Drake’s Tucker DeVries is the quintessential mid-major super star. He gets better every year, he grows as a team leader and knows how to win games. During his nearly three-year Drake career, the 6’7 forward has become a great player. Is he the league’s best player?
DeVries is an avid Fortnite player, and I’m told the goal of ‘Fortnite Battle Royale’ is to kill zombies and be the last person standing. The Drake star has seen other players leave the Valley for the NBA (A.J. Green and Ben Sheppard) and some leave for the power conference’s greener pastures but he is still standing as a legitimate star in the MVC.
During DeVries’ two-plus seasons playing under his father, head coach Darian DeVries, he’s watched teammates Roman Penn, D.J. Wilkins, and Garrett Sturtz become record holders in various statistical categories. The team has won 52 games and one Arch Madness title and has participated in the NCAA Tournament.
Penn, Wilkins and Sturtz have graduated and DeVries and center Darnell Brodie are the last two veterans standing. Tucker is the Valley’s reigning ‘Player of the Year’ and continues to pick up more weapons in his endeavors to prevail over Valley foes and to lead the Bulldogs to a regular season title.
For the first time in DeVries’ playing career the team is employing heavy minutes from a transfer (Atin Wright) and two freshmen (Kevin Overton and Colby Garland). After five years with those other veterans leading the way, DeVries now leads the new generation of Bulldogs into continued outstanding success.
Drake (15-3, 6-1) is tied for the Valley’s top spot with Indiana State and own a victory over the Sycamores. Five other MVC squads are within two games of the Valley's top spot and the league is loaded with great players nipping at DeVries’ heels for the top player crown.
The Bulldogs’ remaining Valley schedule includes home and home matchups with contenders Bradley and Northern Iowa and a visit to Indiana State.