(Pictured) "The Shot" Kepkay's buzzer-beater vs Argyle last season.
INSIDE DRIVE’S 1st Team All-B.C. Point Guard, Tyler Kepkay
Tyler Kepkay is arguably the best player in BC this year. He has a wide variety of skills that make him a complete package on the basketball floor. His love for the game is demonstrated in the way he plays and by how much time and effort he exerts into getting better. Tyler never waists an opportunity to develop his game, spending up to 8-10 hours playing the game that he loves. He started playing basketball in grade 2 where he developed a love for the game. Once he developed that love and desire, the hard work came easy to him. “I developed my love of the game first of all because basketball was always a lot of fun for me. I wasn’t that good when I first started playing but I just kept on playing. The other reason why I love this game is all you need is a basketball and a hoop. When you have those 2 things then you can play for hours being creative as you want to try different ways to improve your skills.” Kepkay says with a subtle smirk on his face. “I remember in the end of the 7th grade I quit all the other sports I used to play just to focus on basketball. I would always be constantly working on my handles, doing different sorts of ball handling and shooting drills to get better. All I wanted to do is play basketball” Tyler’s love and enthusiasm for the game is easily demonstrated by the way he plays. His fierce competitive style helps separate himself from the rest of BC.
Tyler models him game after players with the ability to penetrate and finish, stroke the 3, and make guys better. His game resembles Jameer Nelson and Andre Barrett, guards who can break defenders down at will and possess a beautiful looking stroke. Kepkay explains why he likes guys like Chris Paul and Baron Davis, “To me what makes a player great is someone who has a huge heart and competes with a never die attitude and who will do what ever it takes to make them win. These are guys I model my game after,” Tyler says. “The attributes that I posses that separates me is definitely my work ethic. I feel that I put in as many hours as anyone when working on my game. I also believe that I’ll take and make the ‘Big’ shot in any clutch situation. When the game is on the line, I want the ball in my hands.” Kepkay’s approach to the game is simple, play hard or go home.
To prepare for this upcoming season Kepkay has been training extremely hard, lifting 4 times per week and shooting thousands of shots. Last year Kepkay single handily kept his team in the Howe Sound championships. “One of my best experiences playing ball would defiantly have to be at last years championship series with Argyle. There were 1200 people at the finals. We were down 18 with 5 minutes remaining when we made a crazy come back. I hit the 3 (see above pic) at the buzzer to force the overtime.” Unfortunately they lost by 1 in the extra period to the soon to be provincial champions, Argyle Pipers. To ensure that this isn’t going to happen again this season he’s been putting the time in to improve. “I’m focused on how it’s going to be through out the season. I’m willing to do whatever it takes to win.”
Tyler is a consummate point guard who is on his way to achieving big things in the game of basketball. His attitude and work ethic towards the game proves that he is not just a flashy high school point guard looking to get numbers, he is a complete basketball player looking to do whatever it takes to help his team win, and improve his overall game. He is constantly helping younger players out, giving the new up and comers in B.C. some advice to live by, “My advice to players coming up is that first of all there’s no substitute for hard work, it all pays off. Secondly set goals for your self, be realistic about them, and then that’ll help you keep focused on achieving them. Then the next thing you know is your reaching to achieve higher ones.”
Tyler is looking forward to his senior campaign, where he will try to lead Handsworth to that elusive B.C. AAA Provincial title.
Drive wishes Tyler the best of luck on this upcoming season.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
|
||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||
.: RETRO MVP: AARON CHRISTENSEN
.: TEAM SPOTLIGHT: ST. GEORGES
.: PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: JACOB DOERKSEN
.: COACHES CORNER: TOM NEWELL
.: PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: H. BRADFORD
.: PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: CHARLIE SPURR
.: PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: BRENT MALISH
.: PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: AYMEN NURHUISEN
.: NEW BALANCE ATHLETE OF THE MONTH
.: COACHES CORNER: BILL DISBROW
.: PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: JERON DILLON
.: 2004-05 AAA RANKINGS
.: TOP UNDERCLASSMEN: JR | SO | FR
.: 2004-05 PRE-SEASON ALL-BC TEAMS
.: PLAYER DIARY: TYRELL MARA
.: ARCHIVED PAST ARTICLES
“To me what makes a player great is someone who has a huge heart and competes with a never die attitude and who will do what ever it takes to make them win. These are guys I model my game after," - Kepkay
“I’m focused on how it’s going to be throughout the season. I’m willing to do whatever it takes to win.” - Kepkay
"...first of all there’s no substitute for hard work.." - Kepkay