Tyler Sims’ passion for basketball led him to become an advocate for overlooked talent and at-risk youth.

Words by Micah Harrison | Images by Ryan McGill

Tyler Sims always knew his career would revolve around basketball, but his path has been full of unexpected twists and turns.

Moving to Carbon Hill, Alabama, at the age of four, Tyler attended various schools throughout Walker County. His high school years saw him playing varsity basketball as a guard at multiple schools: Walker in ninth grade, Parrish in tenth and eleventh, and finally Dora in twelfth, where he graduated in 2014. His senior year, however, took a devastating turn when he ruptured his Achilles tendon, shattering his dreams of playing college basketball and forcing him to rethink his future.

Despite this setback, Tyler's passion for basketball never waned. He attended Jacksonville State University and graduated cum laude in 2019 with a bachelor's degree in family and consumer sciences. Although he did not play at the collegiate level, he stayed connected to the sport through coaching stints at Pleasant Grove High and Jasper City Schools. During this period, he also delved into scouting and completed an internship with EuroBasket, where he coached budding professional players. This pivotal experience opened a new chapter in his career: "I decided to make the leap into sports agency," he says.

Tyler began his journey as an agent at Project B Sports, traveling across the United States to recruit players. His entrepreneurial spirit soon pushed him to establish his own agency. After traveling to Miami, Florida, for an exam, he became licensed by the International Basketball Federation. "After that, I decided to go out on my own," he says.

In September 2023, he founded Hootie's Sports & Entertainment Agency, which represents Division II and III basketball players overlooked by professional leagues. "My company really focuses on guys that nobody believes in," Tyler explains.

He has a knack for finding hidden talent and securing overseas contracts for players who were on the verge of giving up their professional dreams. "That thrill right there, it keeps me going," he shares.

Beyond his work as an agent, Tyler has been a counselor at the Boys and Girls Club in Jasper since 2016. His dedication to his community's youth helped him identify a need for more support for those at-risk. Over the past year, Tyler has been developing a program aimed at providing resources to these children within Walker County and Jasper City Schools. This initiative will serve as an "alternative to alternative school," allowing students to complete their standard coursework while receiving additional counseling and career resources over a six-week period.

"I'm very passionate about it," Tyler emphasizes. "The program will help the kids get the support they need."

Whether on the basketball court or in the classroom, Tyler Sims is driven by a singular goal: helping others reach their full potential. 78