With the 2024-2025 NCAA men’s basketball season wrapping up tonight, the Houston Cougars have a chance to win the national championship thanks in large part to the play of L.J. Cryer. The senior guard has been lights out on both ends of the floor, most recently scoring 26 points in team’s Final Four win over Duke on Saturday night. Let’s take a look at Cryer’s family background and the support system that helped him reach this point.
Who Are L.J. Cryer’s Parents?
According to his Houston bio, Cryer was born on October 9, 2001, in New Orleans, LA, to Tamica and L.J. Cryer Sr.
L.J. comes from an incredibly athletic family. His father attended Grambling State University in Louisiana, where he played linebacker for the Tigers. He is currently the defensive coordinator and assistant head coach at Royal High School in Brookshire, TX.
L.J. Sr.’s coaching history and athletic prowess undoubtedly helped shape his son’s unrelenting drive on the court.
Meanwhile, Tamica is no stranger to athletics, either. Like her husband, she was a college athlete at Grambling State University, where she played volleyball.
After earning her degree in political science, she went on to build a successful career in the corporate world. While she did not continue a career in athletics, she remains deeply intertwined in her son’s basketball journey and has been his number-one fan.
Basketball Was Always the Plan For Cryer
In a recent interview, Cryer’s parents said that he was born to be a basketball player.
“This boy would not put a basketball down,” Tamica said. “He was always dribbling in the kitchen, and we’d never complain about it. Even though sometimes it was annoying, you just constantly heard that basketball dribble.”
Days before his Final Four matchup, his father said, “He worked so hard for this moment, so whatever God has for him, he has for him. We’re just looking forward to these next couple of days.”
Win or lose tonight, L.J. Cryer is going to go down as one of the all-time greats to wear a Houston uniform. His ability to score at will and lead his team on and off the court has propelled the Cougars to a potential championship. Regardless of what happens, his parents will be cheering him on every step of the way.
Across 39 games this season, Cryer averaged 15.6 points, 3.1 3-pointers, 2.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 0.9 steals in 32.6 minutes per game while shooting 41.4% from the field, 42.7% from 3-point range, and 90.1% from the free-throw line.