Mustang sharp shooter Dylan Royer: A Legend in the Making

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Practice is underway for the Cal Poly men's basketball team and for Morro Bay High graduate Dylan Royer that means his long career on the Central Coast is in its final season.

Royer is this week's Legend in the Making.

After scoring 23 points per game his senior year at Morro Hay High School, Royer decided to stay close to home and walk on at Cal Poly.

"It's tremendous, I had mixed feelings going into it. I didn't know what it would be like to not leave the area but now that the years have gone by it's been a blessing. I've been extremely fortunate to play in front of these people for this many years," said Royer after practice on Wednesday.

After a redshirt season and three years on the roster, his role has expanded each season. The Los Osos bomber was given a scholarship for his senior year. "The coaching staff has always done a tremendous job of treating everyone the same, regardless if you're scholarship, non scholarship. But to actually, finally get that scholarship does mean a lot. I think it cemented that my hard work had finally payed off," said Royer.

Royer shot 47 percent from behind the three point line last season, which ranked fifth among all NCAA Division 1 players. His 72 three-pointers rank as the ninth-highest single season total in program history. Royer averaged 7.5 points per game last season as a junior, which ranked fifth on the squad.

"With Dylan to be honest with you, every shot he puts up i believe is going in. If we can get him a clean look even if he has a foot of space, it's going in. Every time he misses I'm surprised," said junior forward Chris Eversley.

84 percent of Royer's shots last year where three pointers. He worked to expand his game during the offseason.

"Definitely ball handling and quickness. I want to be a better defender, I want to be able to take care of the ball. I don't want to be called just a pure shooter, I want to be a player," said Royer.

"Even more is going to be expected of him because he's expanded his game. He's not just a shooter anymore, he's driving the basketball, he's rebounding it," added Eversley.

Royer is one of three seniors on the team this year. The Mustangs open the season at TCU on November 9. Royer is expected to start at shooting guard for the Mustangs.