The NBA May Beckon But Jaylon Tyson First Has Postseason Ambitions For Cal
Jaylon Tyson faces a life-changing decision this spring: Enter the NBA draft or return to Cal for his senior season?
“My mind’s been all over the place,” Tyson said. “My dreams and aspirations are to be an NBA player. I’m just trying to stay in the moment.”
In this moment, Tyson and the Bears (11-15, 7-8 Pac-12) are preparing for their final home weekend of the regular season. On Thursday night, they play Oregon State (11-15, 3-12), which has lost its past six games but serves as an inspiration of sorts.
Tyson recalls the 2021 Oregon State team that was languishing at 11-11 and 7-9 in the Pac-12 when it caught fire. The Beavers won six of their next seven games, including against UCLA, Oregon and Colorado to claim the Pac-12 tournament crown.
Not satisfied with merely earning its first NCAA bid in five years, OSU reeled off victories over Tennessee, Oklahoma State and Loyola Chicago with then 101-year-old Sister Jean. The Beavers’ run ended with a 67-61 loss to Houston in the Elite 8.
“I think this team can make that happen,” Tyson said. “We’ve just got to come together, learn from our mistakes. We’ve got clean up a lot of things we’re doing. Once we smooth that stuff out, I think we can really make a run in the Pac-12 tournament.”
Jaylon Tyson drives against a Washington defender.
Photo by Joe Nicholson, USA Today
The Bears haven’t even won a game at the Pac-12 tournament since 2021 and haven’t advanced to the NCAAs since 2016 when their roster included Jaylen Brown, Tyrone Wallace, Ivan Rabb and Jordan Mathews.
But Tyson believes his team — which has wins over the likes of UCLA, Washington State, Oregon and Stanford — won’t be an easy out at the Pac-12 event in Las Vegas.
“I would say a lot of people don’t want to play us,” he said. “The numbers might say we’re 11-15 but the thing about us is we can come out and win every game we play.”
The Bears certainly have changed the arc of their program, and Tyson is among the big reasons. He ranks second in the Pac-12 in scoring at 20.3 points per game and looks to become Cal’s first 20 points-per-game scorer since Ryan Anderson (21.1) in 2007-08.
With 508 points, he is on pace to score 630, which would land him at No. 7 on Cal’s single-season list. And that’s presuming the Bears play the minimum one game at the Pac-12 tournament.
What's impressive about Tyson's offensive game is the variety of ways he can score — drives to the basket, from the mid-range and 37-percent accuracy from beyond the 3-point arc.
A 6-foot-7 junior from Plano, Texas, Tyson also contributes in other ways. He is fifth in the conference in rebounding (7.1), leads the Bears in assists (3.3) and is second in steals and blocked shots.
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Tyson’s play earned him a spot among 10 candidates for the Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year. And although that’s his natural position, the reality is Tyson has been Cal’s primary point guard since Devin Askew was lost to a season-ending injury in December.
“It’s been great for me. I’ve been learning how to be a leader, make my teammates around me better. But also showcase my different talents,” he said. “Growing up I’ve always been a scorer. I’ve been able to show I can do more. Coach Madsen tells me all the time this is going to help me with my draft stock. It makes me more versatile.”
That versatility allowed him to set up the winning play Saturday at Washington. With Cal trailing 80-79, Tyson took the inbounds pass, quickly drew a double team and found Jalen Celestine open for the game-winning 3-pointer with 4 seconds left.
“I’ve done a lot scoring . . . but to see him take that shot and hit it with confidence, that’s just big-time,” said Tyson, whose contributions to the 82-80 victory included 28 points and six assists, the seventh time he’s dished at least five in a game.
Tyson credits first-year Cal coach Mark Madsen with helping him become a more confident and consistent player. He has scored in double figures every game — reaching 20 points or more 15 times — after a sophomore season at Texas Tech where he provided just 10.7 points per game and only once delivered five assists in a game.
“Mark Madsen and his staff, they believe in me,” he said. “They'll tell me, `It don’t matter every game if you go out and score five points or score 35 points, you’re still the best player on the court.' Once you keep hearing that, it’s instilled in you.”
Madsen is not the only one who expesses is confidence in Tyson. Teammate Jalen Cone — yes, the Bears apparently lead the nation in players named Jaylon/Jalen — talks in the video above after Tyson scored 30 points in Cal’s win over Colorado last month.
Tyson came to Cal as a transfer from Texas Tech, where he became close with Fardaws Aimaq. Last season went sideways for Tyson after he reported being the subject of racially insensitive comments from coach Mark Adams, who was subsequently fired.
Aimaq had played successfully under Madsen at Utah Valley and decided quickly to reunite with his former coach in Berkeley. Aimaq, who leads the Pac-12 in rebounding at 11.2 per game, convinced Tyson that Madsen would be a good fit.
Madsen talks in the video above about what Tyson brings to the Bears.
“I’m so glad I made this decision to come here with him. It probably wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for him,” Tyson said. “I’m just blessed to have someone like him in my circle."
As for Madsen, Tyson said his new coach made him no promises, included his parents in the recruiting process and has “probably been better than what I expected.”
He also was pursued out of the transfer portal by Auburn and Kansas. The chance to make a difference at a program that was 3-29 a year ago had appeal for Tyson.
“Kansas already has done everything. Cal used to be good in basketball. They had Jason Kidd and Jaylen Brown — two NBA players who were really, really good,” Tyson said. “I kind of wanted to follow their footsteps. Also there was an opportunity here to build something back up.
“I knew it was going to be hard, but that ultimately led to my decision, just wanting to make a difference. I’m super happy. Not only athletically am I succeeding, but academically. I’ve been pushed for sure — I’ve never been pushed like this ever in my life.”
Madsen’s experience as a former player and assistant coach in the NBA also scored points for Tyson. Playing in the NBA has been his dream since childhood.
Tyson’s name is beginning to appear in various mock drafts. NBA.com's projections, provided by Bleacher Report, have Tyson as a late first-round pick at No. 29. Others suggest he’s a second-round pick: No. 37 by nbadraftroom.com, No. 54 by SI.com and No. 56 by NBAdraft.net. Others don’t include Tyson at all.
The mock drafts offer no promise, but Tyson said he will enter his name into the draft pool, allowing him to work out for teams and get evaluations from NBA scouts and personnel folks. He then will be positioned to make an informed decision.
“My end goal is to be in the NBA. Am I in a rush? No,” Tyson said.
“It’s (about) what makes sense for me. Where I’ll be (taken in the draft) . . . am I ready to be a NBA player? It’s one of the biggest decisions of my life."
Cover photo of Cal guard Jaylon Tyson
Follow Jeff Faraudo of Cal Sports Report on Twitter: @jefffaraudo
