Prospect Spotlight: Tucker DeVries (2021)
With a striking blend of length and skill, Waukee shooting guard Tucker DeVries was able to put himself on the map in a big way this season.
The sophomore moved to the Des Moines area from Omaha last season after his father, Darian DeVries was hired as Drake’s head coach. Waukee inherited a 6-foot-5 guard with a 6’9 wing-span as a result.
“Length and shooting and then rebounding at the guard position is where I can help a lot,” said DeVries. “I always try and play hard on defense, I’m not the most athletic but I try and play harder than most.”
In addition to his stellar shooting this season, the sophomore led 4A state-qualifier Waukee with 36 steals.
“Length definitely plays a part in that,” DeVries said. “But also being able to anticipate what’s happening and just being in the right spot at the right time.”
DeVries started the season with Waukee playing a minimal role, but towards mid-season he turned it on and finished the season as the team’s second-leading scorer. He made 62 3s at a 41.1 percent clip.
“It was a good year, I was patient at first and just played my role,” said DeVries. “And then when Noah (Hart) went down I was called on to play a bigger role.”
Now, DeVries is on to his offseason regiment. He’ll spend his 16U spring and summer with Omaha Sports Academy (OSA) on the 16U adidas Gauntlet, it’s a program he’s played with in year’s past.
“I definitely want to become a better ball-handler, we lost a lot of guards (at Waukee) and we’re going to need more guys to handle the ball,” said DeVries. “I’m looking to get more athletic, faster and stronger; I want to be able to guard the best player every night and definitely be able to handle the ball.”
He added: “I’m just trying to get better and trying to show people what I can do and what the team can do.”
With 16U ball tends to come an uptick in recruitment, especially for sharpshooting 6’5 guys with longer wing-spans. DeVries has an obvious in with Drake, though he said that hasn’t been discussed much — but says his recruitment is open.
“(My dad and I) haven’t really discussed it too much, but I’d love to play for him (at Drake), it’s come up a couple times,” said DeVries. “But I’m open for whatever, and when it comes time to make a decision, we’ll figure out what’s best.”