April 29, 2008
ORLANDO, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - Unlike the majority of his teammates, the 2008-09 campaign for A.J. Tyler (Palm Harbor, Fla./Palm Harbor University) began last summer when he arrived on the UCF campus. A transfer from Clemson, Tyler knew that he would have to sit out the 2007-08 season due to NCAA rules, so he immediately began preparing for the following year, when he would suit up for UCF as a sophomore.
As a result, the power forward is enthused this his time to play for the Knights is approaching.
"It feels good (now that the year is done). I have a boost of energy," Tyler said. "I cannot wait to get out there. I am just real excited about next year."
This past season, Tyler practiced with the Knights at home. Playing on UCF's scout team, he battled players like Tony Davis (Sarasota, Fla./Riverview) and Kenrick Zondervan (Hoffddorp, Holland) in the post in practice each day.
In 2006-07, he appeared in 30 games as a freshman for Clemson. Tyler averaged 1.2 points and 1.4 rebounds in five minutes per game.
UCF loses just one post player from its 2007-08 roster, center Stanley Billings.
An accurate shooter, Tyler plans on working hard to improve his game over the summer. He is expected to head home at the start of the summer for a few weeks. While in Palm Harbor, a St. Petersburg suburb, he will work out with a personal trainer and play in the evening against other college players from the area.
"I want to continue trying to become a pick-and-pop guy. I am going to work on my strength and conditioning and put a lot of shots up," he said.
Tyler will return to Orlando to take classes during UCF's second summer semester.
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