Ty Price Q&A
Ty Price popped up on our radar last year and after stellar showings at CrossRoads Elite Invitational , EYBL and The Blueprint Combine where we got to evaluate Price in person and get to know him on and off the court, it was only a matter of time before we coordinated a time to jump on Zoom with the goal of sharing his unique, incredibly inspiring story.
As part of the Pro Insight Q&A series, Price sheds light on his battle through tremendous loss, relentless work ethic, and life outlook. He also touches on his game, recruitment, and career goals. Currently averaging 30ppg, 5apg, 4rpg, and 2spg while shooting 38% from three-point land on four makes per game, Butler County High School’s star is off to a tremendous start to his sophomore campaign, and is looking like a special player in the ‘25 class.
For the next installment of the Pro Insight Q&A series, we present 2025 prospect Ty Price, from Morgantown, Kentucky:
Pro Insight: To start off, why don’t you introduce yourself and also give a quick overview of where you’re from and who you play with.
Ty Price: My name is Ty Price, class of 2025 point guard. I am from Morgantown, Kentucky, and I play high school at Butler County High School, and over the summer I played for Bradley Beal Elite.
PI: Let’s start by talking some hoops. For those who haven’t seen you play much, who are you on the court?
TP: First and foremost, I am a competitor, and I also feel like I’m the best shooter in my class, and I feel that I can make high level reads in the pick-and-roll, create shots for my teammates, and play with a high IQ.
PI: Those are definitely some strengths of yours, but you also stood out on the defensive end the first time I saw you. Would you like to talk more about that end?
TP: I feel like I can defend at a high level — being a smaller guard, I feel like I can get up under whoever I am guarding and cause them problems, make them uncomfortable. I think this year I am averaging 2.3 steals per game, so I can get in the passing lanes, too, and make plays on the defensive end as well.
PI: What are some improvement areas?
TP: I have been hitting my off-hand a lot lately to continue to make it more of an option and more comfortable whether it's dribbling, finishing, or passing. I would also say, obviously it’s not a weakness, but just continuing to extend my range and shoot it farther out off the dribble or catching off either foot. I would also say just making my floater an even higher percentage shot to where it’s very consistent.
PI: What would you say are some underrated aspects to your game?
TP: I would definitely say defense, just because most of the time people look at me and probably don't think I can defend just being a smaller guard. But, I definitely think I can cause problems on defense for whoever I am guarding and just pressure the ball at a high level and get up under them. I would also say that my passing is probably something else that is underrated. People are starting to see it now because my assist numbers have really gone up, but just being able to read the defense and pass at an elite level with either hand going at any speed, like I have really worked on that and I feel like that’s definitely something that is underrated in my game.
PI: Is there anyone you model your game after? And if yes, how so?
TP: There's a few players that I watch and try to take certain things from each, like Trae Young, of course his shooting ability, but just what he can do in the pick-and-roll is like getting them the shot they want every time. His floater is knockdown, but he can also throw lobs at any time and he can just pick apart a defense in pick-and-roll. Also studying Steph Curry and his shooting ability. Dame Lillard, I like watching him a lot. Also like Luka Doncic, he never gets sped up. His change of pace looks like he is playing in slow motion, but he’s out there killing dudes. His footwork is also something I study a lot. Just taking certain things from certain players and the things they do well and trying to implement that into my game.
PI: When did you begin playing basketball? When did it become serious?
TP: I have probably been playing since second or third grade. It was just a junior pro team at my school. I really started taking it serious about my seventh grade year, I met Greg [Keown] and started training. I even gave up football, which I really enjoyed playing. Just trying to lock in and try and take things as far as I can.
PI: What was your football career like?
TP: It’s funny, because I was actually better at football than I was at basketball. I was a starting quarterback before I quit, and I was getting offensive MVP every year and stuff. But I don’t know, I decided basketball is what I wanted to do, so I had to give it up and play basketball year-round. I mean, it’s worked out pretty good so far.
PI: You’ve really boosted your production since last year, nearly doubling your scoring and getting to the line a lot. What's been the difference from last year to now, on and off the court?
TP: Well, obviously after a year of work, my game has gotten much better. I think I am making more threes per game as well, and my shooting off the dribble has gotten much better. I think like 95-percent of my threes that I make and that I shoot are all off the dribble, now. That is definitely an improvement since last year. Also just drawing contact, drawing fouls, getting those easy points has helped my scoring average go up. Also, just staying aggressive and trying to push the ball, because we [Butler County] like to play fast, so that is another thing that has also helped me is just getting up and down and having more possessions. Just getting easy buckets — whether it be free throws, layups, or floaters — has also helped too.
PI: What is it that you truly love about basketball?
TP: I would say one thing I love about it is that you can go to the gym anytime and take your mind off of things, no matter what you are going through. You can just focus for that amount of time on getting better, and that's the only thing that matters at that time. That’s one thing I just love about basketball. Also, just trying to perfect your game and see how good you can actually get, I love that challenge, everyday. Just trying to get better everyday. I don't really know what it is, but it is something that has always drawn me to the game, just trying to be the best player I can be.
PI: Do you think that constant pursuit of improvement carries over to other aspects of your life?
TP: Definitely, because I have always had good grades. So, I think basketball translates a lot to life as f