PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL: ELMIRA GRAD MOFFE GOES FROM ELMIRA TO CHILE TO SLOVAKIA THIS YEAR AS HE FINDS PRO SUCCESS (2024-03-04)

By Brian Fees
Southern Tier Sports Report
At the end of 2023 Tyler Moffe wasn’t sure if he would be playing basketball this year.

Just a few months later he’s traveling the world, having played in Santiago, Chile and now heading to Slovakia to play in the Nike SBL, the top league in Slovakia.

The opportunity in Slovakia was too good to pass up, but it was tough to leave Chile less than two months after arriving there. He’s played one game so far with MBK Bank Handlova in Slovakia, racking up 30 minutes in his debut, with eight points and seven assists, against just one turnover.

“I’m very grateful, it’s an amazing opportunity, an amazing opportunity is tough at times,” Moffe said. “You get settled into a place, next thing you know you are pac king up and flying out at midnight. I’m just grateful. It’s just part of this business. Just part of the name of the game. Rough couple days of traveling, finally getting settled in. Been here four or five days now.

“It’s a really good league. They bring a lot of good Americans in, and some good Slovakian players. Justin Johnson was in the G League for a little bit, he was a top scorer in his conference (n college). Two other Americans who are good, they put up big numbers in college at the D1 level. All the teams have four or five Americans on the team that are really good. It’s a really good league, a really good opportunity.”

For Moffe before he went to Chile he wasn’t sure he was going to play this year.

“It was kind of a mess early on, I didn’t know where I was going,” he said. “I had some options in Bosnia and Sweden. I almost signed, I was going to go to Slovakia, it didn’t feel like the right fit. This kind of came out of nowhere. I was honestly going to take the year off. That was in December, two weeks later they bought my flight and I’m down here and my experience has been amazing.”

In Chile the Elmira grad, who played collegiately at Mansfield and and then in Division I at the Citadel, got a chance to star right away and had 37 assists to 10 turnovers while in Chile.

“I had 18 my first game, I didn’t shoot the ball very well,” Moffe said. “They are looking for me to be a playmaker, be a leader, get people going, help people get the shots they need to get, like I did at the Citadel. Be a playmaker and be a pest on defense.”

That’s what Moffe did and he got a call from Slovakia against, and this time the fit and timing was right for him to head overseas.

“I had an offer from a team here in October,” Moffe said. “But, I kind of passed it down because I had some family stuff at the time. I was playing in Chile, playing pretty well down there, they were interested. They wanted to bring a natural point guard in. It kind of happened pretty fast. Obviously, I had to get out of my contract there (in Chile) and they were awesome about it. They knew how good this was for me and my career.”

Joining a second pro team during the season can be tough, but it’s something that Moffe is getting used to.

“It can be tough,” he said. “I believe I’m a smart player and I can adjust on the fly. We have a heck of a coach, he played professionally for 20 years, he was part of the Slovakian National Team. He was a point guard himself, so he knows. He’s not throwing too much at us. It’s really cool learning from him. It can be tough, but at the same time you have to adjust on the fly.”

One thing that’s making the transition easier is that this team, and league, has more Americans than other pro teams Moffe has been a part of.

“It’s really nice, this is the first team I have played on that had more than two of us (Americans). There are four of us, which is really nice,” Moffe said. “The Slovakian guys and even coach there English is amazing. This is the first team where we are practicing in English. There English is so good and that’s very helpful.

“They know every team brings in a good amount of Americans, they want to make it as welcoming as possible. It’s a good league. A lot of Americans come here and if they play well they get bigger contracts and bigger leagues. I’m very grateful, there English has been amazing and it makes my life a lot easier.”

Just a couple weeks ago Moffe was down in Chile, escaping the cold weather of New York and playing in the sunshine.

“It’s 90 degrees there, it’s their summertime,” Moffe said. “I got to skip winter back in New York. The weather is beautiful, 90 and sunny every day, it’s my kind of weather.

“It improves your mood. Instead of 30 degrees now you get to wake up next to the Andes Mountains, and see them every day. It’s a plus to the whole package. It’s nice to be outside and enjoy the weather.”

While he’s moved on to Slovakia, Moffe knows a part of his heart stays in Chile.

“I think I’ll go back and visit Chile again,” he said “They are amazing people. Santiago is a beautiful city. It’s a great group of guys down there. Nothing but love for them. I’m really enjoying Slovakia now. Chile is a great place and anyone who wants to go on a vacation, I highly recommend Chile.”

