Drake Bulldogs star Tucker DeVries recently transferred to West Virginia, following his father and coach Darian DeVries. West Virginia was a very competitive program for years but has struggled recently. With a new coach and these crucial roster moves this marks a new era for West Virginia basketball. Let’s dive into DeVries’ game and impact on West Virginia’s program.
Tucker DeVries Makes A Big Splash With His Transfer Destination
After a disappointing first-round exit at the hands of Washington State University, Drake star Tucker DeVries announced his commitment to West Virginia. He will opt not to declare for the 2024 NBA Draft, where he was projected to be a possible first-round pick. He joins a mediocre 9-23 (4-14) Mountaineers squad that finished at the bottom of the Big 12.
DeVries thanked Drake in a farewell letter released on his socials.
“To Drake University, the fans, and the city of Des Moines, I want to say thank you. All of you have been so good to me as a student, as a basketball player, and as a person. I am forever grateful and this will be a place for me to call home.”
He was unanimously listed as one of the top basketball players in the transfer portal, above players like Dug McDaniel (Michigan), Clifford Omoruyi (Rutgers), and Federiko Federiko (Pitt). DeVries has just one season of eligibility left.
DeVries talked media after his Mountaineers introduction about the challenges of playing at a Power Five squad.
“Certainly, being at a higher level, there’s going to be more expectations. We’re ready to give everything we can to fulfill those expectations and get to where we need to be.”
Scouting DeVries
Tucker DeVries terrorized the Missouri Valley Conference with Drake for years, carrying them to two MVC titles, their first trophies since 2008. The 6’7 guard averaged 21.6 points per game, good for ninth in D1 basketball. Along with 6.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists per game, and a shooting clip of 36.3% from range, DeVries was an offensive machine.
He’s an elite shooter who can consistently and efficiently make his shots, and he scores both off his dribble and off a pass. DeVries’ jumper is smooth and effective. He also has the size to shoot over smaller defenders. His size gives him the ability to be a force in the paint. Ultimately DeVries has a lot of skills that translate to Power Five schools and even the NBA that have flown under the radar because of where he plays.
The Last Word
His presence will be a huge bonus for the Mountaineers. This squad has struggled immensely with finding shots and scoring, and their guards have been lackluster this season. Star guard Raequan Battle (16.1 ppg) is out of eligibility after this season, while returning guards like Noah Farrakhan, Kerr Kriisa, and Kobe Johnson have all been very inconsistent. DeVries not only brings an NBA-caliber talent to a Mountaineers team struggling with quality, but balance and depth to a forward-heavy lineup. DeVries’ transfer and the signing of three-star Carmelo Adkins could make West Virginia a sleeper team to watch in a stacked Big 12 conference.
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