become a great team.