In a league where the credit most often goes to those who top the scoring list, Tyrone Dickson embodies all of the little things that are necessary to win in the OCAA.
The six-foot-five Dickson is in his third year on the Humber Hawks men's basketball team, and while he has been a double-figure scorer for much of his career, it's everything else he does on the court that separate him from the pack.
Heading into the season, Dickson had already established himself among the best interior players in Ontario. In his first year as a Hawk, the 2012-13 season, he set Humber's all-time single season rebounding record at 157. Even as a freshmen, Dickson displayed a rare instinct for the ball and a zeal for rebounding few players possess.
Humber went 14-6 during the regular season, and headed to OC's as heavy underdogs against eastern division champion Seneca. While most teams rely heavily on veterans during the post-season, Dickson dominated, establishing himself as a rare breed of first year player who can adapt to championship play. Despite an 89-77 loss, his line of 18 points and eight rebounds (including six offensive boards) kept Humber in the game. At the season's conclusion, Dickson was named the OCAA's rookie of the year, as well as an all-star.
The 2013-14 season saw Dickson return to the team after missing the season's first half - a point at which the Hawks were 6-3 and looked to be in for a tough battle for a playoff spot. Dickson's first game was on the road at Lambton, and his impact was immediately felt on both ends of the court. Starting that game against the Lions, Humber was perfect the rest of the season, finishing on a 9-0 run with Ty in the lineup and in a three-way tie for top spot in the western division. The Hawks went from a middling team on the boards to the OCAA's second best, finishing the year with a differential of plus-11.8, with Dickson leading the way with an average of 8.4 rebounds per game.
At the provincial championship, Dickson elevated his game yet again, going off against Seneca for 12 points and 16 rebounds in a 71-53 win. After a tough loss to Algonquin, he again put the blue and gold on his back, this time going for 15 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks in 81-60 win over George Brown. The Hawks ended up coming away with an OCAA bronze medal, and Dickson's play was the biggest reason for it.
Coming into this season, the squad undoubtedly had high expectations, with several touted new recruits on the way and the return of many of the team's rotation players from a year ago. Three quarters of the way through the season, the team has unquestionably quieted any worries about how the team would mesh, racing out to a 12-1 start that has them well positioned come February. While many players have been key contributors to the team's success, Dickson has undoubtedly been the team's catalyst and probably the OCAA's most impactful two-way player. He currently ranks third in offensive rebounds, fourth in defensive rebounding, second in blocks and fourth in total rebounding.
Dickson's ability to protect the rim and alter shots is unparalleled; the Hawks currently boast Ontario's stingiest defence (allowing just 64.6 points per game). Humber also ranks number one in terms of rebounding differential (plus-18.8), blocks per game (5.6), and defensive field goal percentage (32.9 per cent), rare dominance across the board for a unit.
These numbers may not show up directly in his box scores, but Ty's influence on the province's strongest defence is unmatched; he allows guards to take more chances on creating turnovers, and holds opponents to increasingly low percentages on the interior. While the offensive side of the ball no doubt gets more attention, defence is equally important and Dickson is clearly the best player on that end in Ontario.
Dickson is no slouch offensively, as he has shot 50 per cent from the field and averaged double figures on the year. He rounds out his stat line with 2.9 steals and 2.7 blocks a night, and if history is any indicator he is saving his best for last. With the season winding down, it is essentially guaranteed that Dickson will reset the Hawks all-time rebounding record and improve his career regular season record from an already impressive 35-7.
At season's end, he will not be the OCAA's highest scorer or most prolific offensive player, there is no doubt about that. But for anyone that follows OCAA basketball closely, Dickson's spot among the countries best is indisputable.
Source: Humber College