Drake’s DeVries among 7 under-the-radar March Madness stars

Drake’s Tucker DeVries was an interested spectator when thefather-son team of Greg McDermott and Doug McDermott helpedCreighton make consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances in 2013 and2014.

DeVries’ father, Darian, was an assistant on Greg McDermott’sCreighton staff back then as Doug McDermott led the nation inscoring and earned national player of the year honors. Now it’sDarian DeVries who will be coaching his son on the March Madnessstage.

Tucker DeVries is the Missouri Valley Conference player of theyear after turning down some high-major offers to enroll at Drake.DeVries said watching the McDermotts helped give him an idea ofwhat it might be like to play for his dad.

“I think there was a lot to be learned from, being able toexperience and see how that relationship worked,” the sophomoreguard/forward said. “Part of what went into me wanting to come andplay for my dad here is being able to have a little taste of thatmyself.”

So far, it’s been just about everything DeVries could haveimagined.

DeVries averages 19 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, and he hasshot 38.7% (87 of 225) from 3-point range. He was named the mostoutstanding player in the Missouri Valley ConferenceTournament.

“I grew up at Creighton my whole life,” DeVries said. “When theydecided to recruit me, it was tough to turn that down – playing inthe Big East where I grew up. Iowa State, 45 minutes away. Oregon.Just some of those schools are obviously schools you grow upwatching on TV, dreaming about playing for. But I don’t think anyof them had what was home for me here.”

Now he has the chance to find out what it’s like to play for hisfather in the NCAA Tournament. Drake (27-7) is the No. 12 seed inthe Midwest Region and will face Miami (25-7) on Friday.

“To be able to experience it with my dad as a coach isdefinitely pretty cool and special – to be able to experience ittogether,” DeVries said.

DeVries is one of several players from one-bid conferences whobear watching this week. Here’s a look at some others.

MAX ABMAS, ORAL ROBERTS

Abmas already has shown he can make an impact in March. Abmasaveraged 26.8 points in the 2021 NCAA Tournament while leading OralRoberts to the Sweet 16. This season, the 6-foot senior ranksseventh among all Division I players in points per game (22.2) andsixth in 3-pointers per game (3.5). The two-time Summit Leagueplayer of the year has scored over 22 points per game each of thelast three seasons. First-round game: Thursday vs. Duke.

JORDAN BROWN, LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE

Brown isn’t the typical under-the-radar recruit who ends up at amid-major program. The 6-foot-11 forward was a 2018 McDonald’sAll-American. He began his college career at Nevada and was aPac-12 sixth man of the year at Arizona last season beforetransferring to his third school. Brown earned first-team all-SunBelt honors while averaging 19.4 points and 8.7 rebounds, including20 points in a loss to Texas. First-round game: Thursday vs.Tennessee.

SINCERE CARRY, KENT STATE

Carry has earned first-team all-Mid American Conference honorsand has made the league’s all-defensive team each of the last twoseasons. He was named MAC player of the year last season. He hasaveraged over 17 ½ points each of the last two seasons at KentState after transferring from Duquesne. The 6-1 guard has scored atleast 21 points in four of his last five games. First-round game:Friday vs. Indiana.

RAY HARRISON, GRAND CANYON

Harrison helped Grand Canyon get here by collecting 31 points,eight rebounds and eight assists against Southern Utah in theWestern Athletic Conference Tournament championship game. The 6-4guard has scored at least 25 points in four of his last six games.Harrison, a Presbyterian transfer, has averaged at least 17 pointseach of the last three seasons. He has 17.7 points, 4 rebounds and3.6 assists per game this season. First-round game: Friday vs.Gonzaga.

DREW PEMBER, UNC ASHEVILLE

This Tennessee transfer has emerged as a star in two seasons atUNC Asheville. This year, he became the first player to lead theBig South in scoring (20.4), rebounding (9.2) and blocks (2.3) inone season. Pember leads all Division I players in free throws made(262) and attempted (314). The 6-11 forward averaged 29.7 pointsand 11.3 rebounds in three Big South Tournament games. First-roundgame: Thursday vs. UCLA.

TUCKER RICHARDSON, COLGATE

Richardson had a triple-double in the Patriot League Tournamentchampionship game with 14 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists asColgate defeated Lafayette, 79-61. The 6-5 guard was named thePatriot League’s overall player of the year and defensive player ofthe year. He’s the first player in league history to combine 1,600career points, 700 rebounds and 600 assists. Richardson had 15points and seven rebounds last year in an NCAA Tournament loss toWisconsin. First-round game: Thursday vs. Texas.