April 23. 2009 12:00AM
Mark DeVries is on a roll when it comes to records
By Steve Farley CORRESPONDENT
UXBRIDGE — In his season finale against Oxford, Mark DeVries only needed one point to break the single-season scoring record for the Whitin Middle School.
He got 22.
DeVries ended his two-year middle school career as the Whitin Middle School’s all-time leading scorer with 294 points, shattering the old mark set by Tony Barry two years ago. Barry, who transferred to Milford High, finished with 273 points.
“It was really cool,” said DeVries, a 5-foot-7-inch point guard who averaged an eye-popping 21 points in 14 games and broke the single-game record as well with 32 points. “My coach (John Raymond) told me I could beat the school record in our last game. I just like playing in the game. I’m always looking forward to when my next game is. I like making really good plays, and I like hearing the crowd cheer.”
Raymond, who has been coaching the boys’ middle school team for three seasons and is also the UHS varsity softball coach, couldn’t say enough positive things about DeVries.
“I had him for three years,” said Raymond, who pointed out that DeVries, an A student, was a ball boy/scorekeeper for the squad when he was in sixth grade. “He’s the nicest kid in the world. He’s a throwback. He’s a gym rat. He’s in the gym when practice is over. Sometimes, I have to chase him out of there. He listens. He wants to learn. He does all the little things, and he does them the right way. He sees the court very well. He’s just a super, super kid who will do anything to make his team better. He has a great work ethic, and he is a great role model.”
Uxbridge High School Athletic Director Mark Donahue has been guiding the boys’ varsity basketball team for 28 years. Donahue can’t wait to see what DeVries’ potential could be over the next four years.
“It’s quite an achievement breaking that record,” said Donahue, athletic director at UHS for 27 years. “There’s been quite a few players that have gone through the Whitin Middle School program. I’ve seen him play. This kid works really hard at his game. I’m really looking forward to him joining our program next year. I think he’s got the potential to have a great career at Uxbridge High School.”
Mark’s older brother, Jon, is a 6-foot small forward, who will be a junior next school year. With any luck, the siblings could be playing together for at least one year, maybe two.
“He’s another kid who really works hard,” Donahue said of Jon. “His game has really improved. He had a good sophomore year.”
Although he is a third baseman for the Whitin Middle School baseball team, basketball is clearly Mark DeVries’ favorite and best sport, whether it’s him playing or his idols.
“I enjoyed Little League, but I’d much rather play basketball,” said DeVries, who looks up to the Celtics “Big 3” of Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and the captain, Paul Pierce. “I watch it on television all the time. It always gets me more excited. … If I have a chance of playing college basketball, I will.”
Playing AAU basketball will certainly help him reach that goal.
DeVries plays for a 14-year-old AAU team called the Blackstone Chaos in the spring and fall, and to no one’s surprise, has been turning heads there, too. The Chaos is coached by Ken Paulhus of Blackstone.
The AAU season during the spring extends to the middle of May, but the Chaos players have already competed in three tournaments and have a winning record.
“The better the competition, the better he plays,” said Paulhus, who has coached DeVries for three years. “He plays even harder than he normally does. I’ve probably coached him in over 100 games. His attitude is as big as his talent. He’s fantastic. He’s the most coachable player I’ve ever had. His teammates all love him, too. He doesn’t want to come off the court for one second of the game."
Other players from Uxbridge on the Chaos include Jake Hession and Caleb Holt, while another local talent, Grant Brown, resides in Northbridge.
Paulhus said that DeVries was sensational in a recent game against the Rhode Island Hawks in the Middlesex Magic First Shot Tournament, pouring in 27 points in a losing effort. “He carried us,” said Paulhus, who has also coached against DeVries during the winter season. “I consider the Rhode Island Hawks one of the premier teams in New England.”
“I’ve always been very good at going to the left side,” DeVries said. “A lot of my points come off of lefty layups. Some of my points come off of threes. I like to shoot when I’m open, but I don’t like to force anything. I’d almost rather drive. I like to get my teammates some open shots, too.”
