Know Your Team: Tyler Scott & Brad States
The University of Prince Edward Island seems to be the place to go for the Island Storm, having secured the services of two of their biggest impact players of recent years straight from the college.
Tyler Scott
6'3
Guard
From Halifax, Nova Scotia
Formerly the leading scorer for Halifax West West School, Scott went on to average 11.7 points per game in two years with the Acadia Axemen. He then left the team for the UPEI Panthers, where he put up exceptional numbers, regularly scoring in double digits.
He saw his best results in his fourth year of college, averaging 25.0 points per game. Passing 1700 points in his final year, he made it into the top five all-time scorers in the Atlantic University Sport conference.
He joined the Island Storm in 2017, straight from the Panthers. He appeared in 34 games in his debut professional season, averaging 8.7 points and finishing as one of the better three-point shooters across the league in 2017-18.
These performances saw him retained by the Storm for the 2018-19 NBL Canada season. Scott has repaid the team for their belief in him with big efforts on both ends of the court, efforts which have seen him rewarded with Player of the Week honours early in December.
Brad States
6'6
Forward
From Bathurst, Nova Scotia
States was able to overcome early tragedies in his career to become a fan favourite of the Island Storm.
In 2008, when States was in ninth grade, friends of his on the Bathurst Phantoms lost their lives in what came to be known as the Bathurst Boys in Red accident. States transferred to the team the following year, winning 26 consecutive games en route to finishing the season with a 35-3 record and capturing the provincial championship title.
States then played two years with the UPEI Panthers, where he averaged 19 points, 7.8 rebounds and 56% field shooting, as well as receiving conference team honours. He first came to the NBL Canada in 2016, as a rookie prospect with the Island Storm. The following season with the Storm he emerged as a big presence off the bench and a huge defensive rebounder, finishing with 5.2 points and 4.0 rebounds per game.
In only his third season as a pro, States has shown his appetite to improve and build on his game, much to the delight of Storm fans, coaches and executives. If his rate of progression continues, he could become one of the biggest defensive players in all of the NBL Canada.
Pictures: Island Storm, theguardian.pe.ca
