PHIA’s Player of the Year: Tyreke Locure (Part II)
Two summers ago at Norwalk’s team camp, when Des Moines North point guard Tyreke Locure was an incoming freshman, we got our first glimpse of what he could do.
We praised him then, and haven’t stopped since. And after two ridiculously prolific seasons to start his high school career, the rest of the state knows his name too.
Very soon, the rest of the nation may well know.
Locure — Iowa’s 2nd-ranked 2019 — recently agreed to spend his 16U grassroots summer with nationally renowned program, MOKAN; a Kansas City-based program scheduled to play in high profile tournaments around the country this spring and summer on the Nike EYBL circuit.
During past offseasons, Locure has played with local grassroots program Kingdom Hoops Elite, MOKAN will be a step-up — playing along with and among the nation’s elite — for the preternatural point guard.
“This summer is going to be big, I feel like I could pick up a lot of offers. I feel like I’ll fit in well down there (with MOKAN), just because I’ll be playing with guys that are fast enough and more alert — guys that can really play,” said Locure. “I think this summer will be super big for me, I feel like I’ll play well.”
Currently, Locure has no offers, but sports plenty of interest from college programs, specifically Iowa and Iowa State.
And though he’s got love for both the Hawkeyes and Cyclones, he’s hoping that his game can generate high-major attention outside of Iowa’s borders.
“I want to pick up a couple schools from the Big 12 and Big Ten,” said Locure. “And I think I could pick up some other high-level stuff like the Big East, because Creighton will be watching me, and I’d be happy with that.”
Iowa and Iowa State have each been showing Locure some attention in varying degrees since before his sophomore season started.
Locure feels that the Hawkeyes are a little more serious about him right now.
“The schools that have been on me the most have been Iowa and Iowa State. But I think Iowa has come harder, just because they’ve had me for more visits than any other school I’ve been to,” said Locure.
“Iowa, they play a little slower than Iowa State, but I feel like they balance everything out well. And Iowa State, they would probably be a little better fit for me just because they play fast all the time, and it’s a little more loose of a system. But I really like Iowa a lot, it just seems like their coaches really appreciate their players. So does Iowa State, but I just feel like Iowa shows more interest, just the way they’ve talked to me and had me around for so many visits.”
Not lacking in confidence, and rightfully so, Locure — who averaged 25.6 points and 7.3 assists per game as a sophomore — feels that by the time he’s ready for college, he’ll be able to play anywhere in the country.
“I think as I continue to grow and mature, I think I could honestly play anywhere,” said Locure.
But an Iowan since he was three years old, Locure says Iowa and Iowa State — should either offer — would be fine choices for him if one or the other was the best option.
“If it were to come down to Iowa and Iowa State I would have no problem playing there, because I like both of those schools and I could adapt to their style of play,” said Locure.
“I hope to pick up Iowa and Iowa State (offers) this offseason.”