Why Mark Byington called Vanderbilt's Tyler Tanner the most valuable player in country
Here's why Mark Byington said there isn't a more valuable player than Vanderbilt basketball's Tyler Tanner.
In the 2025-26 season, Tyler Tanner, a 6-foot guard for Vanderbilt, demonstrated exceptional skills that set him apart from many other college basketball players. Drafted to the First Team All-SEC and SEC All-Defensive Team, Tanner also earned an honorable mention All-American award after averaging 19.5 points per game, 3.6 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 2.4 steals. Holding single-season program records in both assists and steals, he also held the single-game record in assists during that period.
When asked about Tanner's value, Vanderbilt coach Mark Byington spoke highly of his impact on the team. Byington highlighted Tanner's ability to improve others, perform well under pressure, and consistently expand his game. He emphasized that Tanner's qualities extend beyond mere statistics, as he is a more effective player overall. Byington's confidence in Tanner's growth was evident, as he stated that he has witnessed Tanner's continuous improvement firsthand.
In the upcoming season, Tanner will be one of the few veterans on the Vanderbilt team, along with Chandler Bing and Jayden Leverett. Having returned to coach Byington's staff, Tanner is excited to contribute to the team's success. The coach emphasized Tanner's strong character and leadership qualities, which have positively influenced the entire team. Byington concluded that Tanner's value extends far beyond his on-court performance and off-court demeanor, making him an irreplaceable asset to Vanderbilt basketball.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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