RYLY JANE HAMBLETON / Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Tuesday, May 16, 2006 7:00 pm
Tyler Bullock knew last summer that basketball was his favorite sport.
But the Lincoln North Star standout, a second-team Super-State receiver, knew he needed to at least find out if his college future would be in football or the sport he loved.
Wednesday, the first-team Super-Stater signed a letter of intent to accept a basketball scholarship from the University of Denver.
“I really liked how the coaches talked about a freshman being able to play early,” Bullock said. “And, there are guys from Nebraska on the team.”
Brett Seger of Omaha Westside is one of four seniors the Pioneers will lose to graduation. Joseph Jackson of Louisville will be a junior and Kenny Howard of Grand Island Central Catholic will be a sophomore.
“They have a lot of athletic guards and with a big center in Yemi Nicholson, they pushed it and looked inside,” Bullock said. “He will be gone, but they will still play a more up-tempo style.”
Bullock said coach Terry Carroll plans to have him work at point guard and the off-guard position or a combination of the two.
“I know there’s an element of toughness I will have to have for the next level,” Bullock said. “Through my high school career, I didn’t have a really big man to play with, so that’s something I look forward to.”
Last season, Bullock averaged 25.5 points a game, grabbed 6.7 rebounds, had 2.6 assists and 1.8 steals a game, and shot 78.3 percent at the line and 50.3 percent from the field.
Coach Tony Quattrocchi said Bullock brings so many talents to the game, it’s difficult to pinpoint any one attribute.
“We asked him to do so much on offense but he still played good defense and often guarded or helped on the opponent’s best player,” said Quattrocchi. “He was just a huge presence on the floor.”
Reach Ryly Jane Hambleton at 473-7314 or rhambleton@journalstar.com.