Richard Pitino and Co. will welcome a highly sought-after local prospect to Victory Parkway on July 21st. The prospect is the Class of 2027 4-star PG Josh Tyson. He was a standout at Lakota West during his junior season. This year, he is transferring to La Lumiere in La Porte, Indiana, just outside of Chicago.
High School Career
Listed at 6’2″, 170 lbs, Tyson has the ideal build for a PG. Last season at Lakota, he averaged 16.3 points, 3.8 assists, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.0 steals for the Firebirds. He showed that he could score, dish the ball, and defend efficiently. He has shown the tools to develop into a very well rounded player when all is said and done. Picking the right program is paramount for him in his development.
Tyson has surged up the ranks in the past few months, coming in at 58th nationally in his class (according to 24/7 rankings). He is the number-four-ranked player in the state of Indiana.
His recruitment has heated up rapidly this summer, as he now has offers from Xavier, Cincinnati, Ohio State, Clemson, Virginia Tech, Michigan State, Kentucky and more schools around the country. He visits X on the 21st, OSU on August 28th, Virginia Tech on September 5th, and UC on September 19th. Nothing has been scheduled with Clemson, MSU, Kentucky, or any other schools at this time, but that is expected to change. He’s been on campus at Cincinnati several times and was seen at practice on 6/25. That being said, Michigan State, Ohio State, and Xavier appear to be the three frontrunners as he heads into visits.
On top of his success in high school ball, Josh Tyson plays for Phenom United in the Adidas circuit, meaning he plays against elite competition year-round. His recent per game averages 14.4 PPG, 3.9 APG, 2.6 RPG, and 2.3 SPG on 53.9% shooting. This is a loaded team playing in a highly competitive circuit. Putting up great numbers on the Adidas circuit verify that his ranking is backed up by more than just talk.
Tyson’s Style of Play
The factor that makes Tyson so appealing to so many schools is his defensive intensity. Josh claims it to be his “calling card.” On top of his defensive abilities, he is an extremely strong scorer, putting up at least twenty points in every Lakota West game but one. Last season, he put up 28 on the school he now plays for. Most of his scoring is from him driving to the lane and showing off his elite finishing skills. He also has the ability to distribute the ball when needed. Another positive characteristic of Tyson is his work ethic; he is known for “showing up early, leaving late, and doing the reps when no one is watching.”
In a recent interview with StockRisers, Josh claimed that he had been working on his leadership. In the past, he believed that he wasn’t always there to guide and set examples for his team. This past season, he has improved in his consistency and voice within his team. Along with his leadership, he continues to improve the physical aspects of his game at all times.
Wrap-Up
The upcoming visit with Xavier will provide a great opportunity for Coach Pitino and his staff continue to build a meaningful relationship with Tyson, one of the more promising guards in his class. Josh appears to fit the culture and ideal playing style of Pitino, and Xavier should continue to show plenty of interest in Josh. Xavier fans haven’t had a ton of high school recruiting news to get excited about over the last 5 or so years, but Josh and the 2027 class could continue to build on what was a very strong 2026 class.