Q&A: Six questions with Seneca Valley guard Tyran Crawford

The 2015-2016 basketball season was a landmark year for Seneca Valley as the Screamin’ Eagles won 21 games, earning a state tournament appearance in the MPSSAA Class 3A Final Four.

Tyran Crawford (Class of 2017 small forward) served as the sixth man, averaging just under five points per game on 56 percent shooting and 31 percent from beyond the arc.

As a freshman, he played as a key contributor on the JV team, where they went 13-2 during the same time the varsity unit went win-less.

During his sophomore year, he took up a platoon role on the varsity level seeing minimal playing time.

Next year, Crawford projects as a starting centerpiece and defensive asset with his length on what could be another state championship contending basketball team.

Question: When you were having success on the junior varsity team, did you ever think that would translate to the varsity level years down the road given your program had one win over a two year span?

Answer: We knew that immediately, definitely. I came (to Seneca Valley) in eighth grade, but a lot of them have known each other since fourth grade. So that chemistry has been there. We are very talented individuals, so once you put that talent together and hard work, and then that family, we already knew it was going to come together.

Q: Having the year that you had, winning the fourth region championship in school history, and coming mere minutes away from playing for a state championship amid the passing of Coach Humphrey’s father, how can you put it all in perspective?

A: Honestly, it was just a great experience. The game after (Coach Humphrey’s dad) died, against Quince Orchard, was a terrible game. Our heads were not in it. We knew how much he cared for us and cared for each other, so that was a huge motivation for us. It was definitely a big push. All you had to see was Coach Humphrey looking at the picture of his dad he carried around. We noticed that. We feel that. We always text (Coach Humphrey), ‘We love you’ and that we are there for him. When he put that picture on the backboard after the region final game, it was beautiful.

Q: What was that moment like, when Coach Humphrey slapped the picture of his dad on the backboard and the Screamin’ Eagle basketball team celebrating the region championship?

A: It was one of the best experiences of my life. At that moment, I just saw myself as a JV player, wanting to put up another year on the boys basketball region championship banner. That’s always been my goal. And we did it. All the adversity that we’ve been through and just to know we stayed as a family through it. It’s the “Seneca Way”. It’s family.

Q: You guys led by as many as 10 in the second half of the semifinal game against Stephen Decatur, and then your lead slipped away in the final seconds. Was that equivalent to a blurry nightmare?

A: Definitely. For me, in the closing seconds, there was a shot right at the free throw line that I missed. And I felt my heart drop. That’s a shot I practice all the time. I just wasn’t there mentally. We had a great run, just didn’t do the little things towards the end of that game. I haven’t stopped playing basketball since the season ended. That 15 footer, a lot of my coaches are telling me to shoot that and keep working on it. When I take that shot, I see myself in that game and try to visualize myself taking that shot again next year. And this time knocking it down and hopefully getting a title.

Q: As Seneca Valley returns four of it’s six top players this coming year, including yourself, do you think you’re the team to beat again?

A: Definitely. Without a doubt. I have that much confidence in my team. I have that much confidence in my coach. I have that much confidence in myself.

Q: What are you and this Seneca Valley basketball team going to do to improve this offseason?

A: One thing about being a great player, you have to put yourself at the next level. At the JV level, we used to play varsity players and run them in practice. So really, even though we’re a family, we’re focusing on developing our game in wherever we’re going to go someday. So just taking ourselves and pushing ourselves to the next level. … It’s going to be a good year for Seneca Valley basketball.