Darian DeVries details how Tucker DeVries' role will 'evolve over time' with Indiana

Offseason workouts started this week for Indiana and with 11 new players coming together for the first time under Darian DeVries, it’s going to be a feeling out period at the beginning stages of the summer.

The next few months will be a combination of learning each other, teaching and implementing systems on both ends of the floor. While that’s a tall task, Darian DeVries will be able to lean on his son Tucker DeVries to bridge the gap between players and coaches.

“With this group, part of it (his role) is going to be a teacher. You got a lot of new guys. He’s the one guy that has familiarity with the terminology, the system and things,” DeVries said of Tucker on the Field of 68 Podcast. “So as we’re getting started in these workouts, it’s just being a leader from that side of it — from a player perspective of being able to answer questions about what the coaches are looking for, what we’re trying to get.”

Tucker DeVries has played four seasons with his dad — three at Drake and just eight games last year due to a shoulder injury.

In three years at Drake, that duo went 80-26 overall and then were 6-2 last year before his season was ended. So, the system that Darian DeVries has been able to put into place is clear — it brings success.

While the system in place is the foundation, having a player like Tucker DeVries is also significant. DeVries is. 6-foot-7 wing who can play both on and off the ball. He’s known for his shooting and scoring ability after averaging 18.0 points a game while shooting 35.9 percent on 2.4 made 3s a game during his Drake career.

(On3+): 5 things to watch for Indiana basketball as summer workouts get underway

Last year he shot 47.3 percent on 3.3 made 3s a game.

“He shoots the living crap out of the ball and it’s effortless. Like he doesn’t really have specific range. I mean like he’s just effortless,” Trainer Jordan Basye told TheHoosier.com of DeVries’ shooting ability. “He’s big — like he’s strong. I don’t think people realize that he can really score and he’s comfortable with using his body to create space and he’s comfortable in the mid-post and comfortable creating one on one. Like he’s a lot more than just a shooter.”

As a leader and a main scoring option for Indiana this year, the offensive will almost certainly revolve around Tucker DeVries to an extent.

But what exactly will his role be on the floor? That’s still a work in progress as all the skillsets merge together and work to complement one another.

“So what’s his role with this team,” Darian DeVries said. “That will all, like everybody, evolve over the course of time as we figure out how to best utilize everybody on the roster and what’s gonna make the most sense to help them all complement one another as you get into season play.”

While there are things to still work out on the floor, getting him back to full health is the first step before sifting through specific lineups. This rehab from his shoulder injury is the second time in the last year that he’s gone through such a recovery. How’s he healing?

“We’re getting really close,” DeVries said. “He’s able to do almost everything live, just limiting some of his reps and things as he gets back into that physical contact. They want to make sure it’s not a complete shock as we go into it. But for the most part, he’s started to do almost everything this last week or two, so in a good place there.

“It’s been almost three years now where he’s probably getting closer to where the shoulder feels good and he’s able to do everything from a functionality standpoint. So that part’s exciting for him as he goes into this offseason and the workouts and the lifting and the running and those type of things. Main thing for us is to just be smart about it as anxious as he is.”

Trending: Darian DeVries outlines blueprint to ‘sustain success’ at Indiana

The last time he was fully healthy and on the floor — efficiency was the first thing that came to mind. DeVries was 2nd in the MVC in Player Efficiency Rating as a sophomore and then 6th as a junior. He was 6th in Offensive Win Shares as a freshman, then 1st and then 5th during his three years at Drake. His offensive +/- was 5th, 1st and then 2nd. 

Part of that comes with his versatility, says Basye.

It’s what Indiana will look to utilize with so many different lineups and rotations that this team can put together.

“I think he can do a lot and get moved around to really take advantage of mismatches and really score from all three levels,” Basye said. “I think people would be surprised by that and the physicality the he likes to play with. He’s not just a standstill shooter. He really — if you watch it, he’s really good shooting off the move which I think people under value.”

So, despite being in the very early infant stages of the offseason, Darian DeVries likes the way Indiana has approached the first few days of workouts — and with or without full activity from his expected leader.

“I really like the way this group has come in and attacked these first few days,” DeVries added. “So, excited to see how this team can continue to grow over the course of this summer.”

Not yet a member of TheHoosier? Take advantage of our launch with On3 and join our community! Just $1 for your FIRST MONTH and then 50% off the rest of your FIRST YEAR! Join here.