Towson men's basketball standout Tyler Tejada's mentality is best summarized by a phrase his coach uses.
"My coach calls it an everyday guy. You gotta be an everyday guy," he said.
An everyday guy does not let outside influences affect his game. An everyday guy shows up early and leaves late. An everyday guy gives 100% of his effort, all of the time.
Tyler Tejada is an everyday guy.
During the NCAA Elite Student-Athlete Symposium for Men's Basketball last month, he said very few words. He observed the other players' interactions, listened intently to the speakers and nodded his head when information registered with him.
While he said very few words, he left the NCAA national office with pages and pages of notes he took throughout the three-day event.
"I've learned a lot of new things, a lot of things I had no idea about," he said. "On and off the court, keeping the right people around you and knowing financial stuff. Who you can trust, what to look out for and just learning the ins and outs of the business side off the court."
Tejada is quiet by nature, but on the court his game talks.
As a true freshman last season, Tejada was named Coastal Athletic Association Rookie of the Year after averaging 10 points and three rebounds per game and shooting 42% from the floor. He was selected for the Elite Symposium due to his potential to be drafted in the NBA once he leaves college.
Towson assistant coach Parfait Bitee attended the Elite Symposium with Tejada. Bitee described Tejada as quiet and hard-working.
"He is definitely going to be good. He was Rookie of the Year, which tells you how efficient he is. I think he's gonna be impactful because he works at it. He loves it."
Both Tejada and his coaches agree that his hard work serves as the foundation of his success on the court. Tejada credits his mother for instilling this value.
"Watching her and all the things that she's been through in her life and the things that she's done … she showed me that if you work hard, you'll get what you want."
With his success, the Teaneck, New Jersey, native, who is of Dominican descent, hopes to inspire other kids from his hometown.
"I'd rather be a role model where I'm from rather than worldwide because, for me, it's more important for kids that come from where I'm from to look at me and see, 'He did it, so I can do that, too,'" he said.
He also hopes that he can guide the way for other Hispanic athletes.
"Hispanic people span the country, worldwide, and it's important that everybody knows the great things they do. Especially as a basketball player, representation is so important to have more of us out there," he said. "Other Hispanic kids see that they can do the same thing."
In the future, Tejada plans to continue to be an everyday guy. He wants to win games and take Towson to the NCAA tournament, to experience March Madness. Even with his success his freshman season, he will show up to the gym early and leave late. He won't say much, but his game will talk. Most importantly, he will remember why he plays the game of basketball.
"Just keep fighting, keep going every day, because everything works out for itself eventually," he said. "You know you stay true to yourself, know what you want in life and give everything you got, that it will work out for you."
Towson assistant coach Parfait Bitee (left), who attended the NCAA Elite Student-Athlete Symposium for Men's Basketball with Tejada, noted the sophomore's work ethic. "I think he's gonna be impactful because he works at it. He loves it," Bitee said. (Photo by Arpan Bose / NCAA)
