May 16, 2003

University of San Francisco head basketball coach Philip Mathews today announced the signing of California State Junior College Player of the Year Tyrone Riley (6-7, 220) to an NCAA Letter of Intent.

"Tyrone is an exceptional player who will give us immediate help in the frontline, capable of putting up double-doubles on any given night," said a delighted Mathews. "He's a player that makes all the players around him better, a great rebounder and can score . He is ferocious on the boards and works hard on defense."

Riley was the State Player of the Year in helping lead Los Angeles City College to a 36-2 season that ended with a 90-82 state championship game victory over Fresno. He tallied 19 points and 12 rebounds in the title game and had double figures in all three state championship games. He entered the playoffs averaging 13.7 points and 9.5 points, shot 52% from the floor and 39% from behind the three-point line.

As a freshman he had an excellent semifinal game, scoring 17 points and pulling 24 rebounds against San Francisco City College.

Riley was awarded a great honor at the end of the season, becoming only the third L.A. City College Player to ever have his number retired. This despite a great success that has seen 45 players go on to Division I in the past ten years. The two previous players honored were Derrick Brown, who went onto a successful career at Providence and Randy Holcomb who went to San Diego and became a NBA second round draft choice.