Tyler Cain (born June 30, 1988) is an American basketball player who last played for Derthona Basket of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A (LBA). He played college basketball for the University of South Dakota (USD).[1] He is best known for being the inaugural winner of the Great West Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year award[2] in 2009–10, the conference's first as a Division I basketball league.[3][4] As a senior that season, Cain became the second player in USD history to record 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds.[1] He is also USD's all-time leading shot blocker after compiling 361 during his career.[1]
 | |
| Free Agent | |
|---|---|
| Position | Center |
| Personal information | |
| Born | June 30, 1988 Rochester, Minnesota |
| Nationality | American |
| Listed height | 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) |
| Listed weight | 107 kg (236 lb) |
| Career information | |
| High school | John Marshall (Rochester, Minnesota) |
| College | South Dakota (2006–2010) |
| NBA draft | 2010: undrafted |
| Playing career | 2010–present |
| Career history | |
| 2010–2012 | VEF Rīga |
| 2012–2013 | Barons Kvartāls |
| 2013–2014 | Fulgor Libertas Forlì |
| 2014–2015 | Élan Béarnais Pau-Orthez |
| 2015–2016 | JDA Dijon |
| 2016–2017 | Champagne Châlons-Reims |
| 2017–2019 | Varese |
| 2019–2020 | Germani Basket Brescia |
| 2020–2021 | Victoria Libertas Pesaro |
| 2021–2023 | Derthona Basket |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Early life
editCain was born in Rochester, Minnesota to parents Richard and Laurie and sister Erica. He attended John Marshall High School in his hometown where he was a star basketball player. Cain was twice named all-conference and once named honorable mention all-state.[1] He was on the list for Minnesota Mr. Basketball and for McDonald's All-American.[1] His specialty was shot blocking, where he set several school records that surpassed Oklahoma Sooner Longar Longar's previous JMHS records: blocks in a game (24), season (106) and career (188).[1] As a senior in 2005–06, Cain averaged 19 points, 13 rebounds and 4 blocks per game.[1]
College
editIn Cain's college career, the University of South Dakota was in a stage of transition for its athletics program. During his freshman (2006–07) and sophomore (2007–08) seasons, the Coyotes were a member of the North Central Conference in Division II. In 2008–09, USD joined the Great West Conference but were still classified as an independent school for certain sports, including basketball. Then, as a senior in 2009–10, the Coyotes finally became full-fledged members of the GWC in Division I.
Over his four-year career, Cain was South Dakota's best player. He started in 115 of the 120 games he played in and he set the top four USD single-season blocks totals.[1] When his career ended, Cain finished as the school's 11th leading scorer (1,390), second leading rebounder (1,088) and tops in blocked shots (361).[1] He compiled 36 career double-doubles while scoring in double figures on 74 occasions.[1] Cain capped his career by winning the first ever GWC Player of the Year award.[2]
Professional
editIn August 2010, Cain signed a contract to play for BK VEF Rīga of the Baltic Basketball League in Latvia.[5][6] In December 2012, after not getting job at higher level Cain returned to Latvia and signed with Barons Kvartāls.[7] He averaged double-double in Latvian league (15.8 points and 10.6 rebounds).[8] Before 2013–2014 season Cain signed with Fulgor Libertas Forlì in Italian second division,[9] where he again averaged double-double (17.0 points and 11.1 rebounds)[10]
On June 24, 2019, he has signed 2 years deal with Germani Basket Brescia of the LBA.[11] Cain averaged 8.7 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.
On July 31, 2020, he parted ways with Brescia,[12] and signed in the same league with Victoria Libertas Pesaro.[13] In that season, Cain had the highest rebounds of the competition.
On Sunday July 11, 2021, Cain signed with Derthona Basket, newly promoted to the Lega Basket Serie A.[14]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Tyler Cain profile". Men's Basketball. University of South Dakota. 2010. Retrieved May 21, 2010.
- ^ a b "South Dakota's Tyler Cain Leads GWC All–Conference Men's Basketball Team" (Press release). Great West Conference. March 9, 2010. Retrieved May 21, 2010.
- ^ "About the Great West Conference". GWC History. Great West Conference. 2010. Retrieved May 21, 2010.
- ^ "Great West Granted Automatic Bid Into CIT Field". Great West Conference. September 29, 2009. Retrieved May 21, 2010.
- ^ Cain Set to Play in Latvia, August 13, 2010, retrieved September 11, 2010
- ^ VEF Riga extends Cain
- ^ Keins atgriežas Latvijā un pievienojas "Baronam"
- ^ Player profile at LBL homepage
- ^ Tyler Cain arrives in Forli
- ^ .Player profile at A2 Gold homepage
- ^ "Germani Brescia signs Tyler Cain". Sportando. June 18, 2019. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
- ^ "Germani Brescia, risoluzione consensuale del contratto con Tyler Cain" (in Italian). basketbrescialeonessa.it. July 31, 2020.
- ^ "Tyler Cain è il nuovo centro dalla VL!" (in Italian). victorialibertas.it. July 31, 2020.
- ^ "Il Re dei Rimbalzi sbarca a Tortona: Tyler Cain è bianconero". derthonabasket.it (in Italian). July 11, 2021.