2018-19 Recap

Terry comes to Stanford as a heralded four-star recruit. Just like Stanford great Reid Travis, Tyrell played his high school ball at DeLaSalle in Minneapolis. The Cardinal staff had been after him for quite some time, even before his physical maturation and development put him on the broader recruiting map. He’s listed at 6’1” and 160, and will likely continue to fill out.

He completed a sterling high school career in the spring by leading DeLaSalle to another state title. Terry did it all for the Islanders, scoring and facilitating at an elite level and playing lockdown defense. He recorded a double-double in the state title game with 19 points and 10 assists, and earned himself all-state honors along the way. During the summer he was chosen to play with the USA youth Select Team in Germany.

2019-20 Outlook

From watching the grainy footage of Stanford’s European trip, it’s clear that Terry is already a critical part of what Jerod Haase wants to do. He started each game and played with a level of confidence, not deferring to anyone. It’s not crazy to think he could lead this team in scoring as a freshman, or at least be among the leaders.

Despite Daejon Davis returning for his third year at the point, Terry could contend for primary ball-handling duties. He’s likely the more sure-handed option even if he isn’t quite as dynamic as Davis. From the few full games of his I’ve seen (spanning Minnesota and Europe), one thing that jumps off the page is his basketball IQ, which the Cardinal desperately need.

Terry’s shooting ability will also allow him to play off-ball. Haase’s system has a number of sets that are more or less positionless, anyway, so having extra ball-handlers out there is never a bad thing. He’s a clever cutter and a smooth athlete, so he should get his points in the flow of the offense.

He won’t be as switchable as Davis or Wills given his size, but he has a chance to be a good on-ball defender in this league. At the very least, he’s likely to rack up a nice amount of floor burns. He flat out plays hard, and emanates what it means to be a Jerod Haase player.

Terry’s just a freshman, but he has a shot to have a special year. He’ll be handed a grand opportunity, and if he’s as good as I think he might be, Stanford could surprise some people.