DePerry moving on after strong basketball career at SVSU

Shawano grad will play at South Dakota for graduate year
By: 
Morgan Rode
Sports Editor

Shawano Community High School graduate Tori DePerry enjoyed a strong basketball career at Division II Saginaw Valley State University and will now get the chance to play for Division I University of South Dakota as a graduate transfer next season.

DePerry graduated from Shawano in 2019 and played in all but one of the SVSU games since that point.

“My time at SVSU was nothing short of special,” said DePerry. “The coaches, my teammates, and the support I had was unreal. I know I made the right decision coming here after my freshman year was over.”

She averaged 17.3 minutes a game as a freshmen, scoring 7.4 points and grabbing 3.6 rebounds a game.

DePerry was efficient, hitting over 50% of her field goals, nearly 35% of her 3-pointers and nearly 82% from the free-throw line.

Her hard work and development as a freshmen helped her start the final 10 games of the season.

DePerry got bumped up to 21.4 minutes a game during the COVID season of 2020-21. The Shawano grad averaged 8.7 points and 5.6 boards across 20 contests.

While her shooting percentages dropped a bit, DePerry was simply thankful to get to play games while many other teams sat things out.

Her shooting percentage jumped back up to 49% in the 2021-22 season and she averaged 10.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists a game. She started 26 of her team’s 27 games and averaged 26.6 minutes a game.

One of her favorite SVSU moments came in a road win her junior year against Grand Valley State, one of the top teams in the conference.

Another top moment came in a win over Wayne State. “There was about a second left in regulation and I tipped in the ball underneath the basket to win the game,” said DePerry. “My team and I were celebrating and it was a core memory in my career at SVSU. Overall, my best memories here at Saginaw were always with my teammates by my side.”

While her numbers and favorite memories suggested a strong season, it was a tough one for DePerry.

“Junior year, however, tested me as I battled with mental health and it tested my will to continue to be a student-athlete,” said DePerry. “I am so glad I was surrounded by great support because I flourished into the player I was and I had a small breakout year my junior year averaging close to 11 points per game. I was in shape and playing great basketball at the time and I knew that after I got through the hardships I faced my junior year, I could overcome any obstacle thrown my way.”

DePerry was a star for SVSU this past winter, starting all 29 games she played in. She averaged 32.1 minutes, 17 points, 8 rebounds and 1.6 assists a game, shooting 46% from the field despite taking over five more shots a game than she did the previous two seasons.

“This past year was one for the books,” said DePerry.

She topped 1,000 career points in a win over Ferris State on Jan. 19 and capped the season with a spot on the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference first team.

“The accolades I received this year did not surprise me,” said DePerry when asked if she’d ever imagined accomplishing those kind of things. “I put in a lot of work behind the scenes to come out on top.

“I felt as though this league is tough and I was often overlooked as a player in the league. This summer I had that hunger mindset that I wanted to be one of the best posts in the GLIAC and turn some heads, I think I did just that this year. Of course, I could not receive these accolades without the tremendous support from my coaches, teammates, and family. You go far when you have a tight circle.”

DePerry capped her SVSU four-year career with 1,173 points on a strong 47% from the field.

The Shawano grad hoped to use her fifth year of eligibility at SVSU, but had to look elsewhere because they didn’t have her specific master’s program.

South Dakota offers the master’s program the dean’s list student at SVSU was looking for, and also helps DePerry get the opportunity to play at the next collegiate level.

“As much as I love SVSU and wanted to stay for my fifth year, I was also ready for the next level,” said DePerry. “Playing Division I basketball is something I have always dreamed about doing and the opportunity came knocking once I entered the transfer portal.

“The process was a bit stressful; however, once I stepped foot onto the USD campus, I knew that it was where I wanted to be. The process was fast, but once I came back to Michigan after the visit and settled in, I knew I made the right decision.

“South Dakota is a great program and the staff and team are even better. I am glad I will be surrounded by great people next season and I am ready to get to work on and off the court as I will be working on my master’s degree in interdisciplinary studies.”

South Dakota is coming off a 14-16 season, which included a 10-8 mark in The Summit League.

DePerry hopes to make an impact right away for her new team and help them to a league title and NCAA Tournament bid.

USD made the tournament during the 2021-22 season and advanced to the Sweet 16.

“This program knows how to win and they have a great culture surrounding the wins,” said DePerry. “Individually, I want to be coachable, work hard and showcase my talent and be a great teammate. I am also excited to have my family and SVSU family cheering me on from afar like I know they will do.”

USD announced that DePerry had joined the program as a graduate transfer on March 27.

“We are really excited to welcome Tori to our program,” said South Dakota coach Kayla Karius. “She is a strong, blue-collar forward who has improved each year and earned first-team all-league honors in the GLIAC, a top Division II league in the country. She brings athleticism, physicality, and tough defense to our team. With her collegiate experience and hard-working mentality, she is a great fit for us.”

sports@newmedia-wi.com