Joe Gaiter: What does basketball mean to you?
Tyvez Monroe: Basketball is life for me. I have been playing since I was 6 years old and now I am 21. I love the grind, I love the competition. I love everything about basketball.
Joe Gaiter: Tell me about your childhood.
Tyvez Monroe: Growing up in Del Ray, Alexandria, Virginia, it was a lot of distractions in my neighborhood. A lot of fighting, drug dealing, and simple minded people. It was easy to get in trouble and easy to lose focus. I was raised by my grandparents Shirley Monroe-Cruse and Rickey Cruse.
Joe Gaiter: What were your fondest memories about playing at Edison High School?
Tyvez Monroe: My fondest moments about playing at Edison was every game. Every game the opposing team had their best defensive plan for me. It was fun because I still outshined everyone even through all the pressure. I won a lot of awards and I graduated with no problems.
Joe Gaiter: Last year you lead your team in assist. What are the keys in being a good playmaker?
Tyvez Monroe: I have always been a good passer. Since I can score well, the defense is so worried about what I am about to do they forget about my other teammates. The more aggressive I am, the more assist I get. I also have good court vision.
Joe Gaiter: What are your strengths and weaknesses?
Tyvez Monroe: My strengths are shooting, and using my body to make plays. I also play good defense. I am like a 6”3 LeBron James. I do everything for my team. Score, defense, rebounds, hustle, diving on the floor for loose balls. everything.
Joe Gaiter: How would you define your success?
Tyvez Monroe: My success has definitely been limited because I used to be out of shape. If I was in shape coming out of high school would most likely be playing at Florida State or somewhere. Honestly. My success here at Augusta has been great. Every year I have tremendously progressed.
Joe Gaiter: What are your goals for the season?
Tyvez Monroe: I want to be first team All Conference, I want to win the conference championship, and I want to win the national championship.
Joe Gaiter: How have you’ve grown from freshman year at Augusta?
Tyvez Monroe: I have grown so much since my freshman year. Coming in as a freshman I was 252 pounds. Now I am 215 pounds playing my best college basketball ever. I am also one of the primary scorers on my team and I play the most minutes on the team. I believe I am the most valuable player for us right now. At least one of them.
Joe Gaiter: Do you have any regrets?
Tyvez Monroe: I regret not going to live with my dad. I would’ve been way better than I am now and I would be at a way better school. But it’s cool. You live and you learn. The people that helped me become who I am today are my grandparents, my father, Charles Pittman my AAU coach, my trainer Claudy Abranches and Coach Metress. Metress sacrificed much for me so I try to play as hard as I can for him day in and day out.
Joe Gaiter: Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?
Tyvez Monroe: I definitely see myself playing pro basketball somewhere for a lot of money. I worked too hard not to.
Joe Gaiter: Final Words?
Tyvez Monroe: Shout out to my grandmother for sacrificing so much for me and having my back even when she did not want to.
