Prospect Spotlight: Trey Duffey (2019)
Trey Duffey (2019) has been one of this season’s biggest in-season stock risers. Playing in only eight games as a sophomore due to a wrist injury, Trey has seen his role this year completely change for the better.
The 6’5’’ Topeka Seaman hybrid forward describes himself as someone who can stretch the floor, shoots well from midrange, loves playing defense, and is consistent from the free throw line (shooting 83% on the season).
While there are many things that Trey does well on the court, he believes his biggest strength is bringing energy to his teammates and doing the little things right.
Trey has been playing with SSA Hoops over summer and will play with them again this upcoming AAU season.
These experiences were important to Trey because it enabled him to “see a variety of competition” and especially getting experience playing against those who were bigger, faster, and stronger than him. Trey told me that this past summer definitely helped him prepare for this season.
Trey’s most recent standout performance was against the highly rated Emporia High School (6-A) team. A game in which Trey ended up with 31 points (13-14 from the line), six rebounds, two blocks, and took two charges in a huge win for his Topeka Seaman team.
Trey also was a big part of his team’s win over Topeka Hayden earlier in the year as he hit two baskets down the stretch in overtime propelling them to victory and ending with 14 points.
I first saw Trey at the Valley Center Tournament in January near the Wichita, KS area. He had a big game against Garden City (21 points) and another against Maize South (19 points) and ended up winning the Valley Center Tournament MVP despite a quiet game against Wichita Southeast and being on the losing end of that.
My first impression of Trey was that he was a player who played hard on both sides of the ball, could finish around the rim, but also step out around 15 feet and either display his midrange game or take bigger defenders off the dribble with a quick first step.
Trey has a lot of basketball influences around him and those who have inspired Trey the most are his mom, Shelley Duffey, and coach Darryl Winston.
Shelley Duffey was a 3x All-American at Washburn University (KS) and has been inducted into the Washburn Athletics hall of fame, Topeka Sports hall of fame along with others. Trey told me that he would not be the person he is without his mother and she truly makes him a better person and wants to follow in her footsteps at Washburn University.
Darryl Winston is an ex-NBA player (Seattle Supersonics) and former head coach at Kansas State University and resides in the Topeka area. He has worked with Trey on transforming his jump shot among other things and has had a huge impact on Trey’s development as a basketball player.
Going forward, Trey is working on getting more athletic and stronger for his senior season and wants to tighten up his ball handling so he can be more of a threat on the perimeter. Trey is also a two-sport athlete, as he plays tennis for Topeka Seaman as well. He went to state last year in doubles and will get an opportunity to play singles this spring and continue his tennis career as well.
Great things on the horizon for Trey Duffey (2019) as he continues to progress. He will be a name to watch the rest of this season and most certainly his senior season for Topeka Seaman.