Senior point guard TJ Tate loves the responsibility of having control of the ball for Marist.

If size is the natural predictor of position and where someone plays, the 5-foot-10 Tate discovered incredibly early on that command had an outsized impact on the rhythm and flow of the game.

“My grandma actually took me to the gym in Chicago Heights when I was 3 or 4,” Tate said, looking back with fondness. “Ever since then, I fell in love with basketball.

“Being the point guard is a huge role. You’ve got to step up and accept what comes with it. I’ve got to do what the coach tells me to do and lead the team.”

Tate handled that leadership role well Saturday afternoon, tallying six points, five assists and three steals for the RedHawks in a 57-41 nonconference victory over West Aurora in Chicago.

Senior forward Charles Barnes scored 18 points and grabbed five rebounds for Marist (24-4). Senior forward Stephen Brown added 11 points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots.

Marist’s TJ Tate (2) goes up for a layup as West Aurora’s Richard Bell Jr. (15) defends during a nonconference game in Chicago on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. (Troy Stolt / Daily Southtown)

Tate not only ran the offense with fluidity and precision but played excellent defense on junior guard Travis Brown. Tate limited West Aurora’s best player to just 12 points.

Junior forward Kendall Meyers confirmed Tate’s impact on the RedHawks.

“He just does all the little things, getting steals and guarding the best player on the other team,” Myers said. “He’s a one-man press breaker. I’d say he’s the most unselfish player on our team.

“In club, he puts the ball in the hole. With us, he slows the ball down and gets everybody involved.”

Marist’s TJ Tate (2) drives to the basket as West Aurora’s Antonio Higgins (4) defends during a nonconference game in Chicago on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. (Troy Stolt / Daily Southtown)

Marist coach Brian Hynes elevated Tate to the varsity at the end of his freshman year and played him in a state postseason game against Bloom.

He saw something special in the young talent.

“He’s been our starting point guard for three years now,” Hynes said. “The whole team loves him. He’s our glue — a very fun kid who makes us go. He’s so steady. He’s so quick. And he’s just as fast with or without the ball.

“I think he’s a super underrated defender. He’s under a lot of pressure and never gets emotional.”

Marist’s TJ Tate (2) dribbles to the basket against West Aurora during a nonconference game in Chicago on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. (Troy Stolt / Daily Southtown)

Marist has the requisite number of scorers and shooters. Tate is the connective tissue who binds all those parts together. One of his favorite hobbies is drawing.

He has a way of visualizing the game and connecting lines, patterns and shapes.

“My role, my identity, has always been the same,” Tate said. “I’m a pass-first point guard. I’ll get mine if I need to, but I want to be the spark. Play defense, penetrate and look for my shooters.

“Coach Hynes is always telling me what he wants and I just make sure I do it.”

Growing up in Lansing, Tate also played football and baseball and even tried hockey for a spell. Basketball was always the sport that suited his personality best.

His father, Torrence Sr., played a crucial part in that development.

Marist’s TJ Tate (2) pulls up for a shot from close range against West Aurora during a nonconference game in Chicago on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. (Troy Stolt / Daily Southtown)

“When I was younger, my father put me on a lot of older teams and that really played a huge role,” Tate said. “I was playing with older guys, so I’m used to being smaller on the court and having to adjust. That taught me a lot about learning how to control the game.

“I like seeing my teammates happy, sharing the ball, and being part of it.”

Court leadership is connected to sensibility and personality. Tate is naturally quiet but confident and knows what’s expected of him.

“It’s like I’m two different people,” he said. “On the court, I’m more focused and locked in. Off the court, I’m a funny guy.

“These four years went by quickly. Now, it’s onto the next chapter, with the playoffs almost starting. I’m definitely ready to lead this team.”

Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/08/tj-tate-marist-west-aurora-basketball/