WITH the year progressing, the National Collegiate Athlete Association (NCAA) basketball tournaments for men and women are edging closer and closer by the day.

Plenty of players will be looking to make their mark, with the league well-known as one of the biggest platforms for showcasing talent in the world. Typically, the league is made up of players who have been born and bred in the system and in the United States, but there are some international imports who have impressed scouts enough to make the move overseas. With the Australian basketball system as strong as ever, the number of Aussies in the NCAA system is growing on a yearly basis, and taking full advantage of this is Tyler Robertson.

With a basketball passion running through his family, the Victorian was destined to forge a path in the sport. A native of Melbourne, Robertson began his basketball journey when still attending high school, competing for Box Hill in a number of tournaments for his school. He stood out during these matches with his explosive scoring and the professional manner in which he conducted himself on the court.

He led Box Hill to a successful period during his time with the school, and was eventually selected to represent Victoria in the Under-16 state team, which started a number of appearances in state representing sides. He made a strong impression during his time representing Victoria, with an innate ability to play team-first basketball while also taking over games himself.

His impressive performances also resulted in a selection to the Australian team for the FIBA Under-17 Oceania Championships in 2017, where Australia delivered a dominant performance to claim the title. In the side, Robertson was a starter for every game, and delivered averages of 12.6 points. 5.6 rebounds and five assists per game to prove a valuable contributor in a side that was stacked with young talent.

He continued his strong play at international level, with appearances on the Under-18 squad in 2018 and the Under-20 team in 2019, where he once again stood out with his terrific all around play. Following the completion of his international duties and his studies at Box Hill, Robertson set his sights on heading to the United States to enter the collegiate basketball system, like many of his Aussie teammates had already done.

In 2019, Robertson signed with the Eastern Washington Eagles, who compete in the Big Sky Conference, which is a division of the NCAA. In his first year with the side, the Aussie impressed with nice play in limited minutes, and while he didn’t bring the house down with his averages, he clearly did enough to impress the coaches.

The following season saw a significant boost in opportunity for Robertson, with increased minutes resulting in a bump in all key statistical categories. Moving his minutes up to 26 per game, Robertson was able to produce over 11 points and three assists per game, with six starting appearances next to his name too.

With a move to the Portland Pilots finalized in the offseason, Robertson is set to take his journey to the next level, and with an eligibility for the 2023 NBA draft up his sleeve, he is certainly one to watch for the future.

Photo: Eastern Washington University Athletics