Hudson Valley Basketball Star Earns High Recognition

Every year, the James Naismith Player of the Year award is given to the nation's best college basketball player.

As we enter the 2016-17 basketball season, one local star has been named to this year's Naismith watch list.

Syracuse sophomore Tyler Lydon was one of fifty players named to the list nationwide. If you think about the amount of schools and players who represent Division 1 college basketball, being named in the top fifty is quite the high honor. Lydon was one of only ten sophomores to be named.

Lydon is from the Elizaville area in Columbia County. In high school, he originally attended Pine Plains before transferring to New Hampton Prep. Lydon helped lead New Hampton Prep to a 21-9 record as a senior, while receiving accolades as one of the nation's top players.

Lydon became a starter for the Orangemen as a true freshman in 2015-16, while helping the team make it all the way the Final Four. 

If he decides to make himself eligible for the 2017 NBA Draft, experts expect Lydon to be a first round pick.

Best of luck to Tyler this year!