The past couple of months have been a fun chance to travel the world for Moffe.

“It comes with ups and downs,” Moffe said. “Because, I’m away from the family and friends. The bright side is it’s an amazing experience. I’m all over the place, I get to see the world and meet new people. Right now (back in January) I’m sitting at a coffee shop shop with a Spanish book trying to learn the language. I’m going to do it (pro basketball) as long as I can. To get paid to travel, you can’t beat that. It’s a really cool experience.”

Moffe just continues to learn and grow with each stop in his career.

“It’s an amazing experience,” he said. “I’m just learning so much. I played basketball so long. At some point basketball is going to stop for me and I want to get into coaching. I’m going to take all the experiences and learn as much as possible. They will help me not only as a basketball player now, but down the line. I have so much to give to younger kids and kids in college and the traveling aspect. It’s been a great experience.”

And, each stop that Moffe makes in his career helps him make more connections that can only help him if he coaches after his playing career.

“I think it’s about who you know,” Moffe said. “I think some of the most successful people have the most connections. Being a coach is about building real relationships with agents and players. I know so many different people. Just an orange ball you dribble on the court and how many friends I’ve made from it. I’m ready to kind of transition into that space and I’ll have people to reach out to.”

From Ryan Johnson at Elmira High School to Alabama coach Nate Oats,  who coached Moffe as a walk-on at Buffalo, to coaches at Jamestown Community College, Mansfield, the Citadel and now the pros, Moffe has learned so much in his career.

“Shootout to coach Johnson, I love that guy,” Moffe said. “I actually talked to him when I landed in Spain. I haven’t played for him in eight years and he was one of the first people I called when I landed. Nate Oats at Alabama, and at the Citadel, I learned from so many great coaches. I was there (at Buffalo), I walked on initially now I’m playing professionally. I think I’ll be very helpful to a younger generation when that time comes.”

One thing that Moffe has learned over the years is how to handle himself as a leader on the court.

“I think one big thing for me was always just be professional, always do the right things,” Moffe said. “Always be the first person at the gym, last to leave. Make connections with coaches and your teammates. Being professional from a young age showed I cared about this game. It’s super helpful that I have played with so many great coaches, so many great players. To build those connections is helpful.”

For Moffe the fact that this all started as a college-walk on, who then went on to play at a community college before landing at Mansfield and the Citadel, just made him work that much harder.

“I think about it daily,” Moffe said. “It’s always a chip on my shoulder. Just the growth, one thing I can say about myself, I worked hard. Some people may not like me, but one thing they can’t say is that kid didn’t work hard. If you put the work in every single day there is going to be success at the end of it and if there isn’t you know you tried your best. It’s crazy to be sitting here in Slovakia. The other day I was getting a cup of coffee and thinking I’m really here. I’m super happy, and super grateful and I will keep working.”

And, Moffe knows that if he plays well in Slovakia, like he did in Chile, he could eventually find himself in other big leagues.

“For sure, that’s definitely the goal at the end of the day,” Moffe said. “I just want to play in the best league possible with the best players. There’s not too much pressure. I accomplished a lot for basketball. I know I put the work in every day and wherever it takes me I’m going to go. I have accomplished a lot and I am going to keep working and take it day by day and wherever it takes me.”

A year ago Moffe played in Bosnia and Montenegro. There were times in Montenegro that it was a tough adjustment playing in the pros, but the Elmira grad kept working hard.

“I was being professional even when things are tough, keep doing the little things,” Moffe said. “There were times in Montenegro that I was struggling and I showed up early and kept doing the little things every day and knew it was going to add up. Put in the work, be professional and good things are going to work out for you.”

Moffe hopes that people back home see what he’s done and know that it’s possible. He wasn’t the biggest kid, he wasn’t a highly recruited player out of high school, but now he’s playing in a high level league in Slovakia.

“The one thing I’d say is don’t take anything for granted,” Moffe said. “Enjoy the moments. If there is something you want to do, something you want to pursue, pour your heart into it. I’m enjoying it and hopefully I make everyone proud in the 607.

“I just try and keep it as real as possible (when talking to kids back home). I was in their shoes. I am from Elmira, N.Y. coming out of Elmira I didn’t have any scholarship offers. I worked as hard as I can at it. I never gave up on my dream and it worked out for me. It’s possible. If I can do it, I was 145 pounds soaking wet. If you fall short, at least you know you gave everything you could into it. I try and preach that to the younger kids that everything is possible if you put the work in.”
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PHOTO COURTESY OF TYLER MOFFE.