Spring Stock Riser Headed to the Big East
South Kent School & Team Melo power forward Tafara Gapare announced his commitment to DePaul yesterday afternoon.
Gapare, a native of New Zealand, came to South Kent in January for the second semester of the school year. The time spent practicing and playing in games under well-respected head coach Raphael Chillious helped give him momentum heading into the spring Nike EYBL season.
His ascension began after session one in Orlando when he received scholarship offers from Virginia Tech and New Mexico State. Gapare’s list of interested schools went to another level after his play at the Indianapolis session, as he earned a total of fourteen more scholarship offers.
His per game averages over the course of the spring EYBL sessions were 8.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 2.6 blocks. Gapare’s impressive ability to protect the rim puts him fourth in the league in blocks per game. His performance helped Team Melo to currently be fifth in EYBL’s Pool B, with a chance to qualify for Peach Jam during session four in Kansas City.
“DePaul is getting a player with a high ceiling and elite size for his position,” said South Kent head coach Raphael Chillious. He is nowhere near his ceiling as a talent which is a good thing. Tafara has learned how to play harder and more efficiently on both ends of the court since he arrived in January.”
“He’s become an excellent weak side shot blocker and is able to switch multiple positions. Tafara still needs to get stronger and develop a more refined offensive game in the half-court, but he has all the tools to be special if he continues to put in the hard work that he began here in January.”
Gapare becomes the first member of South Kent’s 2023 class to finalize his college plans.