During his first year on the Lebanon Valley College basketball team, guard Kyle Tang '26 worked to adjust to the challenges of being a collegiate student-athlete. When he received his diploma four years later, he left Annville as an accomplished basketball player and a standout student.

Tang thought his college experience would be like high school, but the Biology major said it took him some time to get acclimated and earn the grades he aspired to achieve. On the basketball court, he also noticed that athletes were stronger and more athletic than they had been in high school. Tang soon became accustomed to this new environment and thrived during his time at Lebanon Valley.

"While challenging, I had an amazing experience at LVC," Tang said. "The professors, coaches, athletic trainers, and strength and conditioning coaches have all been amazing, and they have all helped me grow physically and mentally. I have also been lucky to have made lifelong friends along the way who consistently motivate me to be the best version of myself."

During his career, Tang was a pivotal performer for the Dutchmen. In the 2023-24 campaign, he tied Mike Rhoades '95 for the program's single-season record for steals average with 2.3 steals per game. Tang also posted a strong senior year for Lebanon Valley, in which he led the conference in steals per game and tied for the conference lead in steals, while registering career-bests in points and assists. This production earned the guard a spot on the All-MAC Freedom Team as an Honorable Mention, which he had aimed to achieve since his debut season.

"It has been my goal to receive this award since I first joined the team," Tang said. "After many of our key players graduated last year, including Ryan Harder '25 and Evin Timochenko '25, who also earned All-MAC Freedom honors, I felt I needed to step up as both a player and a leader for my senior season. It means a lot to me that both former Head Coach Brad McAlester and Assistant Coach Brad Karli trusted me and allowed me to showcase my abilities on the court. I am also grateful that my teammates had the trust in me to put me in the best positions to succeed."

Tang's favorite Dutchmen memories include playing two games in Daytona Beach, Fla., in December 2022. He also enjoyed competing against Division I Bucknell University in an exhibition game in his first season.

Tang has also been honored for his strong academic performance. He has been named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team three times, the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Honors Court once, and the Eastern Athletic Communications Association (EAST-COMM) Academic Honor Roll once so far. Additionally, he has been listed on the MAC Academic Honor Roll multiple times. Perhaps most notably, Tang also became the fifth LVC player in program history to be named the MAC Men's Basketball Senior Scholar-Athlete, which is the conference's most prestigious award.

"It means a lot to be recognized by the conference as the MAC Men's Basketball Senior Scholar-Athlete," Tang said. "Performing well in the classroom and on the court are things I pride myself on and are things that I prioritize during my time as a college student. There were many times when I passed up opportunities to have fun in favor of studying or working out because I believe that, to perform well, sometimes sacrifices must be made. I am incredibly grateful to have my hard work recognized."

Tang expressed that he is glad he chose to attend Lebanon Valley College, as it provided him with a great overall college experience.

"LVC felt like home the second I concluded my first campus visit," Tang said. "LVC has everything that you would want in a college: amazing professors, updated facilities and equipment, a beautiful campus, and students who are ambitious, friendly, and inclusive."

Tang graduated from LVC with a bachelor's degree in Biology in May. He aspires to become a dentist and hopes to attend dental school next summer after taking a gap year following graduation.

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