FARMINGTON HILLS — The climb to a Division I college scholarship was a marathon not a sprint for North Farmington senior swingman Tyler Spratt. His rise in recruiting circles was a slow burn. The fames are properly stoked now, no doubt.
After 18 months of tireless work and development — accompanied by a growing buzz due to his efficiency and big-game performances as a sophomore in 2022 –, the offers began coming in back in the spring and on Monday, the hard-nosed, soft-shooting 6-foot-5 Spratt committed to Cleveland State University.
Last winter, he teamed with 2023 Mr. Basketball finalist Ryan Hurst (U-D Mercy) and classmate Landon Williams (CMU, Niagra offers), to lead North Farmington to an OAA championship, a district title and No. 1 public-school team in the Metro Detroit suburbs bragging rights. The Raiders (22-2) fell to a red-hot Orchard Lake St. Mary’s in the regional finals.
Todd Negoshian’s NF program has produced a gaudy eight Division I signees in his 12 seasons on the bench holding the clipboard. Spratt has been lighting the comp on fire this offseason with All-Ohio Select on the AAU circuit.
As a junior, Spratt posted 12 points and 7 rebounds per night and shot 46 percent from 3-point range. High Point was the first DI school to offer him when the Big South Conference program down in North Carolina placed a bid at his doorstep in May. Both Cleveland State of the Horizon League and Robert Morris University In Pittsburgh in the Northeast Conference.
Cleveland State went 21-14 in the 2023 campaign.