Mountaineers Stunned as Tucker DeVries Follows Father to Indiana — West Virginia Loses Veteran Leader and Locker Room Anchor

In a move that has left West Virginia basketball fans disheartened and the program facing another seismic shift, senior forward Tucker DeVries has officially announced he is transferring to Indiana University to reunite with his father, head coach Darian DeVries. This emotional departure marks the end of a short-lived but deeply impactful tenure in Morgantown for DeVries, who had quickly established himself as a vocal leader and steady presence in the locker room.

The 6-foot-7 forward had transferred to WVU from Drake alongside his father, who had briefly served as West Virginia’s head coach before unexpectedly accepting the Indiana job earlier this offseason. While rumors swirled that Tucker might follow his father out the door, Mountaineer fans had held out hope that the veteran would honor his commitment and help guide a young roster through a crucial rebuilding year.

In just a few months on campus, Tucker DeVries had become more than just a transfer. He was viewed by teammates and fans alike as a symbol of stability, someone who could help steer the program through turbulent waters following a chaotic coaching transition. DeVries brought with him not only production—averaging 18.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game at Drake last season—but also leadership, maturity, and a high basketball IQ molded by years under his father’s guidance.

At Indiana, DeVries will step into a system already familiar to him—both tactically and emotionally. With Coach Darian DeVries now at the helm of the Hoosiers, this move reunites father and son for one final collegiate ride. It’s a bittersweet development for the Mountaineers, who not only lose a top scorer and versatile defender, but also someone who had started to build strong relationships in the West Virginia community.

In Bloomington, the reunion could be a game-changer for the Hoosiers. Tucker DeVries brings with him a blend of shooting, versatility, and experience that Indiana sorely needs. For Coach DeVries, having a player on the floor who knows his system inside and out will be invaluable as he begins his Big Ten journey.

Family is everything,” the younger DeVries said in a brief statement released Monday. “I have so much love and respect for everyone at West Virginia, and I’m grateful for the short time I spent there. But the opportunity to play for my dad in one of the best basketball environments in the country was something I couldn’t pass up.”

For West Virginia, this loss adds another layer of adversity to what has already been a turbulent offseason. After the departure of Bob Huggins and a brief, dramatic coaching carousel, the Mountaineers had finally begun to regroup under new leadership—only to be hit again by the DeVries family exit.

WVU fans, already bruised by coaching uncertainty and a revolving door of transfers, are now left wondering what’s next for a program that once prided itself on toughness and continuity. Tucker DeVries was supposed to be a calming force, a key piece in establishing a new foundation. Now, the blueprint must be reworked yet again.

WVU will now likely look to the transfer portal once more to fill the leadership vacuum left by DeVries. The staff still has time to secure another veteran presence, but with preseason camps approaching fast, the options are limited—and chemistry will be difficult to manufacture.

As for Tucker, he now heads to Indiana with both expectations and scrutiny. The spotlight will be intense, especially given his unique role as both a coach’s son and a high-level performer in his own right. Still, he enters the season with a chance to help elevate the Hoosiers to national relevance while ending his college career on his own terms.

Meanwhile, in Morgantown, the mood is somber. The loss of Tucker DeVries isn’t just about stats—it’s about the spirit, stability, and leadership that walked out the door with him. The Mountaineers now face the daunting task of redefining themselves without the player many had hoped would be their cornerstone.