Tyreon Franklin has earned the right to be confident in his abilities.
“It’s just been a drive for me to be great,” the senior stated matter-of-factly. “Seeing the competition, I always wanted to go against the best.”
Even though he was an Honorable Mention All-Conference player as a sophomore and junior at Belmond-Klemme and a 2nd Team Top of Iowa-West selection after transferring to Eagle Grove for his final year of high school, the competitive guard still isn’t satisfied.
“I wanted to get up there,” Franklin sighed longingly. “I wanted 1st Team. That’s what I was striving for.”
He was certainly 1st Team in the hearts and minds of the Eagle faithful, who will not soon forget Franklin’s otherworldly abilities on both ends of the court.
His defense this season was especially noteworthy, as Tyreon averaged a conference high 3.5 steals per game.
“I don’t know how to explain it. When I’m on the court, I can read the player and know when to go for the right steal. I’ve always been a good defender.”
When asked about the most memorable moment of his short career as an Eagle, Franklin hesitated briefly before enthusiastically reliving his game winning shot against Garner-Hayfield-Ventura.
“My head was everywhere,” he reminisced. “The first quarter I wasn’t doing so hot. I was in the locker room telling myself I got to get it done. When it was that time to shoot I told Drake to pass me the ball and I told him it was going in.”
And it went in. Sometimes you just know.
