CORVALLIS, Ore. – Oregon State forward Tres Tinkle is entering his name in the 2019 NBA Draft but is not hiring an agent at this time.
Tinkle was a first-team all-Pac-12 selection for the second consecutive season after averaging 20.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.7 steals during his redshirt junior season. He was the only player in the Pac-12 in the top 10 in the league in all four categories. Tinkle has scored in double figures in 65 consecutive games, the longest active streak in the country. He is currently seventh on Oregon State’s career scoring list with 1,661 points and ninth on the program’s career rebounding list with 670 boards.
A native of Missoula, Tinkle was a two-time Montana Gatorade player of the year while playing at Hellgate High School. He helped lead the Knights to the Class AA state championship in 2013, a runner-up finish in 2014 and a third-place trophy in 2015.
As a high school junior during the 2013-14 season, Tinkle averaged 21.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.8 steals per game. During a sensational senior season, Tinkle contributed 24.8 points, 10.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 2.1 steals and 1.5 blocks per game. He finished his high school career with a Hellgate-record 1,544 points.
A highly sought recruit out of high school, Tinkle joined the men’s basketball program at Oregon State, where his father, Wayne, was named the head coach after an impressive tenure at Montana. Tres Tinkle battled injuries early in his OSU career but developed into one of the league’s best players.
Tres Tinkle will be the first Montanan to enter the NBA Draft since former Great Falls CMR standout Josh Huestis, who was selected by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2014 draft. This year’s NBA Draft is set for June 20. Players who enter the draft can receive feedback from NBA teams to gauge their draft stock, and they have until May 29 to withdraw from draft consideration. (Note: This story has been edited to reflect May 29 as the deadline for athletes to withdraw from draft consideration to retain NCAA eligibility. Previously, the story stated June 10, which is the NBA deadline to withdraw.)
Wayne Tinkle declined an interview request but did say that his son plans to return to Oregon State if he doesn’t receive positive feedback during the draft process.
Tres Tinkle, who has earned his bachelor’s degree in speech communication, has one year of college basketball eligibility remaining if he chooses to return to Oregon State.
(Editor’s note: Portions of an Oregon State University media release were used in this report.)
