Inside The Panthers

Pitt Rival Adds All-American Transfer

The Pitt Panthers will fave an All-American transfer in the Backyard Brawl next season.

Stephen Thompson

Mar 21, 2024; Omaha, NE, USA; Drake Bulldogs guard Tucker DeVries (12) reacts in the first half
Mar 21, 2024; Omaha, NE, USA; Drake Bulldogs guard Tucker DeVries (12) reacts in the first half / Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports

PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers' biggest rival had a leg up on the rest of the field as they recruited an All-American and big-time scoring guard from the transfer portal and it paid off quickly.

After hiring his father, Darian DeVries, away from Drake to be their next head coach, West Virginia has landed Tucker DeVries out of the transfer portal, according to a report from On3's Joe Tipton. Now the Panthers will have to contend with one of the best scorers in all of college basketball when they host the Mountaineers at the Petersen Events Center this coming season.

DeVries was named an honorable mention by the Associate Press after averaging a career-high 21.6 points, 3.7 assists and 6.7 rebounds per game during the 2023-24 season. He shot 44% from the field, 36.3% from 3-point range and 81% from the free throw line.

DeVries has scored 13 or more points per game in each of his three seasons at Drake, where he was coached by his father and played in two NCAA Tournaments. DeVries is a two-time Missouri Valley Conference player of the year and three-time all-conference play.

Pitt will host games at the Petersen Events Center during the 2024-25 and 2026-27 seasons and make return trips to the WVU Coliseum in Morgantown, West Virginia during the 2025-26 and 2027-28 seasons. 

The Panthers captured their first win in the Backyard Brawl since 2012 early last December. Blake Hinson made a school-record nine 3-pointers in an 80-63 victory for Pitt at the WVU Coliseum. 

The Panthers are 89-101 all-time against West Virginia and own a 56-36 record in games played in Pittsburgh. Pitt has won seven of the 12 matchups played at the Petersen Events Center.

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Stephen Thompson
STEPHEN THOMPSON

Stephen Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Pitt in April 2022 after spending four years as a sports writer and editor at The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's independent, student-run newspaper.  He primarily worked the Pitt men's basketball beat, and filled in on coverage of football, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and lacrosse, in addition to other sports as needed. His work at The Pitt News has won awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association and Associated College Press.  During the spring and summer of 2021, Stephen interned for Pittsburgh Sports Now, covering baseball in western Pennsylvania. Hailing from Washington D.C., family ties have cultivated a love of Boston's professional teams and Pitt athletics, and a fascination with sports in general.  You can reach Stephen by email at stephenethompson00@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter. Read his latest work:

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