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Like many young adults, Tyreek Duren has needed to ramp up resolve in looking to score that first post-college graduation vocation. The 22-year-old product of La Salle University and Ss. Neumann-Goretti High School, 1736 S. 10th St., is striving to prove a proficient marksman for a professional basketball club and is regaining confidence after a setback earlier this month.
“No matter what I go through, I’m going to play with an edge and go out there as if I’m the best guy on the court,” the Yeadon dweller said Monday at his East Passyunk Crossing-based secondary education alma mater. “I’m ready for whatever new direction my life will take.”
Duren had thought his course would include a sojourn with the Philadelphia 76ers, who invited him to participate in the Las Vegas-situated Samsung NBA Summer League. The organization, however, cut him before play began, leaving the player briefly disappointed but determined to use workouts with Jameer Nelson to enhance estimation of his commitment.
“It’s great to have someone to feed off,” he said of the fellow free agent, who, along with Duren, can claim to be among only three Big 5 guards to tally at least 1,500 points, 500 assists and 200 steals, doing his damage for Saint Joseph’s University. “He’s had success in the league [with the Orlando Magic], so he’s a great mentor.”
Duren and Nelson initially connected following the former’s freshman year at La Salle and aspire, through Harkum College-located sessions, to continue to court attention. The younger 6-footer believes his collegiate kudos, including three All-Big 5 nods, can win wooers, but he prides himself on his tenacious allegiance to the team dynamic.
“I think every good club’s success starts and ends with the guards,” Duren, who this year paced the Big 5 in steals while ranking fourth in assists and fifth in points, said. “Even if it’s not declared that I’m a leader, I intend to be one because I care about how the unit functions as a whole. Right now, I’m staying positive because I know I can help somebody; there’s no offseason for players.”
The newly minted La Salle alumnus enrolled at the North Philly-rooted institution after having intensified a resurgence at Neumann-Goretti that remains ever potent, constantly dissected and always admired. He helped the Saints to capture two Catholic League crowns and a Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association title, endearing himself to supporters through his diligence to excellence.
“Neumann-Goretti, yeah, I’ll never forget the good times here, especially because of how committed everyone was to getting better,” Duren said of the Carl Arrigale-led behemoth, which this season secured its sixth consecutive parochial plaque. “I think I had great preparation for college and left here feeling pretty good about helping another program to become a force.”
Dubbing college “a great learning experience,” he became a model of consistency for the Atlantic-10 constituent, making 129 starts in 132 games and sniping 1,729 points, good for 14th on the Explorers all-time list. Coming from a four-guard set at Neumann-Goretti, he frequently fraternized with La Salle coach Dr. John Giannini in exploring a more up-tempo style that began to yield results during his sophomore season.
“For us, it became obvious that we didn’t need big guards; we just needed good ones,” Duren said of keying consistent performances for the Explorers. “It started clicking after a little bit, and I’m happy with the strides that we made.”
La Salle, following a lackluster 2010-’11 slog, landed a National Invitation Tournament berth two years ago and played hard in a 70-61 opening-round loss to the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers. Duren declared the school “got smaller and got better” during his junior season, and fans of the outfit can now look at that as an understatement, as Giannini’s pupils outclassed 24 foes to advance to the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16.
“That’s another set of memories that will last forever,” he said of the remarkable three-victory run, which included his finding Tyrone Garland for a waning-moments bank shot dubbed the “Southwest Philly Floater” to down the University of Mississippi Rebels. “I really thought we’d be back there this year, but it didn’t happen. Still, I can’t hang my head about that because I know the effort was there.”
Duren divulged that he held no huge hopes of going in last month’s NBA Draft minus another deep tourney effort and has believed all along his chance to champion his skills and selfless style would come via a summer observation, making the 76ers’ decision that more disheartening.
“I’m looking to move on from that, though,” he said. “It was a little rough in the beginning when I had to tell so many people, but I’m praying for the best.”
Always feeling as if he has needed to prove himself, Duren can consider himself fortunate for having had opportunities to do just that and realizes that if a team is to take him on as a contributor, he will need to knock down open shots and play steadfast defense.
“I’m a Philly guy, so I know what’s expected of me,” the self-aware athlete, who could end up playing overseas, said. “I know I’ll have to make adjustments, but doing all that, and more, is worth a chance not only to get paid to do what I love but to make a team better. I don’t intend to let anything stop me.”
Contact Managing Editor Joseph Myers at jmyers@southphillyreview.com or ext. 124.
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