PITTSBURGH — As far as Tyler Frederick is concerned, the roller-coaster ride is over.

The 2017 Butler graduate has had enough ups and downs over the past three years. It's time for the La Roche College sophomore to stick with the ups.

“I had to grow into an adult here and I feel like I've done that,” Frederick said of college life.

The 6-foot-5 forward scored his 1,000th career point and he helped lead Butler to the WPIAL championship game his senior year in high school.

He moved on to La Roche College and saw action in the Redhawks' first nine games his freshman year before being ruled academically ineligible.

“Tyler carried a 3.0 (grade point average) in high school, so I didn't foresee academics being a problem for him,” La Roche men's basketball coach Hermie Carmichael said. “But he wound up changing his major and had a lot more freedom socially than he was used to.”

While in high school, Frederick stayed home most nights he wasn't playing or practicing basketball to baby-sit his younger siblings. He has four older brothers, four younger brothers and two younger sisters.

“My parents had to work at night and somebody had to be there,” Frederick said. “I was mad about it at first, not being able to go out with my friends, but then I realized my parents work very hard.

“They've done a lot for me in my life and watching the younger kids was the least I could do with my parents. But when I first went away to college and found myself with all that freedom, no one telling me to stay home and do my stuff ... I didn't handle it very well.”

That was last year.

This year? Different story.

Frederick changed his major from sports exercise science to business marketing. His grades are now healthy.

And his game on the court is exploding.

Frederick averaged 14.4 points and 10.2 rebounds per game this season. The Redhawks finished 24-3 and had a 16-game winning streak snapped by a 67-65 loss to Penn State Behrend in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference championship game.

“We were denied a spot in the Division III Tournament,” Frederick said. “That's OK. We'll be back next year. We're very motivated to change that situation.”

Frederick scored 17 points in the AMCC final and reached double digit scoring in all but five La Roche games this year.

“How quickly he became a scorer in the low post for us surprised me,” Carmichael said. “I knew Tyler would rebound. I knew he would play good defense and run the floor.

“That productivity inside? It came right away.”

Frederick feels comfortable in the classroom now as well as on the basketball court.

“The science part of my first major just wasn't for me,” he admitted. “I wasn't into it. My brother works in marketing and my parents do that for a living.

“I've been around that type of work and I enjoy it.”

Carmichael enjoys thinking about Frederick's future with the Redhawks.

“The sky is the limit for him,” the coach said. “I cost him our conference rebounding title this year because I took him out of a few games early due to lopsided scores. He only needed another four or five rebounds to lead our league.”

As it was, Frederick led the AMCC in total rebounds and offensive rebounds during league games. He was second in field goals, fourth in blocked shots, fifth in field goal percentage.

David Jackson holds the Redhawks' career rebounding record of 917. Arnes Bajghora is second with 673.

“I never thought anybody would ever approach 900 rebounds here again,” Carmichael said. “The 16 games Tyler missed last year may cost him a shot at that, but maybe not. He may still get there.

“I can see him being a Division III All-American by his senior year. His ceiling is that high.”

Frederick had 276 rebounds this year and has more than 300 in his college career.

He didn't start playing basketball until seventh grade.

“*I never dreamed anybody would think I could be a college All-American. That would be fantastic,” Frederick said. “It's a goal of mine, for sure.

“I feel like I can improve all of my stats, but my biggest goal is winning a championship. Winning our conference and getting into the national tournament is No. 1 for me right now.”