Sometimes, you end up just where you wanted to be all along. Once you get there, you aren’t exactly where you originally planned to be.

 

Sound confusing? It won’t be when you hear the story of Bridgeport High School alum Tyler Sprouse, the 22-year-old that many of you remember from his playing days on the basketball court for the Indians’ squads that made more than one state tournament appearance.

 

For those that know Sprouse, they know all too well he’s a certified hoops junkie and has been since his youngest days. And through his youngest days, he always had a dream of ending up at Duke University to play for the Blue Devils.

 

“That goes back at least to second or third grade because I loved Duke and I’m not even sure why,” said Sprouse.

 

The love of the program saw Sprouse make a trip to watch an NCAA contest in 2006 against George Washington. It also included a visit to Cameron Indoor Arena for a game with Georgia Tech. His friend Jerome Axton got him an autograph from his favorite Blue Devil J.J. Reddick so he was more and more immersed into the Blue Devil culture. All of the exposure put a seed in Tyler Sprouse’s mind.

 

“I told my parents I wanted to go there and play ball,” said Sprouse. “I was serious enough that I really started working on my game as a youngster.”

 

Few would argue with Tyler Sprouse’s work ethic. He milked every ounce of ability out of his body, but as even the hardest working student-athletes will tell you or find out, sometimes being good at high school ball doesn’t mean you’re cut out for Division I basketball – let alone the highest level.

 

No one had to tell Tyler Sprouse that he wasn’t going to end up on the roster for Coach Mike Krysheski at Duke. He realized it in the eighth grade.

 

“It didn’t take long to realize it when I started playing AAU. I was in the eighth grade and you had these guys you’re playing with just dunking the ball and dominating; practically men at that age,” said Sprouse. “I figured it out then, but I still liked them and always wondered what it would be like to get there one day.”

 

As it turns out, this August Tyler Sprouse will be in Durham, North Carolina. Not as a visitor and, unfortunately for his younger self, even as a basketball player. Sprouse, however, will realize a lifelong dream and will be attending Duke University in a non-hoops capacity.

 

Yet getting to his dream destination and arriving at a different stop didn’t happen overnight. Instead, it became a process that involved a couple of schools, a smattering of nerves and unwavering support from his family.

 

On August 25, Tyler Sprouse will be a graduate student at Duke Divinity School. The current senior at West Virginia University who is in Religious Studies and Philosophy in Morgantown plans on becoming a minister and accomplishing it on a full-time basis by attending one of the most prestigious schools on religion in the country.

 

Four years ago, religion was something that involved a love of going to church. He left Bridgeport and spent a brief time at Alderson-Broaddus University where he was a biology major. After a quick stint there, he transferred to WVU where he figured he would follow in his father Brad’s footsteps and study audiology and get involved in the family business (Nutone Hearing Aid Center, Inc.).

 

“Early on at WVU I just felt a need to go a different in life and change my major again. The long-term goal was to go to seminary,” said Tyler.

 

While at WVU, Sprouse was a frequent attendee of Dr. Ken Ramsey’s bible studies at the Bridgeport United Methodist Church. He not only studied, but he got involved.

 

“It’s ironic because when I was really young, before I told my parents I was going to play basketball at Duke, I told my mom I wanted to be a pastor. Maybe being there at those bible studies was the reason for my calling,” said Sprouse. “I watch (Ramsey) and the other ministers and thought, you know what, I not only like this, but I want to do this.”

 

With his major changed, his passion for the study of the Bible more than just based on wanting to get a degree from Morgantown, Sprouse got involved on the ministerial front. Right now, he’s a student minister at Bridgeport United Methodist.

 

“I primarily work with youth at group meetings every Sunday,” said Sprouse. “I really enjoy that, and I’m really enjoying the chance to preach as well.”

 

By preaching, Sprouse means actual in front of the entire congregation stuff. For some time now, Sprouse will occasionally find himself delivering the gospel to those at Bridgeport United Methodist.

 

“I’ve preached Saturday and then Sunday morning services probably 24 or 25 times now,” said Sprouse. “I still get a little bit nervous, but not like before. That first time I didn’t think I would be able to do it. I was even a little bit dizzy, but got the courage to do it and I’m a little more comfortable each time.”

 

His first time was in late May of 2014. It came the day after his brother Ryan graduated from BHS.

 

“You think back to that day and you realize it was all part of really getting interested. It sounds strange because on the academic side of my major I have to understand the Bible, but I’m immersed into the Bible and theology,” said Sprouse. “The more I got into my major, the more I realized this is what I want to do the rest of my life.”

 

Now, it’s no longer a possibility. Rather, it’s something of a high probability.

 

Although Sprouse applied to Yale Divinity and the Princeton Theological Seminary, he got his phone call shortly after Christmas this year from Duke. And once he heard, it didn’t matter what the others had to say about his status, he knew he was going to Duke.

 

“I went there for a visit with my mother last spring and fell in love with Duke in a whole new way. The faculty, the admissions people and the students were all nice and welcoming. It was a great mix of worship, spiritual formation and academic study,” said Sprouse. “I guess a little bit of my old love for basketball played into wanting to be there too.”

 

While his studies will be his focus, Sprouse has been told that graduate students have a better deal with getting tickets to games on campus.

 

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t excited about that, but I’m more excited about the program,” said Sprouse.

 

The Masters of Divinity program is for three years. Sprouse said it’s one of the most extensive programs offered nationwide.

 

Three years from now, Sprouse has his eyes set on preaching in a specific location. It’s one he knows very well – back home.

 

“I plan on staying local, coming back and being engaged in the ministry,” said Sprouse. “I also would like to do some teaching and some writing at some point.”

 

In the end, the goal, he said is to help others seeking spiritual guidance or just help others in any manner.

 

“There are people that fly under the radar that, not purposely, get neglected and one of the great things with church is you can get them involved simply by serving them or welcoming them in,” said Sprouse. “I’ve watched one of our new ministers, Dan Kimble, go to a nursing home and help those that are unable to attend receive the Word. That’s a special way to impact people; a unique way to share the gospel by taking it to them in a place they may not expect to receive the word.”

 

In a rather nice twist, Sprouse is in a place he always expected and wanted to be. He got to his destination by taking a different path. All it took to get there a little faith and grace.

 

Editor's Note: Sports photos of Tyler Sprouse, including second photo showing him with teammate Jordan Haywood and brother and teammate Ryan Sprouse, by Ben Queen of www.benqueenphotography.com. In second photo, Sprouse is shown during his visit to Duke Divinity School last year. Bottom photo shows the Sprouse family, from left, Ryan, Derek, Jennifer, Brad and Tyler.