Cal Poly’s sharpshooting guard learned how to shoot a basketball watching VHS tapes by NBA legend “Pistol Pete” Maravich. So it was only natural that, upon coming to Cal Poly, Dylan Royer learned the power of “The Gun.”
“He’s probably used The Gun more than anyone I’ve ever known,” said sophomore forward Chris Eversley, referring to the machine designed to corral shots and continuously pass basketballs to a designated spot on the court. “It’s the perfect story of how hard work can actually pay off.”
Royer is shooting better than 53 percent from behind the 3-point line this season, ranking seventh among NCAA Div. 1 players in 3-point field goal percentage as of publication. In his third season playing for the Mustangs, he continues to spend countless hours perfecting his shot in Mott Gym after everyone else has finished practicing.
“I’d never seen (The Gun) before my freshman year,” Royer said. He has also converted more than 80 percent of his free throws this season. “That summer it became my best friend.”
Royer, a local recruit out of Morro Bay High School, walked on to the team and redshirted his freshman year in 2008-09. Each year he has returned to the court to find himself with more playing time, eventually earning his starting role this season for the first time since high school.
He currently maintains an impressive run, hitting at least one 3-pointer in 18 of his last 19 games, a mark that dates back to March of last year. Until it was brought to his attention in an interview last week, he was unaware of the impressive stretch and downplayed its significance.
“Even if I’m shooting well, I’m still missing half of the time,” Royer said. “It means a lot to see how the hard work has paid off, but if I could trade all of that for a win, I would definitely do it.”
Born and raised in Los Osos, Royer first learned how to shoot a basketball at age 6 when his father brought home the VHS tapes from 3-point aficionados such as Glenn Rice and Maravich. He remembers watching segments of “Pistol Pete’s Homework Basketball” and pausing the tape to go practice each lesson.
“They were kind of corny with the music and everything, but they were great,” he said of the videos. “Any time anyone had anything to say about how to better your shot, I listened.”
Royer also recalls attending Cal Poly basketball games with his father, where he watched former standout guard Mike Wozniak set multiple shooting records that still remain more than a decade later.
“I wanted to be like Woz,” Royer said. “He was probably the best shooter I’ve ever seen in person.”
Royer keeps in occasional contact with Wozniak, who coaches a youth club basketball team on the Central Coast. Another of Royer’s mentors, Morro Bay High School head coach Dave Yamate, used to be the only person who consistently beat him in shooting contests. Yamate helped Royer develop his mechanics, but more importantly, his work ethic, he said.
Cal Poly head coach Joe Callero appreciates such work ethic, especially when it translates directly into a live game performance. Callero said Royer’s shot selection has improved dramatically since he began coaching the Mustangs in 2009, and said he could not be prouder of his starting guard.
“You can shoot all you want in an open gym, but until you have the pressure of doing it in a game with defense, it’s a different world,” he said.
Royer can extend his 3-point streak to 20 games against Big West Conference heavyweight Long Beach State on Thursday, but he won’t sacrifice any of the team’s play to reach the milestone.
“Everyone on this team is so unselfish,” Royer said. “Any egos that anyone had, we’ve put on the shelf, because at the end of the day, we all look better if we do win.”
Royer said this year’s team looks and feels different than any he has ever played on, citing team chemistry as a source of pride. He said players spend time together both on and off the court, whether it be hiking Bishop Peak, playing video games or seeing a movie.
“It’s not like we’re doing that because we think it will make us better,” he said. “It’s because we all like each other.”