St. Pius X-St. Matthias’ Tyrone Riley indicators with San Francisco basketball in shock dedication ceremony – Press Telegram
St. Pius X-St. Matthias senior guard Tyrone Riley announced his decision to sign with the University of San Francisco men’s basketball program on Wednesday, Nov. 15, at St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy in Downey, California. (Photo by: John W. Davis, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
DOWNEY — St. Pius X-St. Matthias boys basketball standout Tyrone Riley wanted to share his special signing day ceremony with friends and family.
The 6-foot-6 guard, who is rated as a four-star recruit in the Class of 2024 by ESPN, surprised everyone but his closest supporters on Wednesday afternoon when he announced his decision and then signed a National Letter of Intent to play Division I college basketball at the University of San Francisco.
Riley told the Press-Telegram he chose USF over Cal and LSU and explained why it was the right decision for him.
“I picked San Francisco because when I went on campus, it felt like a home for me,” Riley said. “I was up there my freshman year for a team camp and the coaching staff was amazing there. But with this new coaching staff change (Chris Gerlufsen was promoted to head coach in 2022), I felt even better with Coach Gerlufsen, Coach (Michael) Plank, all those guys over there. Coach (Kyle) Bankhead, Coach (Jay) Duncan what they’re doing over there, I feel like could (be) really, really special. Also, the players there, I feel like I can go over there and produce. It’s one big happy family and I’m for sure looking forward to playing next year.”
2024 guard Tyrone Riley, a 4-star recruit according to ESPN, explains why he committed and signed with the University of San Francisco men’s basketball program over California Berkeley and LSU Basketball. Riley’s athletic director said the star player has a 4.0 GPA. pic.twitter.com/iiJGV3NJNl
— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) November 16, 2023
Riley, who was the 2023 Press-Telegram Boys Athlete of the Year, led St. Pius X-St. Matthias to the CIF-Southern Section Division 3AA championship in February and was named Division 3AA Player of the Year. He also received the prestigious Wooden Award as the CIF-SS D3 Player of the Year.
Riley averaged 25.6 points, 12.5 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 2.5 steals per game as a junior.
As the senior and his teammates prepare to move up to Del Rey League play from the Camino Real League in 2022-23 and Santa Fe League in 2020-22, where they won a combined three straight league titles, he is glad to have the recruiting process over with.
“It feels great to be committed and signed finally,” Riley said. “It’s been a long process, especially this past summer with everything slowing down after my injury, so doing this, I felt like I needed to do it.
“The weight is off my shoulder for sure. I feel like it’s a target on me now since I’m committed. Most people are uncommitted and are looking for something, (they) are going to try and use me as a target to get looks.”
St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy Tyrone Riley dunks against La Serna during the CIF-SS Division 3AA boys championship game in Ontario on Saturday, February 25, 2023. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy Tyrone Riley dunks against La Serna during the CIF-SS Division 3AA boys championship game in Ontario on Saturday, February 25, 2023. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)Riley’s goal is to lead his team to 30 wins for back-to-back seasons, be named Del Rey League MVP and lead St. Pius X to the program’s first ever CIF Southern Section Open Division playoff berth.
St. Pius X-St. Matthias coach Donte Archie said San Francisco is getting a program-changing student-athlete.
“Hard worker, a gym rat,” Archie said of Riley. “Great person off the court, takes care of business. He’s in ASB (Associated Student Body), does a lot of different things around the school campus where he gets a lot of love from the students, the staff, the administration.
“So overall, he’s a great kid. He took our program from when he was a freshman until now to new heights. He’s been a blessing for us going into his fourth year. It’s going to be big missing him here at the school when he’s done.”
St. Pius X-St. Matthias boys basketball head coach Donte Archie on the type of student-athlete San Francisco Men’s Basketball is getting in four star 2024 recruit Tyrone Riley. pic.twitter.com/mF9FRKvh8R
— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) November 16, 2023
The moment St. Pius X-St. Matthias 2024 guard Tyrone Riley, who is a 4-star recruit according to ESPN, publicly announced that he committed and signed his national letter of intent with San Francisco Basketball. Riley is a CIF-SS Champion and his team is moving up to Del Rey… pic.twitter.com/RzmmUMU3wd
— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) November 16, 2023
Breaking: St. Pius X-St. Matthias 2024 guard Tyrone Riley has signed with San Francisco Basketball. Riley led his team to the CIF Southern Section Division 3AA Championship as a junior. @DONTE_ARCHIE @pmabbasketball @presstelegram #LongBeachVarsityReport pic.twitter.com/zNk2HtMlro
— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) November 15, 2023
