DRIVE Basketball :: Retro MVP : Tyrell Mara

(Pictured: Left to Right, Tyrell Mara is currently a Freshman at Portland State which competes in the Big Sky conference. At WRCA he looks to push the ball up the court against QE during the RCMP tournament in '05.)

RETRO MVP: TYRELL MARA WRCA '05

Tyrell Mara finished his high school career having one of the most decorated careers in BC history. As a 14 year old he was selected to the U-17 provincial team. He competed on the U-17 team for 3 consecutive Summers before traveling with an AAU team in San Diego called High Five America. That summer he was 1 of 5 Canadians selected to the Adidas All American camp. Tyrell was named to the first team all-star at the Provincials for 3 consecutive seasons, 2003-05 a feat only accomplished by 5 players in tournament history. After averaging an impressive 18 pts and 17 rebounds a game as a Senior he was named the 2005 AAA MVP. He helped guide the Warriors to 2 AAA Championships in 3 years. Tyrell was awarded the “Top Defensive Player” at the AAA Provincials in 2004 and 2005. Simply put, Tyrell is a winner. After Tyrell’s astonishing career at WRCA Tyrell has taken his game to Portland State University which competes in the highly competitive Big Sky conference.

1-on-1 with Tyrell Mara:

DRIVE: What is your greatest memory from High School?

TM: It’s got to be the 2005 Championship, nothing compares to that year and that experience, I couldn’t have personally ended my career at WRCA any better or played with better teammates. The seniors on the team were like brothers to me and we had been saying that we were going to do this since grade 8. The championship in 2003 was amazing but because I was only in grade 10 it didn’t have the same significance. To go out on top with all of the people closest to me I couldn’t be more thankful, or wish for anything better.

DRIVE: What was your daily practice routine in High School? How much time did you spend working on specific skills?

TM: My routine was always changing, depending on the time of year, how my body felt, when and what games we had coming up. To this day I still am not a big fan of going and getting on the court early in the morning before school, so I always designated that time to go to the gym, lift weights and go swimming, I would try and get there 3 or 4 times a week. The time that I got better on the court was always at night time, I love being in the gym by myself at night with the music playing, that’s where I feel the closest to the game. During offseason I would try and get a good fundamental workout in after school, doing different drills, offensive and defensive, then I would come back at night and set the shooting machine up and just work on different shots that I felt I would shoot in the game, depending on the upcoming games or where I felt I was weak the drills and shots would always be changing.

DRIVE: Who are some of your mentor's growing up as a young player in BC?

TM: On the court I was blessed enough to have Mr.Clifford (DRIVE Head Coach) himself to take me under his wing when I was in grade eight and nine, that was a big learning process for me, he taught me what it meant to work hard and the things that I would have to do to become the best. My Parents and Coach Allen were my biggest mentors and role models growing up, I wouldn’t be the player nor the person I am without them. Every day they spoke words into my life that not only made me want to keep on doing what im doing, but also continually kept me aware of the love and support that I had every step of the way.

DRIVE: What was it like playing for a school like WRCA with so much pride and tradition?

TM: I am so thankful that I got to play at a place like WRCA with so much pride and integrity. It’s amazing what coach Allen has done with the kids that have gone through that school. He teaches hard work, character and determination, and as I was growing up in the WRCA program it seemed to me that Coach Allen was teaching how to play the game of basketball, how to be the best. But I look back now and I realize that that program and his coaching has taught me how to live a life with determination and integrity in all aspects.

I love the WRCA program because all you have to do to have a successful career is work hard, as I have endured different basketball experiences in my life, I realize that this is not always the case, sometimes you have to be tall or athletic or quick, but at White Rock, Coach would find someway to be successful as long as everyone put their hard hats on and came to work everyday.

DRIVE: You went straight from High School to NCAA D-1 Portland State, what were the biggest difference you noticed between B.C. High School basketball and NCAA D-1?

TM: At this level everyone here is here to play basketball, in high school there are always guys who are just on the team because they go to the high school, in University it is the other way around, guys are at the school because they are playing basketball. For all of us it is our life. The only way to get your respect around here is to work hard, and when your on the court, even though the name on the practice Jersey is the same, if the color is different then the name doesn’t mean a thing and he is the enemy.

DRIVE: Who are some of the best player's you have faced and why?

TM: Playing against Steve Nash a couple years ago was a great honor, I don’t think I need to explain how good he is. Playing against guys like Marvin Williams, Charlie Villanueva and Andre Bennet showed me the strength and athleticism some of the best players have.

DRIVE: What advice would you give young player's growing up in B.C, how can they take their game to the next level, both academically and in regards to basketball?

TM: Find the things that you love about the game, whether it be playing in the games, or hanging out with teammates, or just hoopin’ by yourself and let those points be the anchor of your basketball world, you are always going to encounter things that you don’t like and might really get you discouraged, but as long as you have a place where you can genuinely enjoy the game and keep you in a positive and optimistic mindset, you will always be more successful. It’s the same way in school, I really enjoyed school because I always liked learning new things, but there were times when I didn’t like some of my classes, when that was the case, I tried to really enjoy the classes that I liked, and let that be my focal point, and it seemed to make other classes go by a little easier… Of course there was always that little detail that you can’t go to university without good grades that added a little pressure.

DRIVE: Who do you think is going to take the 2006 AAA BC Provincial Championships?

TM: I think Kitsilano and St. Georges have well rounded teams and a good shot, once again there are so many teams that pose a threat… Of Course, Never count out the underdog.

DRIVE: Who do you think is going to be crowned as the NCAA Champs?

TM: Duke… JJ’s a stud.

DRIVE would like to wish Tyrell continued success in his University basketball career.

.: For past article's on DRIVE's Retro MVP's click here.