OBSERVER Photo by Anthony Dolce Pictured, in front, from left, are: Mark Putney, Tyler’s father; Tyler Putney; and Melissa Putney, Tyler’s mother. In back are: Greg Lauer, Fredonia athletic director; Tyler’s siblings Ashton, Emma and Graham; and Nick Bertrando, Fredonia boys basketball coach.

On Thursday afternoon, one of the most decorated members of Fredonia’s boys basketball program officially committed to play at the next level, as Tyler Putney signed to take his shooting talents to Amherst as a member of the Daemen Wildcats.

Putney had options from a few schools who were interested in his services, but Daemen was the one that had his eye the most throughout the process.

“I went up there again and talked to Coach (Mike) MacDonald,” Putney said. “He’s a great guy. He came to a couple of my games, and he loves the way I play.”

“He loves that I’m a gym rat,” Putney added. “I just wanted to work hard wherever I went and after talking to my parents, I decided to go here because of their great program.”

And a successful program it is. Daemen had its season ended in the Elite 8 of the Division II men’s college basketball tournament, which the Wildcats entered as a No. 2 seed. The previous year, they were slated to enter the tournament as a No. 8 seed before the tournament was canceled due to COVID-19. Daemen’s last losing season came in 2010-11, and since that year, the Wildcats have a combined record of 207-81. The Wildcats have an established court of players, and Putney is eager to show what he can do in whatever opportunity he gets.

“I’m looking to go in there and play as hard as I can,” Putney said. “Everything starts from scratch, I’m literally a freshman again. It’s the same thing as where I was three or four years ago, I just have to do the same things.”

Similarly, Daemen is getting a decorated player to complement its decorated program. Putney ends his Fredonia career averaging 13.35 points per game, though he averaged 15.9 per game his junior year and 20.2 per game this past season. He also averaged 8.2 rebounds per game over his past two seasons and diversified his game his senior season after having a knee operation that freed up his mobility. Despite that, Putney knows he still has work to do, especially when it comes to the nature of the college game.

“The physicality will be more challenging,” Putney said. “I have to get in the weight room more. I’ve started going the last few days, but I need to go more over the summer. I just have to keep working on my ball handling, my shooting and get in the gym.”

Putney improved each of his four years playing for the Fredonia Hillbillies, and that work ethic he developed from the program, starting with coach Nick Bertrando down to all of his teammates has motivated Putney to become the best player he can be.

“I just want to get better every game,” Putney said. “I can’t wait to get in the gym, mornings, nights after school, after work, whatever. I can’t wait to keep the grind going.”

Putney will join fellow Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association standout Tyler Hind, a Daemen freshman from Randolph, as a Wildcat next winter.