Prior to beginning his senior year, Tyler Sokol knew he was going to be studying and playing college basketball at Dominican University in California after he graduated from Mark Morris. It was only a matter of sorting out the details.

“It wasn’t a sure thing because I didn’t have the complete offer, but it was definitely the top choice for me during basketball season,” Sokol said during a letter-of-intent signing ceremony on Thursday at MM. “They had been after me since last summer, and my spring break visit sealed the deal because I got to talk to the coaches and meet the team.”

Sokol, a 6-foot-10 center, blossomed while playing AAU basketball during the summer before his senior season at MM. His improved play carried over to the prep hardwood, where he garnered all-Greater St. Helens 2A League first-team honors.

“Tyler made it all happen because of hard work,” Monarchs coach Bill Bakamus said during the ceremony. “He’s done a good job using the guidance the coaching staff has given him, and I’m pleased to see him go on to bigger and better things.”

The Dominican University Penguins of San Rafael, Calif., competed for many seasons as an NAIA Division II school, but are making the move up to NCAA Division II status in the Pacific West Conference.

“Tyler brings size to our team, and addressing size in the upcoming season was our top priority,” Dominican coach Bret Tolvani said in a press release, which was read during the ceremony by MM athletic director Robert Blackman. “We like that he can face the basket and is a very capable shooter from the high post. His flying under the radar is a huge benefit for us at Dominican, and we expect him to take his game to the next level.”

The Penguins lost eight seniors to graduation, and Tolvani expressed to Sokol that he could compete for a spot in the starting lineup.

“A starting spot is there for me if I work hard,” he said. “That’s a huge reason why I chose Dominican, because I want to play right off the bat. They also have an excellent medical program, and I’m interested in pursuing a career in the medical field.”

Sokol admits that he considered offers from a lot of schools in the Pacific Northwest before selecting Dominican.

“Right before I signed at Dominican, a school in Missouri offered me a full-ride opportunity,” he said. “I looked into it and talked to the coach.”

In the end, Dominican was a better fit.

“Location was also a big part of it. The California area and San Rafael is very nice, and I made that part of my decision when I visited the campus.”