Butler High School graduate Tyler Frederick is averaging nearly a double-double for Slippery Rock University's men's basketball team. It is his first and only season for The Rock, having previously played at La Roche University.

SLIPPERY ROCK — In his final year of eligibility for college basketball, Tyler Frederick had to make a quick transition.

The 2017 Butler High graduate previously starred at La Roche University (Division III), earning the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference's Player of the Year honor in 2019-20.

Due to the 2020-21 season being canceled due to COVID, Frederick was allotted one more season and he transferred last summer to Division II Slippery Rock University, where he is making a huge impact as a starter for The Rock.

Entering Saturday's home game against Kutztown, the 6-foot-6 forward is averaging nearly a double-double with 15.1 points and nine rebounds per game.

“He's off to a great start,” said Rock coach Ian Grady. “He's a very skilled player, but what separates him is his motor. That's very important in basketball and he has it, just how hard he plays.”

Frederick knew that moving up a division meant he would have to raise his game to another level.

“The court vision that players have here is better,” he said. “They read things on the floor a bit better.

“One thing that has come as a bit of a surprise for me is my confidence in the post. I'm getting a feel for what move to make and when to make it.

“It was never a big strength of mine, but I'd say 80 percent of my points are now coming in the post.”

Frederick, who is majoring in business and marketing, wasted no time proving he has what it takes to be a major contributor for SRU. In the team's first game this season, a 99-95 loss to Notre Dame College Nov. 12, he scored 15 points and pulled down 10 rebounds.

His biggest game thus far is a 27-point, 18-rebound effort in a victory at Mansfield earlier this month.

He can still step out and hit the outside shot, evidenced by his 47 percent shooting (7 of 15) from beyond the arc. He's also third on the team with six blocked shots.

“He's very agile, can guard multiple positions and is communicating on defense,” said Grady, who said that end of the floor is where The Rock (7-2, 3-0) needs the most improvement.

“There are times when we play well on defense for 25 seconds (on one possession), then have a letdown in the final five seconds,” Frederick said. ”Sometimes, it's simply a breakdown and others, it's a lack of attention.”

Grady is hoping the team's defense can elevate its play to the level the offense is playing at. Other than Frederick, Jonathan McFall (17.3), Frankie Hughes (14.2) and Amante Britt (12.7) all have scoring averages in double figures.

“We have a very talented group of guys here,” said Frederick.