Twin Players of the Year
(St. Louis, MO) – Waukee, Iowa is the unrivaled ‘Basketball Capitol of the Missouri Valley Conference’. When Drake’s Katie Dinnebier was awarded the Jackie Stiles – Player of the Year award, her home town became the most important high school in the Valley.
Why? Because her high school classmate Tucker DeVries is the two-time Larry Bird – Player of the Year award. For the third time in MVC history, the same university has produced simultaneous players of the year.
Not only does Drake have the top players in both men’s and women’s basketball, but Dinnebier and DeVries went to the same Waukee, Iowa high school.
Their bios are practically identical.
Dinnebier was the 2021 ‘Miss Iowa Basketball’ and the Gatorade Iowa Girls Basketball, Player of the Year. DeVries was the 2021 ‘Mr. Iowa Basketball and the Gatorade Iowa Boys Basketball, Player of the Year. Each won a state title during their senior seasons.
Drake – Basketball Capitol of the Valley
During DeVries’ three-year career he was named the Freshman of the Year and a two time Player of the Year. The Bulldogs have won 80 games and two Arch Madness titles. While Dinnebier, who was on the ‘all-Freshman Team’, has toiled in Des Moines, Drake racked up 68 victories.
Dinnebier’s Bulldogs have gone 42-16 in Valley play and DeVries’ squad is 44-14.
DeVries’ team is heading to the NCAA Tournament and Dinnebier’s won this season’s regular season title and are playing in the Valley’s ‘Hoops in the Heartland’ conference tournament. Each team played in last season’s NCAA Tournament.
This is at least the third time in Valley history that those awards have both gone to the same university. Creighton’s Kyle Korver and Christy Neneman did it twice (2002 & 2003).
Waukee High School alums seem to be repeating their high school success in the Missouri Valley Conference. Each has won the player of the year title (again!) and each has won a conference championship. Hopefully they will have great post season exploits to share.
Do Good
Editor: Cover photo courtesy of godrakebulldogs.com.
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Three more road wins so far in @ValleyHoops as @BradleyUMBB @BelmontMBB & @UIC_MBB capture road wins. Looks like @DrakeBulldogsMB will do so too. #FatherHarry
Well @RacersWBB followed the men's example and swept Iowa in the @ValleyHoops race! Racers are 6-1 & if @BelmontWBB holds on to their Iowa sweep, the Bruins and Racers will be tied for first. What a trip for those two teams! #FatherHarry
After today's action, @EIUWBB is 8-0 in @OVCSports play. 4 teams @usiwbb @TTUWBB @LRTrojans @LindenwoodWBB are tied at 6-2. Six other teams are under .500. Great race to the finish lies ahead. #FatherHarry
Really entertaining game between @BelmontMBB & @UEAthletics_MBB. Under four minutes left in a one point game. Gabriel Pozzato back in the Aces' lineup. Rogers is playing like I've expected. Triples are dropping. It's fun and @kylejpeach bringing it on #ThePlus #FatherHarry
