Tyler Merto, of Desert Pines High School, responds to a question during the Las Vegas Sun High School Basketball Media Day astatine Red Rock Resort Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025. Photo by: Steve Marcus
By Ray Brewer (contact)
Friday, Sept. 11, 2026 | 2 a.m.
Sponsored by Zero Teen Fatalities
Tyler Merto finished his inferior play successful February with the Desert Pines High hoops squad without a azygous assemblage assistance offer.
That changed fast.
He committed to Colorado State this week, choosing the Rams from 9 offers extended to the 6-foot-6 guard.
“I cognize it’s antithetic for antithetic people, but for me, I was conscionable trusting the process,” helium said of staying diligent for a scholarship. “I trusted each my coaches and what they had maine doing, and I knew my clip would come, and it did.”
Merto said his banal roseate that outpouring during a nine tourney successful Richmond, Va., erstwhile helium held his ain against a five-star guard. Weber State was the archetypal to connection him a scholarship. Others, including UNLV, soon followed.
In a time and property of athletes being held back, Merto is the exception. He’s a 16-year-old senior.
“Tyler is expected to beryllium a junior,” Desert Pines manager Cap Uzan said. “We kept telling him, ‘You’re a precocious bloomer. Your clip volition come.’ Then helium had that large summer.”
Merto is simply a beardown defender and plays with an strength that is hard to match. It’s the lone mode helium knows however to compete.
“I person ever been a carnal player,” helium said. “I don’t caput getting soiled (diving) aft the ball.”
Merto has had that mentality since his freshman season, erstwhile helium made the varsity squad and much than held his ain contempt weighing conscionable 145 pounds. He’s since added much than 40 pounds of bulk to his frame.
“The value country has decidedly helped my confidence,” helium said.
Merto prides himself connected being an all-around player, averaging 13.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists per crippled past season.
He’ll beryllium Desert Pines’ apical subordinate — and 1 of the city’s finest — erstwhile the play begins successful November. Last season, Desert Pines overcame a double-digit shortage successful the 4th fourth of a authorities quarterfinal crippled against Democracy Prep but mislaid by 2 points.
“He is 1 of our amended defenders,” Uzan said. “He tin score, too. He doesn’t ever hunt for (baskets) due to the fact that helium is retired of determination doing the close happening and getting others involved.”
That all-around crippled volition beryllium beneficial astatine the adjacent level.
Merto besides had offers from UC Davis, UC Riverside, Cal Baptist, Bryant, Montana and Lamar. He visited Colorado State past week.
“It was the civilization that truly sold me,” helium said. “It was the players, the coaches and however they tally things. That truly sold me.”
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