Star Guard Tucker DeVries Is Transferring From Drake To Join His Dad At West Virginia

MORGANTOWN, W.Va.: New West Virginia coach Darian DeVries’ introduced some reinforcements from Drake.

Tucker DeVries sat within the entrance row for his father’s introductory information convention Thursday as Darian introduced that his son, a two-time Missouri Valley Conference participant of the 12 months, is becoming a member of him with the Mountaineers.

That might need drawn the loudest cheer from a whole lot of West Virginia followers prepared to maneuver on from a 12 months of distress.

Tucker referred to as his dad’s alternative to come back to West Virginia “a family decision.” His switch wasn’t precisely a shock.

“For me to be able to come here for my senior year and to be a part of all of this, I’m looking really forward to it and I’m super excited,” Tucker mentioned.

He led Drake in scoring this season at 21.6 factors per recreation. Tucker and his dad had one final recreation at Drake within the first spherical of the NCAA Tournament on March 21, a 66-61 loss to Washington State.

That was simply the beginning of a busy week.

The hiring at West Virginia was introduced Sunday night time, Tucker underwent surgical procedure on his proper shoulder Tuesday for an harm sustained in January but he continued to play via. He entered the switch portal Wednesday. The 6-foot-7 guard’s proper arm was in a sling Thursday, and he expects a full restoration by this summer time.

“Ready to get healthy and get to work,” Tucker mentioned.

Eventually, which means attending to expertise Big 12 basketball.

“Growing up in the Midwest, you see a lot of the programs in the Big 12 around, and I have a lot of friends and former teammates in the Big 12,” Tucker DeVries mentioned. “To be a part of that myself will be pretty special.”

The job can be big, and outcomes may not be seen till after Tucker makes use of up his eligibility. The new coach can be answerable for digging a program out of a gap that began with the resignation final summer time of Hall of Fame coach Bob Huggins. West Virginia misplaced a school-record 23 video games this previous season below interim coach Josh Eilert.

Darian has seen one of these reconstruction undertaking earlier than. When he arrived at Drake in 2018, he was the Bulldogs’ fourth coach in 16 months and the varsity had gone six straight seasons with no profitable file.

He compiled a 150-55 file in six seasons and took Drake to the NCAA Tournament 3 times. Drake gained not less than 25 video games in 4 straight seasons, tying a faculty file for wins this season at 28-7.

The five-year contract is value $2.8 million within the first 12 months with $100,000 raises every year. A top-six end within the Big 12 in both of the primary two seasons can earn an computerized one-year extension plus one other $100,000 bonus paid throughout a sixth season.

West Virginia can pay an unspecified buyout at Drake, in accordance with his memorandum of understanding obtained by The Associated Press via a Freedom of Information Act request.

West Virginia, which joined the league in 2012, has by no means gained a Big 12 common season or event title and has three last-place finishes since 2019.

“The Big 12 obviously is a very defensive-oriented league. It’s a very physical league,” Darian mentioned. “There’s no question that in order to be successful in the Big 12, you have to defend. You have to be able to rebound. You have to have some physicality. Your team has to have some toughness. We will recruit to that. We will coach to that. We will teach that.”

And it should begin along with his son.

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AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and protection: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness

(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is revealed from a syndicated information company feed – Associated Press)