Drake sophomore Tucker DeVries has been named the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year. De Vries averaged 19 points and more than five and a half rebounds for a Bulldog team that- finished the regular season 24-7 and 15-5 in the Missouri Valley Conference. Drake opens the Valley Tournament in St. Louis Friday night.

A year ago DeVries was named the Valley Freshman of the Year.

DeVries became a much more consistent shooter this season as a sophomore.

DeVries becomes the fifth different Bulldog to win the Larry Bird Trophy and the first since Adam Emmenecker in 2008.