BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Today we continue a new series called Student-Athlete Spotlight, presented by Coca-Cola, that will highlight Samford's outstanding student-athletes. Today's 15^th episode featured men's basketball senior, Jacob Tryon.
 
Tryon began his collegiate career with a season at East Los Angeles Junior College, followed by two seasons at Portland. He then transferred to New Mexico State, but his waiver to play this season was denied by the NCAA. He then transferred to Samford and has been cleared to play this season. Tryon talked about the journey that led him to Samford.
 
"After Portland, I just wanted to make a change," Tryon said. "New Mexico State hit me up, I knew the assistant coach from when he recruited me to JC. I thought that was a good spot for me and we were waiting on the waiver for a long time. We had put it together and we were waiting for a few months before I got out there. And then finally the day before the first day of school, I found out that night the waiver didn't go through. So, now I have to pivot and basically go find a new school. Thankfully they were very accommodating and they helped me find Coach (Tra) Arnold here and kind of go from there to Samford. It worked out in the end, I'm glad I'm here. It's a blessing in disguise, maybe."


 
Tryon grew up in California and has been on the west coast his entire life. He talked a little about the transition going from the west coast to the east.
 
"I've never really been to the south too many times or even in this area of the country," Tryon said. "I'm used to travelling, but maybe not so much out here. I'm looking forward to getting to know the area and some spots around here a little bit more."
 
Tryon stands 6-11, but he is able to step outside and make shots from three-point range. He made 4-of-5 from beyond the arc in a recent win at Belmont, and he led Portland in three-point percentage a year ago.
 
"I've always kind of looked at Dirk (Nowitzki) or Pau Gasol growing up, as a Lakers fan," Tryon said. "I wasn't Kobe, so I had to be Pau Gasol, or I like Dirk Nowitzki's game. I was always shooting, in high school, it was probably one or two threes a game, I kind of stayed inside more. Just because you have such a height advantage most of the time in high school. But going forward it was always something I wanted to improve at. Just the way the game is going now, everyone has to shoot, or it seems like everyone is able to shoot, even the big fives. It's just something I wanted to work on and continued to work on. At Portland, they put me more as like a four, so I think having the versatility of being able to go inside and outside is very helpful for me. And also, I just like to play that way too."
 
Tryon talked a little about what he hopes to bring to the team this season.
 
"I would just way maybe experience," Tryon said. "We have some younger guys, we also have some older guys, but being able to be a leader and show guys, by example, how to get through certain situations. And then also the on-the-court stuff, being able to stretch the floor and play the style of play that Coach Bucky (McMillan) is trying to bring in here, the fast-paced, a lot of pace and space, make the extra pass and make decisions on the fly, that fits my style pretty well."
 
Tryon also talked about the areas he would like to improve on as the season progresses.
 
"I would say always getting bigger," Tryon said. "I have a really slender frame, so I'm trying to put some more weight on still, that's always a thing, working with (Strength Coach Jonathan) Ferris in the weight room. Also, I would say just being more physical. Being able to play with those bigger fives, and still be able to guard fours. I would say defense and being able to guard the fives and fours, and not having to switch off or have to hide me anywhere on defense."