Westmont grad Tyler Pierce leads Carthage in one of nation’s top Div. III conferences

After a stellar career at Westmont High School, Tyler Pierce is in his final season as a member of the Carthage College men's basketball team.

A starter for much of his time in a Red Men uniform, the senior is averaging 11.8 points and 3.0 rebounds per game. Pierce scored 14 points earlier this month when Carthage upset North Central, which was undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the nation at the time.

Pierce is one of three brothers to play hoops at Westmont. Older brother Pierre is now playing professionally in France while younger brother Kris is a senior at Westmont. Pierce's oldest brother, Kevin, was a track athlete.

What has this season been like thus far?
We started off the season as one of the biggest teams in the nation — we started 6-9, 6-8, 6-7 across the front line. Then the injury bug hit us and guys went out and also guys decided not to play. That hurt us big time. That made us a lot smaller and in the middle of the season, we had some of our bad losses. But lately we've picked it up and recently we beat No. 1 North Central (Jan. 9). Obviously we have a good team and hopefully we put it all together for the end of conference.

What is your major and what are your plans for post graduation?
I am majoring in exercise sports science and business. I am still in that process (of deciding what to do). I will probably have a better idea when the season is over with. I can sit down and get together with everybody I need to. In a perfect world, I'd like to do physical therapy or be a coach.

How has the college game differed from high school basketball?
The obvious part is bigger and quicker guys. But the biggest thing for me is the whole mental game. In high school, you kind of know the other teams and some of the players. In college, you scout the teams and know what guys like to do. It is more of a thinking game in college.

Did you play a lot of basketball with your brothers growing up?
That is pretty much all we did growing up. And that is all we do now when we get together. That is mainly in the summertime now when we are all together and every day we are in the gym.

Does it seem strange to think that there won't be a Pierce at Westmont High School next year?
That is kind of crazy. My parents, I think they have gone to their fair share of games. They might be happy to get a break.

How have you improved your game since high school?
My whole mental game has changed. I think about the game differently now. In high school, it was more go with the flow and I didn't think about it. In college, I think about every little thing and what I have to do. I think about every situation.

Was there an adjustment at first?
There was a little bit of an adjustment period. But I got my feet wet and took off from there.

How nice was it to come right in as a freshman and contribute?
That's always a good thing. When I came in, I just wanted to play hard and help my team win. That is all I wanted to do and I got that opportunity.

What has the sport of basketball meant to you?
It has meant a lot to me. It has molded me into the man I am today and it has motivated me a lot.

Would you like to continue playing basketball?
That would be nice. Again, after the season, I will weigh the pros and cons and see if that would actually work or not. But it is something I'd like to pursue.